News

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) has been named a 2025 Hometown Health Hero by the Michigan Public Health Week Partnership. This award recognizes people and organizations in Michigan working to improve the health of their communities. Leading community outreach and engagement efforts for Karmanos, COE monitors the cancer burden in the Karmanos 46-county catchment area and engages the community and Karmanos scientists in strategies to reduce th...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute has been named one of 168 medical centers in the country to which Optum recommends its payers refer their clients for blood and bone marrow transplants. With more than 3,000 payers using Optum in the U.S., a trusted information and technology-enabled health services business that delivers integrated solutions for health systems, more than 62 million people benefit from its tools. The company’s Centers for Excellence networks recognize “clinically superior provid...

Oona Velasquez, center core specialist for surgical services at McLaren Greater Lansing , has been recognized as one of the Lansing Latino Health Alliance’s 2024 Outstanding Hispanic/Latino Caregivers. The award was presented to Velasquez, among McLaren leadership and coworkers, along with her family and friends, at the Lansing Latino Health Alliance ceremony on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. This award is given annually to a caregiver who has made a significant impact in the life of a patient, exceeded expect...

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is common and widespread virus, and about 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , it spreads mainly through direct contact, particularly during sexual activities such as vaginal, anal, or oral sex. There are over 200 types of HPV, but some of them can cause serious health problems, like cancer. Most of the time, the body fights off the infection on its own, but if certain types of HPV persist for too...

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , cancer centers, and other organizations nationwide recognize April as Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month. Many types of cancers occur in the head and neck. They include: Ear cancer Eye cancer Hypopharyngeal cancer  Laryngeal cancer  Nasal cavity cancer  Nasopharyngeal cancer  Oral cavity cancer Oropharyngeal cancer Paranasal sinus cancer  Salivary gland cancer Other cancers, such as melanoma and sarcoma, may ...

Friday, March 21 proved to be a day to celebrate for McLaren Health Care Graduate Medical Education. The annual Match Day — the day on which medical students learn the results of their residency or fellowship applications and receive their assignments to continue their training — concluded with McLaren GME filling its 149 available positions. This marks a 100 percent fill rate across the 42 GME programs throughout the system. “The result of Match Day 2025 further demonstrates the merit and proficiency o...

After announcing its plans to increase community access to timely health care with the launch of an urgent care center, McLaren Northern Michigan, part of statewide McLaren Health Care, is pleased to share that McLaren Northern Michigan Urgent Care is now open. Located at 1890 US-131, near Plaza Drive in Petoskey, the office is also home to McLaren Northern Michigan Primary Care. The urgent care is an expansion of the office, with the primary care clinic remaining open and caring for patients. “All of u...

McLaren Oakland, part of statewide Karmanos Cancer Institute and a regional leader in cancer care and screening procedures, has enhanced its capabilities to assess patients’ risk for developing breast and other common cancers with the addition of Volpara® Risk Pathways. An industry-leading software program, Volpara determines patients’ individual and unique risk for cancers and manages their care to ensure they receive the appropriate level of timely care. Volpara will be available to patients through M...

Community outreach involves more than just being present in the community. “The work that we do connects our communities with cancer science and connects our scientists with our diverse communities,” said Hayley Thompson, Ph.D., associate center director of Community Outreach and Education at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and faculty supervisor of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) at Karmanos, and professor of Oncology at Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine. C...

McLaren Lapeer Region, which maintains a continuum of care for those patients recovering from the most acute conditions through its Transitional Care Unit, has been named to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Nursing Homes, ranking it among the best in the metro area. A 19-bed skilled nursing unit, the aim of the Transitional Care Unit is to admit patients following their treatment from a complex or particularly severe condition requiring an extended recovery — such as a stroke, traumatic injury, ...