Parker received a transplant last winter after more than seven years of medication that followed a heart failure diagnosis and installation of a pump in 2020, all the time waiting and hoping for a donor.

“My own life has been saved by the type of screening that is offered at our free event,” says the retired outreach administrator for Flint’s Hurley Medical Center and former Buena Vista supervisor.

A Health Fair presenter, Dr. Christopher Allen from Covenant Health Care, says: “Most men don’t go see a physician until something is very wrong. We are inviting men to come in and to get checked out, before it’s too late.  The main barrier is often those three words: ‘I feel fine.’  We all are tempted to believe that if we don’t know, it won’t hurt us.” 

Among many examples of health issues that may gradually grow more severe for an otherwise healthy man are high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. Those types of concerns will be evaluated as part of a mini-health assessment that offers an array of tests and screenings. But for fellows who remain reluctant, health and wellness information will be offered with follow-up care available.

For guys who still are skeptical, here are some eye-openers:

• Men in the United States, on average, live seven fewer years than women.
• Out of the top 10 causes of death, men die at a higher rate for nine of them.
• Half of all men will face some sort of cancer.

Women and children also are welcome on June 8, and they are encouraged to bring reluctant men along.

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These are among examples of numerous real-life scenarios.

Concerns for unbiased health care for all people are being addressed in Saginaw, and 10 other counties, via the Health Department’s BWell state-funded Health Equity Council.

Saginaw’s group, formed two years ago during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, is releasing a report May 14 that goes beyond statistics with focus-group dialogues and individual stories.

“Plan updates are nothing new,” said Christina Harrington, Health Department CEO. “But at the same time, we always are seeking new approaches. This is a living document with issues that merit ongoing action, not a report that will gather dust on an office shelf.”

Dr. Delicia Pruitt, medical director, added, “Disparities exist not only for ethnic minorities, but for other groups who may encounter bias and unequal treatment in the health care system. These concerns are nationwide and far from original to the Saginaw region, and we aim to serve as a leader in pursuing solutions.”

To summarize key findings in the 88-page report:

• Diversity is essential, both in hiring and in ongoing training, so that patients and clients will encounter medical professionals with shared and familiar backgrounds.
• Community outreach not only must inform hard-to-reach population segments, but also must correct increasing misinformation from social media. Opinions are opinions but facts are facts.
• Each individual story and outlook is unique, as reflected in the testimonials, but individuals need information, both for ongoing support and in emergency situations. Some still do not know where to call, a shortcoming in particular among minority populations with communication barriers and systemic mistrust.

The storytelling pairs with the statistics for a document that breaks new ground, said Terry Pruitt, Saginaw NAACP branch president,  who took a leading role in the process.

“The methodology emphasizes personal experiences,” Pruitt explained. “Any reader, from a doctor or nurse to a social worker or everyday citizen, will learn scenarios that go beyond statistics.”

Joyce Seals has served as coordinator and chairwoman of the Health Equity Council during the first two years. She is a former Saginaw mayor and a current Board of Education trustee. Her husband, Dr. Eugene Seals, is a retired family physician and their daughter, Dr. Pruitt, followed in her father’s footsteps before she became the Health Department’s medical director.

Seals says she took on the challenge of organizing the Equity Council, even when already managing a full civic schedule, because healthcare is so integral in her personal surroundings.

She concluded, “Going forward, the Health Equity Council will need the support and assistance of many others to accomplish our worthwhile mission.”

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Earlier this year, Kildee secured nearly $3 million in federal funding for Great Lakes Bay Health Centers. Last week, Congressman Dan Kildee announced new federal funding for the community health center.

The additional $3,580,805 in federal grants, awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will allow Great Lakes Bay Health Centers to continue delivering comprehensive health care services to mid-Michigan families.

“Every Michigander deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care. I’m proud to announce these federal grants to help our local health centers continue to deliver exceptional care to mid-Michigan families,” said Congressman Kildee. “In Congress, I will continue fighting to bring federal resources home to lower health care costs for working families.”

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Great Lakes Bay Health Centers’ own MIDOCs Family Medicine Residency Clinic opened in July of 2019 in partnership with CMU’s Family Medicine Residency. With a wealth of experience and a passion for education, Dr. Kohner brings fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to our team. She has been an attending with the MIDOCs residency program for just under 3 years and has been on the Provider Leadership Committee since its inception.  

Dr. Kohner received her Bachelor of Science degree at Valparaiso University in Biology with minors in History and Chemistry. She then went to Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville KY. Dr. Kohner completed her family medicine residency at McLaren Bay Region. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, Maggie, watching the Food Network program with her wife, Carolyn, and trying to convince Carolyn to buy a boat and a lake house.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Norm Chapin, said “Dr. Kohner is an outstanding physician who is well-respected by her peers and the residents she has worked with. We are thrilled to elevate that opportunity for her to mentor many more promising residents.” 

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That’s how 6-foot-8 Jerome Barnes describes three years of diet, exercise and born-again salvation that have led him to shed 120 pounds from his peak of 468.

He serves as a model of success that our local care and treatment specialists always aim to achieve. Among their next steps is creation of an annual Obesity Summit, set for Friday morning at Saginaw Valley State University.

Barnes, 59, has earned his living as a home maintenance professional, a.k.a. handyman, a career with more physical activity than most. Going back to childhood, he was one who would rather play than watch.

“We were sports fanatics,” he explains. “Football and basketball, of course, but also baseball, softball, hockey, soccer. We played them all.”

And so what happened? From his Chicago upbringing, young Jerome came up to Saginaw and settled in, so to speak. And in spite of his athleticism, he was not strictly a meat-and-potatoes couch potato.. 

“Cakes,” he says. “At least four or five times, I tried to slow down, but those cakes would get me.”

Stories of recovery may differ slightly with each individual. Barnes is humble in regard to his accomplishment, telling jokes on himself, but he is firm in stating that a return to church life has been the source of his strength to challenge overeating and also nicotine, cutting his pack-a-day cancer sticks by more than in half at this point.

“I probably would not be alive right now if I had not changed,” he says, now attending “informative classes where they give advice on choosing fruits and vegetables. As for the cigarettes, one day I’m going to throw them all out, I get so sick of them.”

He is aiming to get down to 300 pounds, and not thinking beyond, keeping his steady pace to be there for offspring on through a quartet of great grandchildren.

“I might have to stop (dieting) at some point,” he adds with a laugh, “because all this buying new clothes that fit gets really expensive.”

News in local health care

Friday’s free-admission Obesity Summit is an initial outgrowth of the 18-month-old Health Equity Council in Saginaw County, one of 11 formed under Gov. Whitmer in response to the covid pandemic. The agenda is geared to health care and social service professionals, but anyone may attend under the Health Department’s new “BWell” moniker.

Topics range from “exercise is medicine” to prescription medications to the impact of being overweight on mental health.

Leaders of the Health Equity Council are aiming in early May to release their initial overall report on obesity and other concerns.

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It’s short for “Be Well, Saginaw,” and with lack of information, everyday residents may have viewed this as another charity event for another worthy cause.

But BWell is not among the local nonprofit “501(c)(3)” agencies. The eye-catching script is prominent in the Saginaw County Health Department’s logo. In fact, it’s the title of the county’s Community Health Improvement Plan, now near a midpoint of development, which will include both updates and new approaches.

It’s not County Health’s first long-range plan. Updates have always been ongoing. But this will be the first time the emerging Health Equity Council is involved. 

Chairwoman Joyce Seals not only is the former Saginaw mayor, she also serves on the Board of Education and as a leader for Saginaw Promise college scholarship and Ezekiel Project community organizing efforts, among a wide range of civic service roles. Her husband is retired family physician, Dr. Eugene Seals, and their daughter, Dr. Delicia Pruitt, has followed in her father’s footsteps, now serving as the Health Department’s medical director.

The Equity Council, among 11 established in Michigan, is backed by $250,000 in state funds. Members include several dozen program and agency leaders, some more active than others.

As a moniker, the BWell intent is to become recognized, maybe not to the extent of the Nike or Amazon symbols, but in the same manner, with citizens as customers and clients.

As a plan, the goal is to involve the people in the product.

“We can put forward programs and say, ‘we think you will like this,’ but when the community is involved in the development, that’s when we really see a response,” says Christina Harrington, health department chief executive.

Priority work groups are obesity/chronic disease, mental health/substance abuse, and maternal/child health, and each will include sub-groups in order to push for specific actions beyond broad general policy. For example, in maternal and child health, recruitment of salaried mentors or “doumos” already has started. For info, click here.

Harrington says an ongoing challenge will be to recruit volunteers for the subgroups, seeking members with expertise in academics, training, agency work and above all, life experience. 

Anyone who wishes to get involved may click here.

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Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. It is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. The only way to know if your home has an elevated radon level is to test it.

“Taking action to reduce your exposure to this tasteless, odorless, colorless, radioactive gas is important,” says Chris Klawuhn, RS, MSA, director of Environmental Health Services at SCHD. “Get a kit and, if elevated radon levels are detected, confirm measurements with additional testing and then take action to reduce the levels in your home.”

Testing is easy and inexpensive, Klawuhn says. The DIY test kits distributed by the health department are normally available for $10, including postage back to an out-of-state lab, as well as fees for analysis and reporting back to homeowners. Free kits are available through this month in Room 101 at SCHD, 1600 N. Michigan Avenue in Saginaw. They are also available at the Rehmann Health Center in Chesaning by calling (989) 845-3911.  

Radon occurs naturally in soil and rock, but being a gas, it can move upward through the soil and enter buildings through cracks and openings in the foundation floor or walls.  Typical entry points include floor/wall joints, sump openings, crawlspaces, cracks in the floor, and other penetrations caused by plumbing, wiring, or ductwork. Outdoors, it is diluted by the atmosphere. But indoors, it tends to be more concentrated and can accumulate to unhealthy levels. 

“Because radon is invisible and can’t be smelled, it’s easy to ignore. It doesn’t cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, skin rashes, or other warning symptoms, yet extended exposure to elevated levels may increase your risk of lung cancer, a generally fatal disease,” Klawuhn explains.

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All McLaren Health Care employees throughout Michigan — regardless of job classification — are eligible for all undergraduate, graduate, and certification courses offered through the award-winning university, effective with the beginning of the 2023 fall semester. 

“As an employer of choice, one of the aims of our organization is to support our team and foster ambitions to advance their careers and their decision to further their education,” said Kimberly Keaton Williams, McLaren Health Care Vice President of Talent Acquisition & Development and Chief Diversity Officer. “With this very generous offer and mutually beneficial partnership with Saginaw Valley State University, McLaren staff will have access to a broad spectrum of course offerings. We’re grateful for this partnership and proud to offer it through our system.”

McLaren Bay Region is one of Bay County’s largest employers, serving and providing for the health care needs of many individuals in SVSU’s home community. McLaren has more than 19,000 employees throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. 

“We are committed to partnering with employers throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region to help them prepare their current employees and recruit future employees,” said George Grant Jr., SVSU president. “We are grateful for this agreement with McLaren and the increased educational opportunities it provides, not only for those working in the health professions, but in any role within the health system, as a more educated workforce ultimately leads to better patient care.”   

Seeing the benefit it offers its team, McLaren Health Care has supported and fostered initiatives that assist employees in furthering their education. In 2022, several McLaren subsidiary hospitals introduced a tuition repayment assistance program, which has already provided more than $1.7 million in loan relief. 

A recording of the news conference can be seen here.

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Five Community Mental Health Services Programs (CMHSP) received more than $900,000 in grants through the mobile response grant program, including Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority (SCCMHA) who received $200,000.

“This grant money will help vulnerable Michiganders across the state get access to the care they need and receive it quickly,” said Governor Whitmer. “Mobile response teams are specially trained and provide a comprehensive array of mental health services when and where our young Michiganders need it.”

SCCMHA’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) was created to help youth experiencing a mental health crisis. MRSS provides mobile crisis response to all Saginaw County residents, and support by phone to callers outside of the county. MRSS is comprised of a team of mental health professionals with experience working with a variety of populations

MDHHS awarded similar grants to 18 CMHSPs which started on Jan. 1, 2023. The five additional CMHSPs will be launched Oct. 1, 2023. In total, the state is providing over $7.5 million in funding to support mobile crisis response in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal year budgets. CMHSPs can use grant funding to design services that are proactive and address crisis situations prior to further escalation. 

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The key today is “application of that information,” says the Rev. Marvin T. Smith, keynote speaker for “Mental Health Awareness in the Black Community,” a symposium set for 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday at Buena Vista Community Center, 1940 South Outer Drive.

Awareness is growing that mental health treatment may extend far beyond placing a loved one in an asylum, notes Smith, pastor of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, whose latest book is, “The Pandemic: How My Faith Was Challenged, but Not Changed.”

Even with the increased understanding, says Smith, African Americans too often avoid seeking help and treatment because a mental condition may be seen as a stigma, a sign of weakness. Problems are made more severe through fear of racial biases in a criminal justice system that sometimes wrongly punishes mental illnesses

“People need to know that they still can lead productive lives (with mental health concerns),” Smith says. “There are resources available.”

Mental health has become a more prominent issue nationwide and in Saginaw, with plans for a multi-million center using federal and state funds that will focus on “behavioral health.” A local community-based dramatic play, “The Family Car,” also deals with dilemmas that are involved.

Scheduled panelists to join Smith on Saturday are:

• Pamela Pugh, state K-12 Board of Education president and former Saginaw County Public Health outreach manager.
• Dr. Delicia Pruitt, County Public Health medical director.
• Melvin McDowell, social worker with McDowell Healing Arts Center.
• Twannie Gray, social worker with Solutions Behavioral Health Specialties.
• Wardene Talley, County Mental Health wraparound supervisor.
• Ashley Jones, psychiatrist.
• Kareem Bowen, pastor of The Potter’s Touch and host of KISS 107’s “Straight Talk.”
• Ron Frierson, pastor of New Covenant Christian Center.

The symposium’s sponsor and organizer is Hosanna Lifeskills Center, which offers mental health services and substance abuse counseling. Admission is free of charge.

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