Healthy Giving, Spring 2025

Healthy Giving

Inspiring Philanthropy in the Community

Dr. Peter Chen gives largest gift ever by a Corewell Health physician

Dear friends of the Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan,

“Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan is fortunate to have the support of philanthropic partners who are committed to helping others and advancing the needs of patients and families, now and in the future.”

With summer on the horizon, the world feels full of possibilities and potential. And possibility is what drives so many of our philanthropic partners, who see what could be and invest their resources to make it a reality.

In this issue of Healthy Giving, you’ll learn about some of those visionaries, including Dr. Peter Chen, a long-time radiation oncologist at Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan, who has given the largest gift ever by a physician to our health system. Dr. Chen’s extraordinary investment will support patient care initiatives, research and technology at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, benefitting thousands of patients each year.

You’ll also get a chance to learn more about investments by donors such as Chris and Anne Blake whose pledge is the first major gift to the LAUNCH program, which matches young adults with diverse learning needs to valuable employment opportunities. Other gifts from Bill and Darrene Baer and Jay Schreibman and the Healing Notes Foundation are supporting our internal medicine residency program at Grosse Pointe and our music therapy program across multiple campuses. We have highlighted, too, how donor support made it possible for the Moceri Learning Center team to provide training that saved the lives of mass shooting victims in Rochester, Michigan last summer. These are just a few of the stories that show how, together, we can help ensure the best care possible for our patients and the community, no matter the need.

When donors, community members and friends come together, anything is possible. Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan is fortunate to have the support of philanthropic partners who are committed to helping others and advancing the needs of patients and families, now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Ryan Daly President Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan

Dear friends of Corewell Health,

“Together over these past three years, we have built a strong foundation for growth. We are focused on quality and accessibility, on ensuring that everyone who trusts us with their care can get exceptional services close to home.”

2025 marks the three-year anniversary of the founding of Corewell Health. When I share this with people, I like to remind them that if Corewell Health was a person, these first three years would be our toddler years. In this span, we got to our feet and learned how to walk. We found our voice, learned who we are and discovered what we can achieve.

Together over these past three years, we have built a strong foundation for growth. We are focused on quality and accessibility, on ensuring that everyone who trusts us with their care can get exceptional services close to home. That focus has earned positive results, including the Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak being named the best in Michigan*, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Now, moving forward, we are focused on stabilization and growth. We have a dedicated and committed leadership team in place. We have an experienced and active board of directors in place. And we have thousands of physicians, nurses and care team members all working toward the shared goal of high quality, compassionate care.

Currently, we are in the early stages of establishing a comprehensive strategic plan that will guide us forward in the years ahead. Together as an organization, we are sharing ideas, building consensus and generating excitement for this plan and what it will mean in the evolution of Corewell Health in southeast Michigan.

Key elements of this plan will support patient care programs, investments in our facilities and technology, and the cultivation of key partnerships in the community, including our long-standing partnership with the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.

Health care changes seemingly by the hour these days. Planning and working together will allow us to stay ahead of the curve and stay true to our goal to be the best health care system in Michigan and among the very best in the nation.

A huge part of achieving these future goals involves you, our donors and friends, who do so much to give back. I am grateful for your partnership, your advocacy and support and I hope you will join us in the next phase of our journey as Corewell Health and all the promise it holds for a strong, healthy future.

Sincerely,

Lamont M. Yoder, RN President Corewell Health East

In brief

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine dean celebrates one-year anniversary

This summer marks the one-year anniversary of Dr. Christopher Carpenter’s appointment as the Stephan Sharf Dean of the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB). He is the third dean of the school, which began in 2011, when OUWB welcomed its charter class.

Prior to assuming the dean role, Carpenter had served as the interim dean, following the retirement of Dr. Duane Mezwa in 2023. Carpenter has been an OUWB professor for years, providing instruction in internal medicine and infectious disease. In addition, he was the Michael E. Maddens M.D. Distinguished Chair in Internal Medicine at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital.

“(Dr. Carpenter) is a proven leader with national expertise and an impressive academic background,” said Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D., Oakland University president, at the time of Carpenter’s appointment. “His integrity, compassion, understanding of both Oakland University and Corewell Health, and his record of mentoring medical students, are all traits we were seeking in our search to embody OUWB’s values and to lead us into an exciting future.”

In addition to his academic duties, Dr. Carpenter also serves as a member of the Corewell Health East executive leadership team. “We are so pleased with Dr. Carpenter’s leadership in continuing our shared legacy of excellence in medical education and delivery of the best in patient care,” said Lamont M. Yoder, RN, Corewell Health East president.

As a Corewell Health physician, Carpenter directed the Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program for a decade and served as section head for five years prior to assuming his role as chief and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in 2019.

In a recent interview with OUWB’s MedConnect magazine, Carpenter reflected on his role. “What makes you most proud is when you see a student who has excelled as an intern, resident, fellow, and eventually as an attending physician. That’s the legacy I would like — to have helped lead the charge in developing exceptional, caring, compassionate and service-oriented physicians.”

Learn more about Dr. Carpenter and OUWB in MedConnect magazine.

Donors support Spiritual Care Endowment at Grosse Pointe Hospital

Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital has long been distinguished by its commitment to addressing not just the physical, but also the spiritual and emotional needs of its patients, families, and staff.

Under the leadership of Father Rich Bartoszek, the hospital’s Spiritual Care program has made significant strides in integrating emotional support into the broader patient care model, while also increasing the availability of its services to hospital staff. This multi-faith initiative ensures that spiritual care is accessible to all who seek it, regardless of background or belief.

Funded entirely by philanthropy, the establishment of the Spiritual Care Endowment Fund in Honor of Father Richard Bartoszek marks a significant step in securing the future of the program. Supported by donors from throughout the Grosse Pointe community, the endowment will ensure that spiritual care remains available and accessible for patients, families and team members alike.

One of the key priorities for the endowment has been the improvement of hospice rooms, transforming them into peaceful, comforting spaces where families can spend quiet, private moments with loved ones. These rooms are critical in providing a serene environment during life’s most difficult times.

Additionally, the fund will support continuing education for chaplains, ensuring they remain well-equipped to provide exceptional care by completing 50 hours of education each year.

Another crucial aspect of the endowment is the creation of a Staff Renewal Center. This dedicated space will allow caregivers to recharge both mentally and physically, helping them to manage stress and maintain the high standards of care expected at Grosse Pointe.

Through these efforts and through the generosity of donors from throughout the community, the endowment

fund will ensure that spiritual care continues to play a vital role in the health of the entire community.

“By supporting this endowment, our donors are helping to extend our legacy of spiritual solace to even more patients and staff,” said Father Bartoszek. “The Spiritual Care Endowment Fund will allow us to continue to have the healing presence our Grosse Pointe hospital is known for well into the future.”

Donors who have generously supported the Spiritual Care Endowment Fund include:

• Frederick and Veronica Alger

• Anonymous

• Carol Campau

• Mary Kay and Keith Crain

• James P. and Mary Anne Dodge Danaher

• Donors to the 2024 Grosse Pointe Gathering

• Donors to the 2023 Grosse Pointe Golf Outing

A vital resource for men’s health in the downriver community

It’s In Your Jeans (IIYJ) is a Michigan-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness, providing education, and offering financial assistance for the preventative treatment of prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer.

Starting in 2016, IIYJ has supported Corewell Health hospitals in the Downriver region, ensuring local men have access to critical resources to manage and detect cancers early, improving their chances of successful treatment and recovery.

Ashley Crowley, a physician relations liaison for Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan, emphasizes the program’s significance: “It’s In Your Jeans plays a critical role in breaking down the stigma around men’s health. Having the support of this organization gives hope, encourages proactive health management, and fosters a space where men can feel empowered to take control of their health.”

A key recent development within the program has been IIYJ’s funding of advanced software called Zoom Diffusion at Corewell Health Trenton Hospital. This new technology enhances the precision of prostate screenings, enabling technicians to more accurately target areas of interest. By allowing radiologists to identify even small changes in the prostate before they become problematic, the software plays an essential role in the early detection

of prostate cancer — a disease that has seen an increasing number of cases in recent years.

The introduction of Zoom Diffusion is expected to increase the capacity for prostate imaging procedures at the Trenton hospital to over 800 patients annually, up from the current average of 400, allowing for the earliest intervention possible for even more men.

By combining cutting-edge resources with a strong commitment to education and support, It’s In Your Jeans is helping men take charge of their health and tackle cancer care and prevention with confidence.

Donor enriches patient experience at Dearborn hospital

Entrepreneur and lifelong philanthropist Chet Czaplicka recently made a generous gift to Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital, in conjunction with his firm Comprehensive Care Services and The Czaplicka Family Trust, in support of the newly established patient discharge lounge. The gift helps ensure thousands of patients each year have a comfortable and quiet place to complete their discharge process.

This gift helps provide the amenities that truly make the space welcoming for patients. These include a cupboard for pantry items, a blanket warmer, mobile phone charging stations, massage chairs, and a monitor for live viewing of the driveway and lobby to easily identify loved ones upon arrival.

Chet’s generosity stems from having grown up in the area and having deep family ties in Dearborn, something that has strengthened his connection to the community and its hospital. Chet’s philanthropic spirit is also fueled by a deep spiritual connection that he works to instill in his children as well.

“I’ve traveled all over the world and seen how so many people live and we’re very fortunate,” Chet said when talking about the importance of giving back to the community. “If everybody had the means to give, you could eliminate so many problems in society.”

Hospital discharging can often be a lengthy process that includes final signoffs from physicians, review of discharge instructions, obtaining medications and securing transportation. After a patient at Dearborn receives confirmation that they are ready to go home, they can now go to the new discharge lounge to go through a streamlined discharge process and await pick up from a friend or family member. This also helps free up inpatient beds more quickly, reducing delays for patients waiting for admission — something particularly vital for emergency center patients who often have urgent needs.

Thanks to the generosity of Chet Czaplicka, patients can now leave the hospital from the comfort of a warm, welcoming new space, ready to begin their recoveries.

Dr. Peter Chen gives largest gift ever by a Corewell Health physician

Corewell Health radiation oncologist Dr. Peter Chen has devoted his lifelong career to saving the lives of others. Recently, he made the largest gift ever by a Corewell Health physician, committing $5 million to establish an endowed chair and fund to support patient care, research and continuing education in radiation oncology at the Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital (WBUH) in Royal Oak.

“With this gift, Dr. Chen illustrates his dedication to the patients of Corewell Health and his passion to continue to offer them the very best treatment that is available,” said Ryan Daly, president, Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan. “He has set the stage for continued advancement and growth in radiation oncology, all dedicated to creating a better future for the children and adults for whom he cares.”

The Dr. Peter Y. Chen and Family Endowed Chair in Radiation Oncology and the Dr. Peter Y. Chen and Family Fund will allow physicians and innovators in the WBUH radiation oncology program to continue to break new ground in treatments and technologies.

The chair and fund also allow Dr. Chen to recognize family members who inspired him as a young man and supported his medical aspirations throughout his career. That includes his parents, who came to the United States from China to attend graduate school at the University of Michigan. They decided to make their home in the U.S. and were married in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Chen’s father rose through the ranks as an automotive engineer, designing a groundbreaking engine for Ford-Lotus that revolutionized Formula 1 and Indy car racing.

“I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given throughout my life and my career,” said Dr. Chen. “This gift is very heartfelt and allows me to honor my wonderful parents along with giving back to Corewell Health’s William Beaumont University Hospital for the privilege of practicing and training residents as a physician specializing in radiation therapy.”

He added, “Most importantly, the fund will support clinical and research programs for our patients — the very reason all who enter the health care profession strive for excellence in patient care.”

In January, Dr. Chen and the Foundation hosted a special gathering to bring together radiation oncology experts and innovators to talk about the future of cancer care, including how understanding the unique metabolism of cancer cells may help guide the development of new therapies and using artificial intelligence to improve care models for patients.

Guests also heard from best-selling author Mitch Albom, who gave a heartfelt and often heartbreaking talk about Chika, a young girl he and his wife brought home from Haiti, where she had been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor at the age of five. Albom spoke of how Dr. Chen and the Corewell Health team had cared for Chika, helping improve her daily well-being and extend her life for as long as possible.

Dr. Chen is widely known for his compassion and his commitment to helping patients, many of whom are facing significant challenges. A number of those patients attended the January event, including a young woman whose eyesight had been preserved through Dr. Chen’s unique treatment of her orbital tumors as an infant of five months and an attorney whose oral cancer had put him at risk of losing his tongue but who has survived with no such loss, thanks to a complex form of radiation known as brachytherapy which Dr. Chen planned, prescribed and delivered.

For more than 35 years on the Royal Oak campus, Dr. Chen and his team at the Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital have been at the forefront of radiation oncology care. They were part of the team opening Michigan’s first proton center in 2017, offering the most advanced radiation oncology treatments available, designed to preserve healthy tissue while targeting tumors with precision. “When the center was built, we had people coming from all abroad for care,” said Dr. Chen. A team of clinicians even came from Japan to Royal Oak to seek the advice of Dr. Chen and his colleagues as the Japanese team was working to bring proton therapy to their own cancer center.

In the years since its opening, the radiation oncology team has been working to devise new and enhanced uses for the proton therapy system, creating new approaches that have impacted everything from pediatric oncology care to breast cancer and prostate cancer treatments.

Board certified in both internal medicine and radiation oncology, Dr. Chen maintains a keen clinical and research interest in breast radiation oncology — contributing to many national research committees, chairing panels on the impact of genomics and immunotherapy on the practice of breast oncology and co-leading a clinical trial on the impact of biomarkers in breast cancer treatment.

Dr. Chen remains profoundly connected not only to his patients but to others around the country who could be impacted by the research in which he is so deeply invested.

At the January event, Dr. Chen concluded his talk with his own take on a line from the classic musical Les Miserables, perfectly summing up his feelings about what it means to be a physician.

“To care for — and to treat — another person is to see the face of God,” he said.

Shermans support breast reconstruction in Royal Oak

Breast cancer affects one in eight women in America. Fortunately, thanks to early detection and other technological advancements, survival rates have steadily increased over the past 30 years.

Jane Sherman and her husband, Larry, have been longtime supporters of the Comprehensive Breast Care Center at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, helping ensure that our breast care patients in southeast Michigan continue to benefit from worldclass care. Their gift has facilitated the acquisition of an operative microscope and a device used to diagnose lymphedema — both of which enhance our physicians’ ability to provide the most effective treatment.

“The Shermans’ generosity has transformed the way we care for our patients,” said Dr. Kongkrit Chaiyasate.

“Their support has allowed us to integrate innovative technology that directly enhances outcomes for women undergoing breast reconstruction and lymphedema treatment.

The impact of their gift will be felt for years to come.”

This state-of-the-art treatment and surgical program, which performs 200-300 breast reconstructions each year, is committed not only to providing our breast cancer patients with the best possible treatment, but also to ensuring that they are comfortable and confident in their bodies once their treatment is over.

Corewell Health’s microsurgeons offer two key procedures to help

ensure our breast cancer patients experience the best possible recovery:

1. Robot-assisted nipple-sparing mastectomy, a technique that preserves the entire breast skin envelope using improved access and higher levels of precision

2. Robot-assisted deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap surgery, a technique developed by Corewell Health Surgery Service Line Chief Dr. Jesse Selber that uses tissue from the abdomen to reconstruct one or both breasts.

Our team at the Comprehensive Breast Care Center also offers surgical repair for lymphedema, a swelling of the limbs caused by a compromised lymphatic system.

“Lymphedema is a debilitating disease that results most frequently from breast cancer treatment,”

explained Dr. Selber. “Until a few years ago, there was no surgical treatment for this — only conservative management.”

Today our extraordinary breast care team is able to treat this condition via microsurgery, reconnecting lymphatic vessels less than one millimeter in diameter to the venous system and enhancing the return of extracellular body fluid into the circulatory system. This procedure allows lymphatic fluid to flow, which reduces swelling. The Shermans’ gift has played a significant role in making this procedure available to patients across southeast Michigan.

“There are thousands of Corewell Health breast cancer patients who could benefit from lymphedema surgery,” said Dr. Selber. “Now that we have developed the surgical techniques and acquired the necessary equipment, we can help address this community need.”

Donors help strike a chord for music therapy

A hospital stay can be a stressful experience for a child. Fortunately, Corewell Health Children’s Child Life Services team offers a variety of programs to help make the hospital environment more welcoming for our young patients.

Among the most popular of these programs is music therapy, and thanks to support from donors like Jay Schreibman and the Healing Notes Foundation, the program is expanding to reach even more pediatric patients through a music therapy fellowship initiative.

Donor generosity is providing support to train the next generation of music therapists while at the same time, offering compassionate, comforting care to pediatric patients.

“The music therapy fellowship program has been a great asset for the patients and families at Corewell Health and the fellow has been a welcomed member of the Child Life Services team,” said music therapist Sophie Lattimer.

Music therapists focus on trying to make children’s hospital stays a little less scary and a little more fun. This can involve instrument play, songwriting, lyric analysis, music relaxation and instrument instruction. Children can even make their own instruments out of hospital supplies.

Young patients can take a break from focusing on their illness or injury and instead take time to enjoy hearing or making music. “Honestly, I don’t even know how to thank you,” said a parent about their child’s music therapy experience. “Music therapy is one of the reasons my daughter didn’t want to even go home when we found out we were being discharged.”

In addition to making hospitalization a less stressful experience for pediatric patients, our music therapists also help children cope with the loss of a loved one.

Overall, patient outreach has doubled since the establishment of the fellowship program, from 30 to 60 patients each month — a 100 percent increase.

“I loved collaborating with the other members of the Child Life team to help children and families,” said Hannah Gibson, who recently completed her music therapy fellowship. “Through a year of hands-on experience, I gained confidence in my ability and decision making. Each patient interaction helped me become a better music therapist.”

Hannah recalled working with a teenage girl who had been diagnosed with catatonia and did not respond much to speech or touch. “But she began to come alive when music was played,” Hannah said. “This patient had been a musician for many years, and music therapy helped her rediscover her passion. By the end of our time together she was getting out of bed to play piano almost every day. I was so honored to be a part of her journey.”

Successes like these would not be possible without the support of donors like the Healing Notes Foundation and Jay Schreibman and their investment in the power of music to comfort and heal.

Corewell Health clinician brings leading-edge procedure to Southeast Michigan

For more than four decades, Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan has been known as a leader in heart care, with a heart and vascular team that is comprised of highly skilled and compassionate clinicians who have developed procedures and medical treatments that have become standards of cardiac care worldwide.

Dr. Rakesh Suri, a globally recognized thought leader and pioneering cardiac surgeon, has added to the team’s list of firsts by launching a groundbreaking robotic mitral valve repair program at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak.

Dr. Suri and his team began offering this innovative procedure in late 2024 and have already completed several of these surgeries for Corewell Health patients. As an international leader in this type of care, he has performed more than 1,000 of these procedures in the United States and abroad. Prior to joining Corewell Health, Dr. Suri led Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as president and chief executive officer and served as executive team member of the Cleveland Clinic Enterprise.

“I can perhaps best describe Dr. Suri as the Michael Jordan of robotic surgery,” said Dr. Simon Dixon, chair of the department of cardiovascular medicine, the Dorothy Susan Timmis Endowed Chair at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital and professor of medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. “The types of surgical repairs that he is doing are nothing short of spectacular. We are so fortunate to have Dr. Suri on our team to provide such cutting-edge treatments for our patients and community.”

Robotic mitral valve repair surgery is used to treat mitral valve regurgitation, a condition where the mitral valve, which is located between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart, does not close properly. This allows blood to flow backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium, and can lead to complications such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, cardiogenic shock, stroke or even death. Mitral valve regurgitation is the most common type of heart valve disease, and a heart murmur can be an early sign of this condition.

“When a murmur is detected, often through a routine physical examination, a patient should be referred to a highly trained, expert cardiologist. If mitral valve regurgitation is found, referral for surgery within three months of diagnosis is associated with better outcomes and long-term survival,” said Dr. Suri.

Using a robotic and minimally invasive approach, Dr. Suri performs the surgery in a way that significantly

decreases a patient’s hospital stay and recovery time. Because the robot can make such small incisions, no large muscles need to be cut, and the breastbone and ribs do not need to be spread to insert tools and repair the valve.

“We save the valve, and we do it in a way where there is minimal to no pain for the patient,” Dr. Suri said. “They’re able to come to the intensive care unit comfortable and awake — they’re walking around the day of surgery. They’re out of hospital soon after and they’re back to work a week after surgery. It’s really a phenomenal offering for the community.”

Dr. Suri said that while he is thrilled that Corewell Health is able to offer leading-edge therapy, it takes support. He is grateful to community members who have invested in the program so far and looks forward to seeing what additional investments could help accomplish.

“It takes support to be able to stay up to date on the latest findings, and to train not only surgeons, but our entire clinical team, and to ensure we have all the team members on staff that we need,” Dr. Suri said.

He noted that additional support will be needed to build out space for the program and to study outcomes and share them for the benefit of the rest of the medical community.

Robotic mitral valve repair is currently offered at only a select few centers in the nation, making Corewell Health’s program uniquely valuable to residents of Michigan and beyond. To learn more about supporting this program, please contact the Foundation at 947.522.0100.

Empowering young adults with diverse learning needs

A generous gift from Chris and Anne Blake has significantly advanced a special program at Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe. The LAUNCH (Learn, Advocate, Understand, Nurture, Coach and Hope) program empowers young adults with diverse learning needs by providing training, career exploration, and confidence-building opportunities through volunteering in various hospital departments.

The program is designed to lend diverse perspectives, break down stereotypes, and foster an even more inclusive environment for participants, team members, and patients. As the first major donors to the LAUNCH program, the Blakes have supported a cause close to Chris’s heart. When he was growing up, Chris’s mother worked with children with special needs, teaching them cooking skills in the Blake’s kitchen. Chris enjoyed many lunches with them, eating the food they had prepared.

The LAUNCH program was initiated by Betsy Schulte, director of Volunteers for Grosse Pointe & Troy, who brought on Clay Vandenbussche as coordinator and mentor. Betsy and Clay have created this pioneering and groundbreaking program that is attracting members from all over the community. “LAUNCH opens doors wide, allowing participants to explore all hospital areas. Once they find their interest, they don’t just shine — they illuminate,” Betsy said

The LAUNCH program began in July 2023 with a single volunteer, Griffin Wright, who has since contributed over 1,000 volunteer hours. Today, LAUNCH has a total of 12 volunteer participants who work throughout the hospital, including in radiology, materials management, central processing, gift shop, nutritional services, and surgery.

“I am finding that the LAUNCH program is bringing awareness to the entire hospital to the needs of

Peter Kotula, a father whose daughter, Sophie, participates in LAUNCH, said, “Through LAUNCH, our child eagerly anticipates being accepted, helpful, and needed. It has given Sophie confidence in many areas, including feeling safe away from home and working with others. It is a unique program, very much needed in our community.”

those whose brains work differently,” said Gina Allender, director of Nutritional Services. “Every single community needs a program like this.”

Volunteers must be posthigh school and able to work independently. On average, participants spend one year in the program. Flexibility is key, as much consideration is given to both participant needs and the expectations of their families.

These young adults are doing more than just volunteering. They have become active contributors to the Corewell Health community and continue to have a positive

impact on all aspects of the hospital environment.

“LAUNCH has made an incredible impact on the culture at Grosse Pointe,” said Derk Pronger, president of the Grosse Pointe hospital. “We are so grateful to have these young people as part of our team, making a difference to the people in our Grosse Pointe communities.”

The LAUNCH program is also supported by funding from the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). Corewell Health Children’s is the sole CMN partner in Southeast Michigan, aiding in LAUNCH’s expansion to meet the needs of this important program.

Baer gift supports residency training at Grosse Pointe hospital

Nationwide, communities are facing a shortage of family medicine physicians. Donors Darrene and Bill Baer are helping address that need with their support of the Family Medicine Residency program at Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital.

The Baers’ support helps address the unexpected needs residents might face during their time with the program. For example, given the often-high cost of medical school, it is not uncommon for residents to face financial challenges in the early stages of their careers. This support from the Baers ensures that all family medicine residents, no matter their circumstances, can complete their training.

“This gift from Bill and Darrene Baer is really allowing our residents to focus on what’s important — their learning and the patients,” said Dr. Jodie Rappe, vice president of Medical Affairs, Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital.

In the United States, only 13 percent of U.S. medical school graduates match into family medicine residency programs, something that is leading experts to project a significant shortage of primary care physicians in the future.

Medical students may be shying away from this career path for any number of reasons, including administrative burdens, limited residency positions and the fact that a primary care physician may earn significantly less than a specialist over the course of their career. That makes it difficult to pay off student loan debt accumulated during college and medical school.

By offering support to residents during their training, the goal is to make their path toward a career in family medicine easier — and to keep promising primary care physicians close to home, right here in southeast Michigan.

The Baers’ gift has supported many hardworking residents since its implementation, including one individual facing significant pressures. This resident was a physician in her home country of Israel, but regulations required her to complete a residency program in the United States before being able to practice here.

While working in the Grosse Pointe residency program, she made the difficult and costly decision to move her family including her husband, who is also a physician, and

their two small children to the United States to flee the warfare plaguing the region. When the family’s visas came up for renewal, all four of them had to fly back to Israel to renew them in person. With only one parent working, the cost of the four international flights was a heavy burden.

The program helped mitigate those costs.

“She will be making a huge contribution as an American citizen once she completes her residency but, in the meantime, she needed help,” said Dr. Rappe.

The family residency program at Grosse Pointe focuses on developing physicians who can provide the full spectrum of primary care to all populations, including individuals who are vulnerable or underserved. Physicians are trained also to manage chronic illnesses and work to establish lasting relationships with patients to better promote long-term health. All of this and more result in a program that has helped its residents achieve a 100 percent pass rate on the board certification exam.

When it comes to helping residents in need, “I haven’t said no yet!” said Dr. Rappe, who is grateful to donors like Darrene and Bill Baer for helping young clinicians pursue a much-needed career path and, ultimately, make health care better and more accessible for all.

Donor support helps Moceri Learning Center change lives throughout community

Located within Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital, the Frances & Dominic Moceri Learning Center was created in 2016 with the singular goal of enhancing the delivery of patient care. In large part due to the extraordinary support from philanthropic partners and community members, the center has held true to that purpose for nearly 10 years.

“It is such a privilege to have a space like the Moceri Learning Center right here on our hospital campus,” said Nancy Susick, president of the Troy hospital. “The state-of-the-art medical simulation laboratory, computer laboratory and classrooms provide clinical staff and students with the best training opportunities possible. This center truly helps make our teams best prepared to handle whatever situation may arise.”

Last summer, the impact of the Moceri Learning Center on our community became abundantly clear. After a shooting at a Rochester Hills splash pad in June, several members of the Bebout family were rushed to Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital and Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital.

Janek, 8, and Julen, 4, along with their mother, Johanna, were treated for injuries they sustained in the shooting. Janek had been shot in the head and at one point had to be resuscitated, while his brother Julen suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. Johanna was shot several times after she threw herself in front of her children to protect them. The trauma teams on duty that day — and the weeks after — leapt into action and worked together to provide the Bebouts with the highest level of care. Team members had received training for similar trauma situations in the Moceri Learning Center and so were expertly prepared to handle the situation.

“My family survived this unimaginable tragedy, and they survived it because of you,” Josh, Johanna’s husband and Janek and Julen’s dad, told care team members during a visit back to the Troy hospital. “You all gave every bit of your energy, skill, compassion, care and kindness to a family who had been shattered by violence. You picked up the pieces of our lives and delicately put them back together piece by piece.…The gratitude I feel for all of you knows no end.”

The Moceri Learning Center helps clinicians to prepare and practice in a safe space for a large variety of medical situations. The simulation learning laboratory allows users to apply their theoretical

knowledge and develop clinical expertise in a realistic environment complete with medical devices and supplies such as crash carts, ventilators and surgical tools as well as life-like, robotic manikins that mimic human anatomy and physiology. Taken together, this training provides a safe learning experience for clinicians to hone their skills and gain new knowledge that can be executed in the real world.

Last year, more than 800 training and education sessions

We are grateful to our donors for their support of the Moceri Learning Center. Some of our lead community partners include:

were held at the Moceri Learning Center, focused on everything from obstetrical emergencies to chest tube insertions and intubations to introductory practice scenarios surrounding patient and wound assessments.

“We are so thankful to the Moceri family and our many generous donors who have supported the center, and in turn, are supporting the entire community,” said Ryan Daly, president of the Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan.

• Frances Moceri and family

• Mike and Mary Chirco and family

• Ben and Barbara Maibach

• Mohammad and Farhat Qazi

• The Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation

We’re gearing up for summer fun!

As we prepare for the annual summer lineup of events, we hope you’ll plan to join us to support numerous patient programs at Corewell Health in a fun and exciting way that brings our community together.

Date Update

Monday, June 9, 2025 | Detroit Golf Club

The Children’s Miracle Network at Corewell Health Children’s and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation continue their annual collaboration where every foursome enjoys a celebrity pairing from the worlds of sports and entertainment. Proceeds benefit both Corewell Health Children’s lifesaving pediatric patient services and Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation programs.

Location Update

Monday, June 16, 2025 | Dearborn Country Club

This popular event is now being held on one course only, featuring an 18-hole tournament for men and women in the morning and a women-only nine-hole tournament in the afternoon. This event benefits breast cancer treatment programs at Corewell Health hospitals in Dearborn, Taylor, Trenton and Wayne.

Thursday, July 24, 2025 |

Grosse Pointe Shores

Hosted at a private lakeside residence, this evening fundraiser benefits Corewell Health Beaumont Grosse Pointe Hospital’s Spiritual Care Endowment Fund. This second annual event welcomes guests to enjoy a cocktail reception, strolling dinner, outdoor activities and live entertainment while taking in a spectacular view of Lake St. Clair.

Location Update

Monday, Sept. 29, 2025 | Birmingham Country

Club

Enjoy the new venue for this event at Birmingham Country Club. All proceeds benefit oncology programs and services at the Walter & Marilyn Wolpin Comprehensive Breast Care Center at the Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak and the Wilson Cancer Resource Center at the Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital.

Easy ways to benefit Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan through one’s estate

Planned (estate) gifts provide a significant source of funding for Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan and they are also easy to establish through the following options:

• Listing Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan as beneficiary of all or part of a retirement account. As many retirement accounts are subject to income taxes when funds are withdrawn, this option is particularly attractive as transfers to Corewell Health Foundation are tax-free. Further, this gift is easy to effectuate through a change of beneficiary form provided by your retirement plan administrator.

• Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan can also be listed as a whole life insurance policy beneficiary. This gift is easy to establish through a change of beneficiary form provided by your life insurance carrier.

• A simple amendment to an existing will or trust documents can be done to include Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan among the beneficiaries of your estate. Amendments to existing estate plans are easy to make and at a relatively low cost.

These are just a few examples to consider. If you have any questions or want to learn more, please contact Lawrence Ghannam, JD, development director, at lawrence.ghannam@ corewellhealth.org or call 947.522.0112.

Thank you to our generous corporate partners

In 2024, Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) corporate partners continued their commitment to supporting the 200,000 children treated annually at Corewell Health Children’s, helping to raise funds for leading-edge health care equipment and programming that will provide better outcomes for young patients.

Last year, our top four corporate partners achieved some incredible results, sometimes one dollar at a time, on behalf of our pediatric patients.

• 7-Eleven and Speedway, plus the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), together raised $458,561, largely coming from a year-round ask at the register at 105 Speedway stores.

• Costco raised $455,470 for CMN at Corewell Health Children’s through their annual spring campaign at 12 regional locations.

• Ace Hardware experienced a 13 percent increase in giving from last year, raising $378,997 through various customer-facing and associate-giving campaigns at 84 stores.

• Walmart and Sam’s Club raised and donated over $310,700 for CMN at Corewell Health Children’s last year across 37 locations. They also sponsored our Walk for Miracles event at the Detroit Zoo and had an impressive increase in year-round associate giving with an overall increase of 7.7 percent.

Meet Kennedy, Corewell Health Children’s 2025 CMN Champion

In December 2020, Kennedy Shallal, a typically energetic and happy four-year-old, began showing signs of unusual fatigue, strange bruises and a persistent nosebleed. Her parents became concerned and took her to Corewell Health Children’s, where she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

She was treated with chemotherapy and regular hospital visits, which were challenging not only because of the tiring nature of the care, but because COVID-19 restrictions were in place. Thankfully, the care teams at the Skandalaris Family Center for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders and the Proton Therapy Center in Royal Oak provided the highest level of compassionate care during this challenging time. Additionally, thanks to support from our CMN partners, Corewell Health Children’s was not only able to provide Kennedy with life-saving treatment, but also added comfort and love in the form of pet therapy. Therapy dogs Olive and Millie brought Kennedy immense joy, easing her through grueling treatments. Kennedy’s twin sister, Regan, also cherished time with the therapy dogs once COVID-19 restrictions eased. Kennedy has been in full remission since April 2023 and today, she is a happy and healthy eight-year-old. Inspired by Olive and Millie, she and Regan plan to own an animal shelter when they get older and raise therapy dogs to help other kids.

104.3 WOMC Turn Up the Miracles Radiothon raises more than $600,000 to benefit Corewell Health Children’s, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital

The annual 104.3 WOMC Turn Up the Miracles Radiothon, presented by Bridgestone, took place on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, and $600,654 was raised from sponsors, listeners, and Red Tie Ball guests to support programs at Corewell Health Children’s in Southeast Michigan.

Radiothon listeners heard WOMC’s on-air talent talk about exceptional patient care programs and heard from local patients and families whose lives were saved and transformed through the care they received at Corewell Health Children’s. Each hour highlighted a CMN-supported program, including custom therapy bikes for special needs children; pet therapy; RE/MAX preschool speech therapy instruction; pediatric intensive care; diabetes education for children; and music and art therapy.

The special final Red Tie Hour focused specifically on Corewell Health Children’s Center for Exceptional Families in Dearborn and raised more than $325,000.

Thank you to our generous 104.3 WOMC Turn Up the Miracles Radiothon sponsors including:

Hourly sponsors

• Bridgestone

• Credit Union One

• 3-Dimensional Services

• Tubby’s

• Dort Financial Credit Union

• RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan

• The Hough Foundation

• Arts Beats and Eats

Champion sponsors

• Velera

• Creative Dining Services

• CTI

Thank you to our generous Red Tie Ball sponsors: Presenting sponsors

• Drs. Harris, Birkhill, Wang, Songe and Associates, P.C.

• Karen and Patrick Smithbauer

• Toni A. Wisne Foundation

Sponsors $10,000+

• Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital – Medical Staff

• Laurie Cunnington

• Gardner White Furniture

• International Outdoor

• Mary and Donald Kosch

Florida event welcomes donors, offers exciting insight into heart care advancements

This past February, the Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan welcomed guests to a special luncheon in Palm Beach, Florida. Called Connections and Innovations in Health Care, the event featured presentations from Corewell Health President and CEO Tina Freese Decker and Corewell Health East President Lamont M. Yoder, RN. Guests also had the chance to hear from Drs. Simon Dixon, Thomas Schwann and Penny Wilton about exciting new advancements in heart care that could have a life-changing impact on patients at Corewell Health now and in the future.

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