August 2021: Christine Nault joins Oaklawn

During August 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Family nurse practitioner Christine Nault joins Oaklawn in Marshall, Tekonsha ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – One might imagine that Christine Nault has medical knowledge built into her genetic code. The circumstances of her life even created an environment that inspired her toward a medical career.

“I have two aunts and a mother in medicine, and I like to help people,” she said. “ I knew even when I was in high school that medicine probably would be in my future.”

Now a family nurse practitioner with a years-long history of service in Calhoun County, Nault will divide her professional duties between two Oaklawn Medical Group offices – Marshall Primary Care in Suite 1E of the Wright Medical Building, 215 E. Mansion St , and Tekonsha Family Medicine at 2218 Old US-27 North, Tekonsha.

Appointments at the Marshall office may be made by calling (269) 781-3938. Appointments at the Tekonsha office may be made by calling (517) 767-4038.

While the former Christine Hoffsten was a child in Grosse Pointe, her younger sister was born with a condition that demanded a series of surgeries.

“Seeing what my sister went though – and seeing the difference that nurses made in her care – spurred me to go into nursing,” Nault said. “She had some standout nurses that made her experience in the hospital so much better, even fun.”

Watching such professionals work with her sister had a profound impact on the young woman.

“They showed that they cared about her, our parents and about me as her sibling,” she said. “It was good to see how well she was cared for, while putting her significantly more at ease during all that she had to go through.”

While attending Grosse Pointe South High School, young Nault already was excelling in math and science, setting the stage for a career in health care.

Nault subsequently enrolled in Valparaiso University's nursing curriculum, from which she graduated in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree.

From 2006 to 2012, she worked as a registered nurse in the University of Michigan Health System's cardiovascular intensive care unit, which she also served as an interim supervisor.

After earning a master of science degree in nursing as a family nurse practitioner from Oakland University in early 2012, Nault first came to work at Marshall-based Oaklawn and was based at its Tekonsha office for eight years.

Now she is returning to Oaklawn with fond memories of her former service there.

“I had a great experience at Oaklawn,” she said. “I really grew as a nurse practitioner because I had great colleagues. Now I'm coming back because of have a passion for family medicine and want to work with that team, which works so well together.”

Nault is certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and is additionally certified in basic life support as well as advanced cardiovascular life support.

Nault is a member of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners and the Oaklawn Medical Group's Provider Leadership Committee.

Nault lives in Grass Lake with her husband of 14 years, Michael – an information technology manager with Chicago-based Envista Forensics – and their three children, Andrew, 6, and twins Eleanor and William, both 2.

In her spare time, Nault enjoys baking, exercising, relaxing with “beach reads” and traveling, particularly to Michigan's northern peninsula. 

July 2021: Jeanette Sullivan joins Michigan practice

During July 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Nurse practitioner Jeannette Sullivan joins Marshall Internal & Family Medicine ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – When asked what inspired Jeannette Sullivan to pursue a medical career, she points to a story she liked when she was a young teen-ager in Manistee.

“I read a book about a 'candy striper'” – one of the many young female hospital volunteers in the United States who, starting in the 1940s, stood out because of their pinafores sporting red and white stripes resembling candy canes.

The story fascinated the former Jeannette Daniels, especially because it told a tale of people who care for others when they're ill. The account stuck with her as she pursued her studies at Manistee Catholic Central High School, setting the stage for a 30-year medical career.

Sullivan now is rejoining the Oaklawn Medical Group, which she served as a nurse practitioner for two years beginning in 2015.

Sullivan will be based at Marshall Internal & Family Medicine, 720 Old US-27 North, focusing on endocrinology services while working with Dr. Cynthia Abacan, M.D. Appointments may be made by calling (269) 781-6600.

“I came from a very nurturing family, and my love for people and animals was huge when I was young,” she said. “I was either going to be a veterinarian or go into medicine.”

Before launching her college studies, Sullivan worked in local health-care and dental offices, finding special support from her parents as the first member of the family to pursue medicine as a career.

“The interaction with people and the ability to help them get through their medical situations enticed me and made me want to be part of the medical community,” she said.

In 1994, Sullivan graduated from Scottsville-based West Shore Community College with an associate's degree in nursing. She went on to obtain a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Ferris State University in 1999 and a master of science degree in nursing from Grand Valley State University's family nurse practitioner program in 2002.

Sullivan initially worked as a trauma nurse practitioner for Traverse City-based Munson Medical Center and as a nursing instructor in pharmacology for Cadillac-based Baker College. She went on to work as a family nurse practitioner for Ludington-based Millennium Medical Group, focusing on geriatrics, and as a nurse practitioner caring for long-term and acute-care nursing-home residents in Baldwin, Ludington and Manistee.

After additional experience as a nurse practitioner for Cadillac Occupational Medicine & Obstetrics and the Detroit-based Hospitalist Group, Sullivan worked as a nurse practitioner for Oaklawn Medical Group and later as a family nurse practitioner for Kalamazoo-based Ascension Borgess Hospital, focusing on endocrinology.

Sullivan is licensed as a registered nurse and a family nurse practitioner by the Michigan Board of Nursing, and is certified in basic life support. She is a member of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Diabetic Association.

Sullivan's husband of six years, Roger, has a dental practice in Schoolcraft. Between them, they have six adult children living in various U.S. states, as well as four grandchildren and a fifth due later this year.

In her spare time, Sullivan enjoys do-it-yourself crafting projects and sewing, as well as bicycling and skiing excursions with her husband.

“We also like to travel,” she said, adding that they've particularly enjoyed trips to various U.S. states to see their children, as well as visits to France, Italy and Switzerland. 

The couple live in Portage. Sullivan intends to commute from there to her new job at Oaklawn.

“I couldn't be more thrilled to come back,” Sullivan said of her return to Oaklawn. “When I was here before, the staff was so kind and it was such a wonderful community. They made me feel as part of a family. I knew everyone, and that was a good feeling.” 

August 2021: Survey seeks health-care input

                                  

The following press release was prepared and distributed in early August 2021 on behalf of Oaklawn Hospital of Marshall, Michigan. ...

~ Survey seeks area residents' views about Calhoun County health-care needs ~ 

Adult residents of Calhoun County, Michigan, are being asked to participate in a survey to determine regional health needs.

The online survey – part of the ongoing Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) – stems from a partnership among Bronson Healthcare, Oaklawn, CareWell Services Southwest (Area Agency on Aging) and the Calhoun County Public Health Department, with support from the Coordinating Council and Population Health Alliance.

Those who wish to complete the survey may find it at www.research.net/r/CalhounCoHealth.

Survey responses are being gathered through Aug. 29 and are made voluntarily and anonymously. Participants must be 18 years old or older to complete the survey, which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Under guidelines established by the Affordable Care Act, nonprofit hospitals and other community organizations have conducted similar assessments every two to three years, allowing health-care leaders to develop a snapshot of major local needs.

“Our goal is to collaborate on an inclusive assessment of community health,” said Nicole DuPont, who is director of strategic development for Summit Pointe, Calhoun County Community Mental Health Authority, and operations lead for The Coordinating Council.

“This survey collects community data to illuminate the most pressing health needs of the community and identify any gaps in services and health inequities,” DuPont said. Data collected can be used to maximize resources and develop a comprehensive action plan for improving health countywide, she said.

Survey results are expected to be made available and shared broadly in the community within the coming year.

DuPont said the assessment's methodology provides insights for health-care leaders to develop measurable strategies designed to address the social determinants of health and attain more equitable outcomes.

“Critical to this process is the community voice, which uplifts concerns shared by residents about their own health and the places where they work and live,” she said.

“After the survey is concluded, the work doesn't end,” said Irene Johnston, MSN-RN, who serves as Oaklawn's director of quality, safety and risk. “Oaklawn and other Calhoun County health-care organizations go to work to try to meet the needs that are identified.”

For example, she said, a similar past survey helped to determine that an urgent-care clinic was a significant need in the Albion community. Subsequently, Oaklawn Express Care was established in early 2019.

Such a result illustrates an important aspect of the assessment process, which is intended to prioritize and magnify the needs of vulnerable populations, DuPont said.

“This unique collaboration allows us to approach the work in a more cohesive fashion, leveraging collective resources with community partners, in order to reimagine how to achieve better health outcomes,” she said.

June 2021: The Gillettes meet Mr. Holmes

On June 27, 2021, the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park offered an exclusive event to its members and visitors to the Connecticut park -- a meeting between the Castle's residents, William and Helen Gillette, and one of their favorite people, Sherlock Holmes.

Beginning in the late 19th century and continuing for many years, Gillette had portrayed the great detective on stage, on radio and in a silent film. This special presentation imagined Holmes stepping from the world of the imagination to greet the Gillettes as a guest visitor to their estate. 

For the occasion, William Gillette was portrayed by Harold Niver and his wife Helen by Theodora Niver. Holmes was portrayed by John C. Sherwood. The performance was presented near the Castle on three occasions, and the video offered here is of the day's final performance.

To view the 26-minute video, Click here (doing so will open a new window). Otherwise, copy and paste the following URL into your browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxACsUCkgHs.

MysteryVisits Communications was honored to provide Mr. Holmes's appearance for this event. To learn more about the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, Click here (doing so will open a new window). Otherwise, copy and paste the following URL into your browser: http://www.gillettecastlefriends.org.

June 2021: Amy Traxler joins Oaklawn

During June 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

~ Nurse practitioner Amy Traxler joins Oaklawn's After Hours Express – Marshall ~ 

MARSHALL, Michigan – The kindness a medical professional who also was a family friend had a profound effect on Amy Traxler as she grew up in her hometown of Camden.

As a result, today she credits her friend for having inspired her own work as a nurse and family nurse practitioner, a career she continues as a new member of the staff of the Oaklawn Medical Group's After Hours Express – Marshall.  

Traxler will be seeing patients at the service's office at 1174 W Michigan Ave. Appointments aren't necessary because of the nature of the service. Further information is available by calling (269) 789-4390. 

Traxler was a senior at Camden Frontier High School with a strong interest in becoming a teacher in the special-education field. That changed, however, because of her experience with a close friend of her family.

“I've known her my whole life, and she worked in one of the practices where I had been a patient as a teen-ager,” Traxler said. “She helped treat me. She was very kind and I loved her approach as a nurse.” 

Traxler said she was grateful that she made the switch from education to medicine. 

“It was the best course to take,” she said. “I'm so glad that I did.” 

Traxler received an associate nursing degree from Battle Creek-based Kellogg Community College in 1998, first serving with the Community Health Center of Branch County. She later worked as a staff nurse for medical organizations in Hillsdale and Sturgis. 

From 2007 until recently, Traxler has worked as a surgical-pediatric staff nurse, registered nurse case manager and family nurse practitioner, chiefly for medical organizations in the Coldwater area. 

In 2013, Traxler earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Goshen College in Indiana, and went on to obtain a master of science degree through the college's family nursing practitioner program in 2016. 

Traxler is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and holds additional credentials in basic and advanced cardiac life support and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Traxler, who has resided in Coldwater since 2020, has three adult children – a son, Wesley, 26, and two daughters, Hope, 22, and Cassie, 21. She also has two grandchildren.

Her hobbies include caring for her Great Dane puppy, Ellie, as well as flower and vegetable gardening, baking, walking, kayaking and travel.

“My goal is to go to all 50 states,” she said, adding that a favorite travel location is Alaska, where her brother lives.

“It's absolutely beautiful and peaceful there,” she said.

In considering her new assignment, Traxler said she has been drawn to Oaklawn's level of medical professionalism. 

“I like the community hospital setting in a small town,” she said. “I've been very impressed with everyone with whom I've come into contact. I'm greatly looking forward to this opportunity to transition to something new.” 

June 2021: Hiren Patel joins Oaklawn

During June 2021, MysteryVisits Communications provided this press release on behalf of Oaklawn ... 

Relatives' plight inspired 'Hiren' Patel to pursue career as rheumatologist

MARSHALL, Michigan – As Hirenkumar “Hiren” Patel was growing up and attending school in India, he had no idea that he would become the first in his family to become a physician.

A family medical challenge led the young man to consider and pursue a career as a rheumatologist – a practice he now has continued for nearly two decades, most recently as one of the newest members of the Oaklawn medical team.

As of early July, Patel will be based in Suite 1E in the Marshall Primary Care Office in the Wright Medical Building, 215 E. Mansion St. Appointments are to be made through referrals from primary-care or other physicians.

Like many others who find themselves propelled into medical careers, Patel's story began with his observation early in life of an affliction affecting the lives of others.

Patel was a student at D.N. High School in Anand – a town in the western state of Gujarat in India – during the time that two of his cousins were struck with severe rheumatic disease.

“I watched them suffer because they had severe joint pain in their hands and knees,” he said. “At the time, there was no rheumatologist in our area. There was nothing in the entire state that offered the kind of medical help they needed.”

Patel was about 15 years old at the time. The experience compelled him to learn more about the area of medicine that might have helped his cousins, he said.

“I wanted to learn why this condition happened and to go to medical school to learn all the new advances,” he said.

In so doing, he received unquestioning encouragement from his family.

“In India, doctors are highly respected,” Patel said. “In a lower- to middle-class family in India, a good education is the most important thing to help people move forward. Because my parents always emphasized education from the beginning, I always had a lot of support.”

While in India from 1999 to 2002, Patel served as a volunteer in a World Health Organization polio-immunization program, a government-operated school health program and in earthquake relief operations.

Meanwhile, Patel pursued medical studies at Gujarat University's B.J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, receiving a bachelor of medicine/bachelor of surgery degree in 2003.

After moving to the United States and becoming a U.S. citizen, Patel pursued his residency in internal medicine at Stony Brook University Hospital in the state of New York, completing the program in 2008.

Patel went on to become chief resident in primary care at Northport (Virginia) Medical Center, then undertook a fellowship in rheumatology at the Stony Brook hospital and worked as a rheumatology physician at a Florida-based arthritis and osteoporosis treatment center.

Patel comes to Oaklawn after having served as a rheumatology physician for the Parkview Physicians Group in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he now resides.

Patel has been certified in rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine since 2008. He is a member of the American College of Rheumatology and is licensed to practice medicine in Michigan, Indiana, Florida and New York. In addition to English, he speaks Gujarati – the dialect of his native state – as well as Hindi.

In his spare time, Patel enjoys listening to music – especially of the “Bollywood” variety – and cooking spicy food. In sports, he prefers watching American football as well as cricket.

He and Nikita Patel, his wife of 18 years, have two daughters – 14-year-old Niya and 9-year-old Risha. He said that, once their children have completed their school year, the family will consider moving to the Marshall area.

“I have passed through Marshall and stopped there many times while traveling to visit family members in Michigan,” he said. “It's convenient, and Marshall has the sort of rural setting that I enjoy.”

In fact, Oaklawn's broad service area – ranging from Calhoun County into neighboring countries – helped Patel in his decision to join its medical team.

“It's a large-draw area that serves a lot of patients, as I've done in Fort Wayne,” he said. “That's what I like.”

May 2021: Old theaters remembered

What a joy it was on the evening of May 24, 2021, to join a group of friends in Battle Creek, Michigan, for a nostalgic tour -- remotely -- of the city's myriad theatrical offerings over the past 120 years. All in less than 90 minutes! 

In addition to being the onetime Cereal Capital of the World, the historical record shows that Battle Creek also was a notable place for cinematic entertainment. There were good reasons for that, generally because of the affluence generated by the cereal industry, as well as the presence of a huge military base and a U.S. Army hospital. 

We touched on many high points and even some low ones. Our own brief visit to the local porn theater -- for rather magical reasons -- produces some chuckles here.

Many thanks to our knowledgeable fellow panelists -- especially our esteemed friend and former journalism boss Michael McCullough -- for a great conversation!

To watch the show, click on the phrase "View the program" ... Or cut and paste this URL into your browser: https://fb.watch/5I4ttM5FjA/