News

Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital (OMH) is proud to announce the acquisition of the SAVI SCOUT® Wire-Free Radar Localization System, a cutting-edge technology designed to improve the surgical experience and outcomes for breast cancer patients. 

The SAVI SCOUT® system uses non-radioactive...

In an effort to bring awareness to cancer prevention and celebrate survivors during National Cancer Survivors Month, Munson Healthcare and the Traverse City Pit Spitters are holding a “Spit on Cancer“ evening at the ballpark on Saturday, June 22. Game time is 7:05 pm at 333 Stadium Dr. in Traverse...

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month, an annual observance highlighting the importance of early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, a disease that affects thousands of women each year.  

"Cervical cancer is largely preventable with regular screenings, early detection, and...

Munson Healthcare is hosting a free community event on Thursday, April 13, to bring awareness to colon health.

A Colon Cancer Awareness Panel and Mini-Expo will take place from 5 - 7:30 p.m. at the Cowell Family Cancer Center, 217 S. Madison St., in Traverse City.

The event will spotlight...

Munson Healthcare leadership recently announced the appointment of radiation oncologist David Heimburger, M.D., as the Physician Chief for Oncology in the health system. He replaces David Gordon, M.D., who retired in November.

“Dr. Heimburger has served as the Radiation Oncology Program Director...

Munson Healthcare is pleased to welcome Edward R. Hagen, M.D., as a board-certified specialist in general surgery who is sub-specialty trained in colon and rectal surgery. 

Dr. Hagen graduated from medical school at Creighton University, Omaha, Neb. He completed a residency in general surgery at...

Jack M. Zuckerman, M.D., has joined the medical staff of Munson Medical Center as a board-certified specialist in urology. 

He has special interests in genitourinary reconstructive surgery, urethral stricture disease, urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and voiding dysfunction. In addition...

Jessica D. Arden, M.D., has joined the staff of Munson Medical Center as a specialist in radiation oncology. Dr. Arden practices with Traverse Bay Radiation Oncologists, P.C., at Cowell Family Cancer Center, 217 S. Madison St., Traverse City. Her office can be reached at 231-935-7100.

“I’ve always...

This April Munson Healthcare is proud to recognize the fifth anniversary of Cowell Family Cancer Center in Traverse City. During its five years in operation, the facility has helped to treat thousands of patients with state-of-the-art coordinated cancer services and has helped transform the...

Munson Healthcare announced today it is the first hospital system in northern Michigan to offer an innovative treatment shown in clinical studies to help prostate cancer patients avoid some of the negative effects of radiation therapy. 

In September, Munson Medical Center treated its first patient...

Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital has canceled the face-to-face components of its annual Paint the Town Pink event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Each October since 2008, the hospital has hosted a ceremony and walk to raise awareness of the importance of early detection in the fight...

Junewai L. Reoma, M.D., has joined the staff of Munson Medical Center as a board-certified specialist in thoracic and cardiac surgery. 

Dr. Reoma practices at Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Grand Traverse, 1221 Sixth St., Suite 202, Traverse City. He is accepting new patients, and appointments can be...

Justine Pearl, M.D., has joined the staff of Munson Medical Center as a board-certified specialist in neurosurgery. In addition to general neurosurgery, Dr. Pearl brings neuro-oncology expertise for the treatment of tumors, brain metastasis, gliomas, and more.

Dr. Pearl practices at Munson...

Munson Medical Center and the American Cancer Society are celebrating Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month by hosting a free community event on Thursday, March 12.

Rollin’ with the Colon: A Colon Cancer Awareness Panel & Mini-Expo will take place from
4:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Cowell Family Cancer...

The 31st Annual Recovery Plus Program for women who have had breast cancer, or are living with breast cancer, is set for Saturday, Oct. 19, from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Cowell Family Cancer Center.

Participants will enjoy a continental breakfast, special “pampering” session, and presentations by...

The 32nd Annual Cancer Prevention and Survivors Picnic features free skin screenings, special speakers, and a wellness fair from 1 - 3:30 p.m. on June 9 in the Cowell Family Cancer Center parking lot. Bike rides in Leelanau County also are part of the day’s events. 

The general public is invited to...

The 14th annual Katie Heintz basketball tournament in March raised a record $40,990, pushing the total tourney benefit to the community close to $200,000 since its start.

The annual fundraiser pits students from across the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools (GTACS) system against their teachers...

Two separate construction projects will affect traffic flow around Munson Medical Center beginning Monday, April 15.

On the campus’ north side, Beaumont Place will be closed at Sixth Street through May 13. This will allow for work to shift Sixth Street to the north, near the Cowell Family Cancer...

Munson Medical Center’s Cowell Family Cancer Center recently joined the national list of Screening Centers of Excellence.

The Lung Cancer Alliance cited Cowell Family Cancer Center’s ongoing commitment to responsible lung cancer screening and use of low dose CT scans in making the recognition.

“We...

The Cowell Family Cancer Center Health and Wellness Suite in Traverse City will be offering free and discounted yoga and pilates classes on Mar. 26 - 29, 2019. No registration is necessary.

Tuesday, Mar. 26

Northern Michigan families dealing with childhood cancer will benefit from the 14th Katie Heintz basketball tournament set for March 2 at St. Francis High School.

The annual fundraiser pits students from across the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools (GTACS) system against their teachers for the...

Laurel A. Leithauser, M.D., has joined the staff of Munson Medical Center as a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs and reconstructive surgeon. 

Dr. Leithauser practices at The Skin Cancer and Dermatology Center, 1225 W. Front St., Ste. C, in Traverse City. She is accepting new...

The Health and Wellness Suite at the Cowell Family Cancer Center provides opportunities for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing for those receiving treatment for cancer, as well as those in recovery. Classes include yoga, pilates, massage, meditation, painting, and much more.

“The mental...

Gaylord, Mich. — Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women, with one in eight women in the US diagnosed in their lifetime. Early detection and advancements in screenings, such as mammograms, are key in improving outcomes. Staff at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital (OMH) work...

“The majority of lung cancer is diagnosed at a later stage which contributes to high mortality,” says radiologist Patrick Gartland, MD.

However, Munson Medical Center’s lung cancer screening program is working to improve the odds for patients by detecting lung cancer earlier through low-dose chest...

The 30th Annual Recovery Plus Program for women who have had breast cancer, or are living with breast cancer, is set for Saturday, Oct. 13 from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Traverse City Elks Club in Traverse City.

Par...

Seven Munson Healthcare facilities are joining efforts to offer a special mammography screening day on Saturday, Oct. 20, for women who have a hard time making medical appointments during a busy work week. In this video, learn one woman’s breast cancer story and why she is passionate about spreading...

Helping area women find time for a mammography screening is important and on the agenda this month for Munson Healthcare.

Seven health system facilities are joining efforts to offer a special mammography screening day on...

Screenings are the best way to catch breast cancer early, in its most treatable stages. Exams such as mammograms are able to find cancer when it is very small and often before symptoms are present. As technology continues to improve, screenings may help to save thousands of lives each year. Bet...

Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital is hosting a free six-week facilitated therapeutic group for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer. The program will be held Wednesdays from September 26 to November 7 (there will be no meeting on October 31) from 7 to 9 pm. The group will gather in Meeting...

Take the total population of California, Texas, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Michigan, add a couple hundred thousand – and one can understand the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

The Centers for Disease Control reports 80 million people have the virus and 14 million more become infected...

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers – and very curable if detected early.

Munson Medical Center’s Cowell Family Cancer Center offers a special open house from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, to answer questions about screening and treatments for the disease. September is...

Prostate cancer screening is the second most common cancer among men. However 90 percent of all cases are curable if they are detected early. It is important for men to talk to their primary care providers about prostate cancer screening.

Watch as Mark Watkins, 7&4 News’ Chief Meteorologist, shares...

Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

By awarding facilities the status of a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the American College of Radiology recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned...

Munson Medical Center’s Cowell Family Cancer Center recently received certification through the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative®.

To achieve the certification, cancer center staff and leadership were evaluated on center practices and standards, and were...

The 31st Annual Cancer Prevention and Survivors Picnic features a wellness fair from 2 - 4 p.m. on June 24 in the Cowell Family Cancer Center parking lot.

The general public is invited to come and celebrate with cancer survivors and learn how to reduce one’s risk of cancer. Information will be...

The 2018 Katie Heintz Basketball Tournament fundraiser at St. Francis High School in March raised $17,557 for the Munson Healthcare Foundations’ fund dedicated to pediatric needs at the Munson Medical Center Infusion Clinic.

The fundraiser is dedicated to the memory of St. Francis student...

The certification signifies the structure meets the resource and energy efficient code criteria that allows it to be signified “green.” The building now has an official...

Gaylord, Mich. — The 2018 Rivals Rally Girls’ Basketball Game, the annual match-up between the Johannesburg-Lewiston Cardinals and the Gaylord St. Mary Snowbirds, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20th at Johannesburg-Lewiston High School. Proceeds from this year’s game will go toward the OMH Oncol...

Munson Healthcare has launched a new “Choose (to be) Well” awareness campaign to inspire everyone in northern Michigan to think about the small choices they make every day. Look for ads...

People try to kick the smoking habit with varying degrees of success. Residents of northern Michigan are finding true success through a Freedom from Smoking program offered by Munson Healthcare. Learn how the program helped one northern Michigan woman.

Video courtesy of 7&4 News.

The sandwiches and information on low-dose CT screening, smoking cessation, the next Freedom from Smoking class, and more will...

Women in northern Michigan with a family history of breast cancer and those with dense breast tissue will benefit from new technology at the Smith Family Breast Health Center in Traverse City. Benefits of 3D breast imaging include clearer images of abnormalities within dense breast tissue, earlier...

Dr. Forster practices at the Cowell Family Cancer Center, 217 S. Madison St., Traverse City. He is accepting new patients, and appointments can be made by calling 231-935-7100.

Dr...

PhysioTouch is a new technology that helps reduce the pain and swelling caused by lymphedema. 
One breast cancer survivor shares her experience with PhysioTouch therapy offered to northern Michigan patients by Munson Healthcare.

Video courtesy of 7&4 News.

The hospital’s Medical Director for Breast Imaging Charles Weitz, M.D., said the center’s General Electric...

Munson Healthcare Regional Cancer Network promotes several awareness events

The Munson Healthcare Regional Cancer Network will host several events and promote others during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Following are the dates and events for the month:
Oct. 10 Understanding the...

The 29th Annual Recovery Plus Program for women who have had breast cancer, or are living with breast cancer, is set for Saturday, Oct. 14 from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Traverse City Elks Club in Traverse City.

Par...

Cigarettes kill 480,000 people a year in the U.S. – nearly the entire population of the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan.

Officials at Cowell Family Cancer Center want to help change that statistic through a partnership with the...

Officials from Serra Subaru in Traverse City recently visited Munson Medical Center’s Cowell Family Cancer Center with gifts to warm patients undergoing infusion treatments.

The national “Subaru Loves to Care” campaign became...

The Cowell Family Cancer Center in Traverse City partners with DeVos Children's Hospital to provide convenient care close to home for pediatric cancer patients in northern Michigan.

Video courtesy of 9&10 News. 

The 30th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day Picnic expands this year to include a wellness fair open to the public.

The event is planned for Sunday, June 25, from 3 - 6 p.m. in the Cowell Family Cancer Center parking...

Can’t wait to hit the beach this summer? Well, keep your shirt on — and your hat, sunglasses and sunscreen — because ultraviolet (UV) rays are responsible for more than 90% of all skin cancers.

The most common type by far, basal cell carcinoma, accounts for 80% of all skin cancers and most often...

Munson Healthcare Gynecologic Oncologist David Michelin, MD, performs about 200 procedures each year using robotic technology to help patients with endometrial and cervical cancers. The newest model helps him target the minimum number of lymph nodes for removal which results in shorter surgeries and...

Art inspired at Cowell Family Cancer Center will go on exhibit with a special launch from 5 - 7 p.m. Friday, May 19, at the cancer center.

Students from the Aesthetics of Health Class led by Interlochen Arts Academy’s...

New surgical technology at Munson Medical Center “lights up” potentially cancerous lymph nodes in real time and shortens the amount of time on an operating table for gynecologic cancer patients.

Gynecologic...

Get a close shave on most of your pate and leave a remnant for a sign that the battle is on.

Mohawks for Munson on Saturday, May 20, aims to raise funds for the area cancer community and signal area support for the...

Cyclists from northern Michigan are invited to Bike It Out and join those from the Less Cancer organization on their fund-raising ride to raise awareness and celebrate efforts against the disease on June 25.

Riders...

Beth Pearce felt like she was borne by a whirlwind after receiving a diagnosis of colon cancer last summer. The Traverse City-area resident’s surgery was scheduled quickly and she started to get overwhelmed – then Loie Rainey, M.S.N...

Hematologist/oncologist Yelena Kier, D.O., recalls the day the worst nuclear disaster ever in the world took place. She was 3.

“I just remember all of my toys had to be destroyed when we came home and my clothes thrown...

A new technique offered at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City significantly decreases the risk of negative side effects in patients receiving radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

Video courtesy of 7&4 News. 

Gaylord, Mich. — Otsego Memorial Hospital (OMH) is now offering a low dose lung screening CT scan for early detection of lung cancer. The screening is for those at risk of developing lung cancer, the second most common cancer in both men and women. Until recently, there were no methods for early...

Less than a year after its doors opened, a spotlight in the nation’s capital will shine on Munson Medical Center’s Cowell Family Cancer Center on Feb. 2.

The center’s Cancer Support Services Manager Katie Horvath will...

January has been designated Cervical Health Awareness month as a way to educate the public about the importance of good cervical health. Women who have not had a recent screening should talk about their need with their primary care provider.

Cervical cancer does not have to kill. Yet, about 4,000...

U.S. News and World Report puts spotlight on Munson Medical Center specialties

Chris Shotwell is quick to voice his appreciation for the quality of heart care available close to his Traverse City home.

The 67-year-old retiree underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 2012 and has been a faithful...

Through a new technique and medical product a Munson Medical Center radiation oncologist helps ensure prostate cancer patients experience fewer side effects.

Radiation Oncologist Douglas Brown, M.D., said he recently began using the...

“Iggy Peck Architect” and “You Wouldn’t Want to be a Skyscraper Builder” are among the 100 book titles for toddlers through teens recently donated to the Cowell Family Cancer Center.

The Rae Dumke Development Fund of the...

At the Cowell Family Cancer Center in Traverse City, Mich., an advisory council made up of patients and family members provides feedback and recommendations about services, resources, and even the building itself.

Video courtesy of 9&10 News. 

Facts show that each year nearly 98,000 new cases of gynecological cancers will occur in the U.S. resulting in 30,000 deaths.

The good news is that these cancers are largely preventable, and, if detected early, curable. Regular screenings and vaccinations remain key to early detection and...

Art expressing “Other Words for Nature” will be on exhibit from Oct. 1 through Dec. 15 at the Cowell Family Cancer Center in Traverse City.

A special opening reception for the public is set for 4 p.m. on Oct. 1 in the cancer...

The 28th Annual Recovery Plus Program for women who have had breast cancer, or are living with breast cancer, is set for Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme.

Participan...

The Cowell Family Cancer Center will host several events and promote others during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Events at the cancer center are free, however registration is recommended. To register...

Gaylord, Mich. — Dr. Jennifer Lawhorn, Oncologist/Hematologist with the OMH Medical Group Oncology & Infusion Center, will lead a discussion on cancer screening and prevention on Wednesday, September 14th, from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the Professional Medical Building Conference Room at Otsego...

The Cowell Wellness Initiative at the Cowell Family Cancer Center offers a six-part series of programs on “Loss in Life, Grief, and Caregiving” during August and September.

Pastoral Bereavement Educator John Churchman will facilitate...

West Shore Medical Center is offering the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better® program Thursday, August 18 from 2 - 4 p.m. in Meeting Room A of the Education Center at the hospital, located at 1465 E. Parkdale Ave. in Manistee. 

Look Good Feel Better® is a free, non-medical, brand...

The widow of the late author of a number-one best seller will share insights on her husband and his book “When Breath Becomes Air” at the June 30th National Writer Series event at the City Opera House.

The program, called “An...

Doors to the gleaming 100,000-square-foot Cowell Family Cancer Center will open this Saturday, June 11, between 9 a.m. and noon for a Community Open House. The cancer center is located at 217 S. Madison St. in Traverse...

Getting a diagnosis of cancer is a difficult experience. It can make you feel afraid, anxious or overwhelmed. But knowing what to expect and making plans for how to proceed can make the journey through cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival easier. Jennifer Lawhorn, DO Oncologist/Hematologist and...

The 29th Annual National Cancer Survivors’ Day celebration picnic will be held Sunday, June 5, on the spacious front lawn of historic Building 50 adjacent to 11th and Elmwood streets in Traverse City.

Anyone who has ever been...

West Shore Medical Center is offering the American Cancer Society’s Look Good Feel Better® program Thursday, May 19 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in Meeting Room A of the Education Center at the hospital, located at 1465 E. Parkdale Ave. in Manistee. 

Look Good Feel Better® is a free, non-medical, brand...