Nominate a Health Care Angel Today

Michael Gleeson

Mike is unique because he wears two hats. By day, he’s a home care nurse for Great Lakes Caring and by night he’s a City of Jackson Police officer. Patients love his compassionate, caring attitude and co-workers respect his willingness to go the extra mile. He’s currently undergoing his own personal battle with cancer, which he says gives him even more compassion and enthusiasm for serving others in need.

Mike’s journey from police officer to nurse began after some kind-hearted nurses helped him and his wife cope with a family tragedy. He wanted to return the favor to others, so he became a nurse himself in 2000. Since then, Mike has earned the respect of his nursing colleagues, who say that he puts everyone’s needs ahead of his own.

The same big-hearted approach has earned him several commendations from the police force, including a Medal of Valor from the City of Jackson. Although both jobs keep him busy, he still finds time to get his two children to gymnastics and hockey practice and volunteers for sporting events at Lumen Christi High School.

Raymond E. Cole, D.O.

Fans say that Dr. Cole combines the bedside manner of an old-fashioned family doctor with the expertise of a modern one. They especially appreciate his warm smile, ready hand-shake and willingness to go above and beyond for his patients.

One of the ways he helps his patients is by making them aware of how to build strong bones. To that end, he serves as director of the Osteoporosis Testing Center of Michigan, has authored several books, published articles in professional journals and presented scientific abstracts at national and international medical conferences.

Dr. Cole has also developed the “Personal ABC’s of Healthy Living”, which he displays throughout his office. Co-workers say he doesn’t just promote a positive attitude, he reflects it.

Robert Eby

After Bob’s wife passed away three years ago, he needed something to do. He started volunteering as a greeter at the Hospice Home and was soon there four hours a day. He’s thankful for the opportunity to help others, and patients are equally thankful to have his company. Bob frequently sits by their bedsides and listens, reads, talks sports, takes walks and watches baseball games with them. Colleagues say he has a strong sense of what people need and gives them comfort. He’ll celebrate his 90th birthday next month and hopes he can continue uplifting the spirits of Hospice Home patients for many years to come.

Bob is also a big community supporter. He’s been active in the Jackson Host Lions Club for 43 years, serving as the club’s president twice. He has also been chairman of the Jackson Club for the Blind committee for the past three years, and has served several terms on the Jackson County Road Commission.

Paul H. Ernest, M.D.

Dr. Ernest was drawn to Jackson by Dr. Stanley Oleksy, a pioneer in cataract surgery. He soon followed in Oleksy’s footsteps by becoming a world-renowned eye surgeon and pioneer. Dr. Ernest developed a no-stitch cataract surgery, an outpatient procedure that reduces a patient’s average recovery time from six weeks to one or two weeks.

He feels that physicians have a responsibility to pass on what they’ve learned, so he has taught that procedure to scores of physicians around the world. He’s also a clinical professor at Wayne State University and the Kresge Eye Institute, and is a sought-after lecturer at professional conferences in the U.S. and abroad. A colleague credits Ernest with accepting nothing less than perfection from himself, so he knows that patients he refers will mend perfectly.

Dr. Ernest has been honored as Best Doctor in America and one of the Top 100 Doctors in the U.S., but he’s quick to say that he couldn’t do what he does without the people around him.

Jan Kalahar

Jan has a nurturing approach that extends beyond her immediate patients to their families and the community. One grateful patient said that Jan not only took care of her son’s medical needs when he came home from the hospital, she took care of the whole family … and she still does.

Jan works part-time as a triage nurse for the Center for Family Health and also does on-call IV nursing for Allegiance Home Care and Great Lakes Caring. She loves to problem-solve and help out wherever needed. A co-worker describes her as a caring and warm-hearted person who is focused on the needs of her patients.

Her desire to help others is so strong that it spills over into the larger community as well. She regularly volunteers her medical services at Hospice House and helps with numerous community activities, including events at Queen’s Church, the Jackson Legacy Women’s Golf Outing and the Lumen Christi High School rummage sale.

Brandon Klump

Brandon helps people get back to normal activities through prognoses and treatment plans, but his greatest asset might be his ability to set down his pen once in a while. He thinks the whole patient relationship flows from taking the time to sit and listen to them and ask the right questions. Brandon was named the practice’s Employee of the Year in 2004, and a co-worker says he always goes above and beyond to get his patients back to working, living and playing.

He also spends time working with local high school students who are interested in the field. Sharing his passion for therapy is important to him because that’s what Kevin Barclay – co-owner of the practice – did for him before he set off on a course to earn his Master’s degree in physical therapy. That mentoring meant a lot to him and he wants to pass it along to the next generation.

Laurie Lewis

Laurie’s co-workers believe her compassion, upbeat personality and professionalism are truly angelic. One colleague says that she inspires the staff to be all that they can be. No matter how full her plate is, she’s more than willing to answer the phone, help in the clinic or provide a shoulder to cry on. Her most rewarding moments come when she helps co-workers gain confidence and makes patients feel at ease.

Besides managing the front office, she also chairs the Improvement Committee for the Practice Management System and, spearheads efforts to create consistent training documents, and promotes Michigan Heart at community events.

Laurie is also a big believer in a healthy heart and healthy living. She walks to and from work and she’s a certified group exercise and yoga instructor. She also volunteers to teach classes to people who haven’t exercised regularly, and serves on Michigan Heart’s Wellness Committee.

Robert Rando, D.D.S.

The bright smiles that accompany a visit with Dr. Rando are symbolic of his skill at boosting both dental health and self-esteem. His calm and caring manner have made him a popular dentist with patients of all ages, from three years old to 104. He goes out of his way to make each dental visit a positive one and says that people know by your tone, touch and eye contact whether you care or not.

Dr. Rando keeps his skills current through involvement in the Jackson Dental Study Club. A colleague there praised him for his continual willingness to learn new techniques and provide the highest level of service to his patients.

Dr. Rando is equally interested in helping young people develop effective life skills. He often accomplishes this through sports activities at the Rando Activity Center, which he built in 2003. One of the young people who benefited from Dr. Rando’s leadership said his passion for our community has developed several young leaders who may not have discovered their own potential without his guidance.

Tammy Spicer

In the past six years, Tammy has progressed from working in the housekeeping department at Lloyd Ganton Retirement Centers to her current role as the Jackson Care Connection Manager at Arbor Oaks Living Center. Her educational efforts at Jackson Community College and Career Quest have helped her move up the ladder. She says that she’s been like a sponge, absorbing as much knowledge as possible so she can take excellent care of the residents.

A co-worker says that technical expertise is only a small piece of what makes Tammy so special. Her concern goes above and beyond giving medications and taking vitals – it’s about the lasting relationships she creates with residents. She recently fought her own battle with cancer and feels that the experience has given her more compassion toward residents going through difficult times.

Betty Toll

Betty has a special talent for turning challenges into opportunities. Early in her career as a college math instructor, she helped with her 3-month-old nephew’s physical therapy after he was severely burned. The experience was so rewarding that she went back to school and switched careers. Now she enjoys helping people get back to normal functioning – whether it’s getting a star athlete back in shape or helping someone be able to do simple tasks on their own again.

After a few years in the field, Betty was faced with another career challenge. Many of her cancer patients suffered from a painful condition called lymphedema [lim-fe-de-ma], but no one in Jackson was trained to treat it. So once again Betty went back to school. She’s now the only certified lymphedema [lim-fe-de-ma] therapist in the Jackson area and her patient load has brown by more than 500 percent. A colleague said that many of Betty’s patients could share stories about the life-changing and life-saving effects of her treatment.

Betty is also very active in the community, where she serves on the Center for Family Health’s board of directors, coordinates campaigns for United Way and Allegiance Health, and supports Jackson Public Schools.

Judy Trudell

Retired is a relative term to Judy. In 1977, she left the nursing profession to raise her children, but five years later she was back working at Foote Hospital – now Allegiance Health. Her passion was teaching patients about their diseases and the effects of the medication they were using. Patients remember her for her kindness and care-giving skills.

Judy retired again in 2003. She may have quit “working” but she never quit being a nurse and giving back to the community. Now, she regularly volunteers at St. Luke’s Clinic, where she fills prescriptions and keeps the pharmacy and exam rooms in good order. She also coordinates funeral luncheons at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. A co-worker praises Judy for her dedication to her work and her desire to help people.

In Memory: Gerald I. Maas, M.D. (1923-2011)

Some people leave a lasting impression on everyone they touch. Dr. Maas was one of those people. His medical skill, compassion and love for his community were an inspiration to everyone who knew him. For more than 30 years, he earned the respect and admiration of his patients as he cared for their medical needs, listened to their concerns and involved them in their healthcare decisions. His wife said he liked to think that he and the patient were partners together in fighting against the disease. Professional colleagues were impressed with his ability to get to the heart of his patients’ problems with a warm, friendly bedside manner.

Patients in Guatemala also benefited from his excellent care. On four different occasions, he traveled to that country on medical missionary trips with Helps International.

His colleague, Dr. David Halsey, may have summed him up the best. He said that Dr. Maas was an outstanding doctor as well as a very nice, classy man. The way he lived his life was a model for everybody. That’s his legacy.

Recipients

Michael Gleeson

Raymond E. Cole, D.O.

Robert Eby

Paul H. Ernest, M.D.

Jan Kalahar

Brandon Klump

Laurie Lewis

Robert Rando, D.D.S.

Tammy Spicer

Betty Toll

Judy Trudell

Gerald I. Maas, M.D.

Sponsors