Pulmonologists Dr. Joseph Angileri and Dr. Dwayne Griffin - see story pages 4-5
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Friends of the Foundation Newsletter is a publication of the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation and is produced three times a year.
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Dear Friends,
As we too quickly transition from one beautiful season to another, we hope you were able to share moments of rest and joy with your family and friends.
It was a busy summer for McLaren Northern Michigan and the Foundation. Trustees from both the Hospital and Foundation boards hosted intimate gatherings to update attendees on progress made over the past few years. President & CEO Gar Atchison also attended several community events to further share this news. As frequently discussed, recruiting new physicians is a top priority, with many successes to date. We’ll introduce you to our newest pulmonologist, and another who has been practicing for over three decades.
Next, we pay tribute to David and Teresa Crouse and Karen Crouse Miller for their ongoing support and involvement with creating a warm welcome for patients and visitors.
Many donor funded programs brought fresh faces to our campuses – you’ll read about our Career Pipeline Program, Nurse Interns, and our newest Medical Residency cohort.
Last, several organizations in the area showed their support by hosting events to raise funds for McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation. As you’ll see, they truly made fundraising fun!
Elise Fisher, Chair | Ham Schirmer, Vice Chair | Courtney M. Font, CFP®, Treasurer
Miriam Hollar, Secretary | Gar Atchison, President and CEO | Robbie Buhl
Steven C. Cross | David Crouse | Matthew J. Frentz, CPA | Jason Keiswetter
Matthew Krieger | Logan Lauterbach | Patrick Leavy | Kathie Nihls | James Riehl, III
Rogan L. Saal | James C. Schroeder, PhD | Tracy Souder, MA CCC-SL | Maggie Steffy
Julie Jarema, Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer
VISIT THE NEW COURTYARD!
The last element of our Building the Future of Health Care project was completed this summer. Work on the Central Courtyard began last year by reconfiguring the space, creating a patio area, and adding new landscaping. Plantings were finished this spring and furniture from Sturgeon River Pottery arrived in June. Viewed from the Concourse, and many offices around the Petoskey campus, it has come together beautifully!
Over the summer, many staff and visitors took advantage of the warm, sunny space. It is easily accessed through a covered outdoor corridor between the Heart Center and Surgery Center entrances.
Pictured right: With the Courtyard renovations completed, the memorial for Tom Mroczkowski was returned and placed near the pathway. Tom was the hospital’s President and CEO from 2003 to 2009, when he passed away unexpectedly.
Dr. Joseph Angileri Joins Our Pulmonology Team
Over the past year, donor contributions have helped McLaren Northern Michigan recruit several providers across multiple specialties including Dr. Joseph Angileri who joined the pulmonology team in August.
A Petoskey native, Dr. Angileri earned his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, before going on to receive his medical degree from Wayne State University. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Angileri shares, “It's incredibly meaningful to return home and serve the community where I grew up to give back to the place that shaped who I am today. The added advantage of the EBUS system represents a significant leap forward in our diagnostic capabilities. With this technology, we can provide more precise, less invasive procedures for lung cancer diagnosis and staging, ensuring our patients receive world-class care without having to travel far from home. ”
DONOR-FUNDED EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY HELP RECRUIT PROVIDERS
Recruiting providers is extremely competitive, especially for rural areas like northern Michigan. Gifts to the Foundation play a crucial role in negotiating with and successfully hiring candidates from flying them here with their families for a visit; to funding moving expenses or signing bonuses; to purchasing advanced technology for a provider ’s use.
For Dr. Angileri, access to the newest endobronchial ultrasound system (EBUS) was extremely important. Used for diagnosing and staging lung cancer and other diseases, the EBUS offers enhanced imaging and control for accessing even difficult-to-reach lymph nodes and lesions.
Through generous donations to our Unrestricted Fund, the hospital is purchasing the new endobronchial ultrasound system.
A LEGACY OF CARE AND GENEROSITY
A 33-Year Journey of Advancing Pulmonary Care and Supporting Patients and Providers
For more than three decades, Dr. Dwayne Griffin has been a trusted leader and pulmonologist at McLaren Northern Michigan through his skilled care of patients and his generous giving.
Dr. Griffin began practicing at our hospital in 1992. He quickly became known not only for his medical expertise and quick wit, but also for the care and reassurance he offered to patients and families during some of their most difficult moments.
Throughout his career, Dr. Griffin has been at the forefront of advancing pulmonary care in northern Michigan respiratory tract conditions, sleep apnea, lung cancer, and interstitial lung disease. He has guided thousands of patients through treatment, mentored new physicians, and worked tirelessly to ensure the highest quality of care for the community he loves. His steady commitment has left a lasting imprint on the hospital and the many lives he has touched.
Beyond the exam room, Dr. Griffin is a leader among his peers for philanthropic giving to the hospital. He and his wife, Carole, have been generous and consistent donors to the McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation, supporting critical projects and programs that enhance patient care.
In 2011, the Griffins made a commitment of enduring impact by establishing the “Griffin Sleep Center Fund” at the Foundation. Their fund supports a variety of needs at the Sleep Center including patient education materials, equipment, and education for staff. Reflecting on his years of giving, Dr. Griffin shares,
“With rapid medical care advancements, our clinical community needs the ongoing support of the Foundation to maintain high quality local healthcare. Carole and I are proud to have helped facilitate meeting the needs of our providers and encourage others to do the same. ”
The same values that shaped Dr. Griffin’s medical career have influenced his giving putting people first and investing in the health and well-being of future generations. We are grateful for the Griffins’ many contributions; he as a physician and both as philanthropists. Dr. Griffin’s professional legacy and enduring generosity demonstrate how one individual can impact an entire community.
A FAMILY LEGACY, AN ENDURING WELCOME
The Crouse Family Helps Create a Warm Welcome for Patients and Visitors
The Crouse family, through the Galvin branch, began summering in Bay View in 1895. Wishing to be more than seasonal visitors, they soon became active in their community. Over a century and six generations later, the family’s contributions are felt throughout northern Michigan in the arts, faith, literature, historical preservation, the environment, and healthcare. During their lifetime, Jack and Virginia Crouse were generous donors to our hospital, a tradition that two of their children, David and Karen, are proud to continue.
After years of visiting Bay View and Walloon Lake, David and Teresa Crouse moved their family to northern Michigan in 2002. They quickly immersed themselves in the community, dedicating their time and resources to many organizations, including our Hospital and Foundation. David, who recently rejoined the Foundation Board, reflects:
“To us, giving means more than writing a check it’s about rolling up our sleeves, getting involved, and witnessing a direct impact in our community. When we see a need, we work to fill it.”
Teresa and David’s commitment was evident after visiting the hospital’s new wing. They had contributed to the Offield Family Pavilion and were impressed by the beauty and functionality of the new building. But they felt something was missing in the main entrance vestibule.
The Crouses reached out to the Foundation and helped to identify and fund enhancements that would mirror the magnificence inside, and create a warmer welcome. It soon became a family endeavor when David’s sister, Karen Crouse Miller, joined in the effort.
As a former cardiac nurse, Teresa views hospital spaces from a patient’s perspective. She suggested adding more seating for those waiting inside and outside the entrance and creating a more defined space for wheelchairs. Additionally, a wood grain tile was applied to the back wall, stunning artwork was installed to create focal points of interest, and a digital panel displaying visitor information was added.
The result is a transformed entryway that is warm, comfortable and welcoming. As Teresa shares:
“Coming to the hospital can bring feelings of worry and fear. We are grateful to help create a more inviting and calming entry that reflects the amazing care provided within. This project has been especially meaningful as it ’s allowed us to blend our interests in supporting healthcare and the arts.”
David and Teresa Crouse at their home on Walloon Lake
Crouse Miller has summered in Bay View and Walloon her entire life and feels a deep connection to this area. When she learned of David and Teresa’s efforts to enhance the new wing’s vestibule, Karen wanted to help. In addition to donating toward the new furnishings, finishes, and art, Karen also gifted original artwork for the Oncology Infusion Center.
Having been involved for years in my hometown in Ohio, I am shifting gears and looking for opportunities in Petoskey. We have generations of family members who ’ve received outstanding treatment and care at the hospital, and it became a priority of mine to help fill a need.
David and Teresa, together with Karen, have carried forward their family’s legacy of enriching life for people throughout northern Michigan. We are grateful to the Crouse Family for their continued support, and for their dedication to making our hospital the best it can be for our patients.
Above and right: Karen Crouse Miller visiting the refreshed vestibule
FUNDING OUR FUTURE HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE
Generous Contributors Support Recruitment Programs
With support from many of our donors, several programs have launched in the last few years to enhance recruitment of both clinical and non-clinical staff throughout McLaren Northern Michigan. From high school students to resident physicians, program participants are being introduced to our culture of care and careers and choosing to work here!
These partnerships with our donors ensure that our community will be cared for by a strong and talented team for decades to come.
FAMILY MEDICINE MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM
Physicians often choose to practice where they complete their residencies. With this in mind, the Family Medicine Medical Residency Program was developed to strengthen recruitment of these providers to our community.
Partially funded by the Foundation and in partnership with McLaren Flint, McLaren Northern Michigan hosts second-year and third year residents. To date:
• Dr. Kenneth Verbos, from the 1ST cohort, graduated this summer and accepted a position with McLaren Northern Michigan Primary Care
• 2ND cohort residents Dr. Anna Carman and Dr. Kristin Hagar will complete residency training next June
• In July, we welcomed our 3RD cohort residents, Dr. Urmi Patel and Dr. Praheetha Muthuvinayagam
From left to right: Praheetha Muthuvinayagam, MD, Urmi Patel, MD, Anna Carman, MD, and Kristin Hagar, MD
CAREER PIPELINE PROGRAM
Launched in 2023, the Career Pipeline Program aims to grow our future workforce by introducing high school students and recent graduates to high-demand careers at McLaren Northern Michigan.
Did You Know? McLaren
Northern Michigan is the largest employer in the region and the majority of employees are not doctors or nurses.
The Program begins by showing students the many careers available at McLaren Northern Michigan and offering a tour of our campuses. They’re encouraged to apply for paid summer internships to gain hands-on experience and, perhaps, inspire a future career right here at our hospital!
NURSE INTERN PROGRAM
This past summer, 17 students from 9 schools were granted internships in the following areas:
• Laboratory
• Marketing
• Nursing Support
• Operating Room
Providing excellent inpatient care relies on our frontline nurses. Through Foundation funding, McLaren Northern Michigan began a paid Nurse Intern Program in 2023. With the goal of boosting nurse recruitment, the program offers many benefits:
• College nursing students gain hands-on experience with clinical skills and “soft” skills like communicating with patients, professional behavior, balancing responsibilities, and more
• Nursing staff gain an extra pair of hands to help care for their patients
• If nurse interns are hired after graduating, their orientation period tends to be shorter, allowing the hospital to deploy them sooner and rely less on traveling nurses
Currently, there are 20 active nurse interns. To date, 40 nursing students have completed their internships with 22 hired as registered nurses. The Program is proving to be a valuable recruitment and retention effort.
• Imaging (Petoskey & Cheboygan campuses)
• Sterile Processing
• Call Center
• Cardiac Catheterization Lab
• Facilities Management
Career Pipeline Imaging Interns Megan Bricker (left) and Claire Howard (right) with Adriane Corlew, Director, Imaging Services
SUMMER EVENTS PUT THE ‘FUN’ IN FUNDRAISING
Throughout the busy summer months, generous individuals, businesses, social clubs and groups of friends combined fun with purpose to support critical needs at McLaren Northern Michigan several are pictured here. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed. Your efforts are already making an impact.
2nd Annual Golf Classic, held on Memorial Day Weekend at The Highlands, raised more than $7,000 to benefit the McLaren Northern Michigan Family Medicine Medical Residency Program
Pictured left (left to right): Josh Hotelling Ron Doe, Dr. Nicholas Coriasso, and Dr. Siddharth Gandhi enjoying a round of golf.
Event Co-Chairs Tami Whalen (left) and Suzanne Seitz (right) with Kathy Schmidt
“Mad Hatter’s Tea Party” was the theme for the Walloon Lake Ladies Golf Association Charity Day in June. During the fun and festive event, over $13,000 was raised for the Foundation’s Breast Health Fund.
The Birchwood Farms & Country Club’s Take a Swing at Cancer fundraiser included men’s and women’s organized play for tennis, pickleball (pictured above), pop tennis and bocce. In total, their Week of Giving raised almost $6,000 for the Oncology Patient Assistance Fund. Over the years, the Birchwood Take a Swing at Cancer events have contributed more than $160,000 to help care for McLaren Northern Michigan patients.
