Genesys Announces New Physicians on Medical Staff

Grand Blanc, MI - Kenneth Steibel, MD, president of the Genesys Regional Medical Center medical staff, announces the appointment of two family practice physicians to the medical staff:

Marcos Machado, MD, completed his family medicine residency at Genesys Regional Medical Center. He obtained his medical degree at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri, and his undergraduate degree from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

He is board certified in family medicine.

Dr. Machado is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association and the Michigan State Medical Association.

Dr. Machado opened a practice at 10019 Miller Road in Swartz Creek. He is accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call 810-635-4476.

Ariel Ponce, DO, MPH, completed his family medicine residency and his internship at Genesys Regional Medical Center. He obtained his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and his undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit-Mercy.

Prior to joining Genesys, he worked as a family medicine physician in Shelby Township, and as a staff physician in Flint.

Dr. Ponce is board certified in family medicine.

He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the Michigan Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

He practices at 4075 S. Center Road in Burton. To make an appointment with Dr. Ponce, call 810-743-4120.

Genesys Remembers Loved Ones with Memory Tree Lighting

Grand Blanc, MI – Genesys Hospice will host its 17th annual Memory Tree
lighting ceremony to remember loved ones who have passed away, and to honor
special family members and friends.

This year’s event will take place Thursday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m., at the Holiday
Inn Gateway Centre on Hill Road (by US 23) in Flint.

Genesys will recognize all contributions with a purple heart – bearing the name
of a loved one – that will hang on the 17-foot Memory Tree throughout the
holidays. For a one-time donation of $500, a gold laminated heart engraved with
the name of a loved one will be placed on the Memory Tree year after year.

A reception will follow the tree lighting ceremony.

For more than 29 years, Genesys Hospice has provided compassionate care and
support to patients and families in this community who were coping with
end-of-life issues, loss and grief. Through donations from the Memory Tree,
Genesys can enhance the furnishings and environment at the Genesys Hospice Care
Center in Goodrich, a home-like facility where many patients choose to spend
their final days. Goal is make this time as comfortable and peaceful as
possible.

To purchase a heart for the Memory Tree, call the Genesys Hospice Care Center
at 810-636-5010.

Genesys Volunteers’ donations near $4 million mark

Genesee County –  At the annual Genesys Volunteer Appreciation luncheon held last month, Genesys Volunteers presented Genesys Regional Medical Center President Betsy Aderholdt with a check for $160,000. The group of some 630 men and women have donated a total of $3,993,000 to Genesys since the medical center opened at Health Park in February 1997.

Genesys volunteers have earmarked the $160,000 to go toward equipping a Special Care Level IIB Nursery in the Family Birthing Center, helping to purchase an orthopedic navigation system (new technology used in orthopedic surgery), and buying a new courtesy coach to escort patients and visitors to and from the hospital parking lot.

Over the years, Genesys volunteers have raised money for: Genesys Health Park nature trails, a 31-bed hospital expansion, a third cardiac catheterization lab, a mammotome machine for women’s diagnostic care, a digital ultrasound system for the Genesys Heart Institute, the Paul J. Rocky Roll Cardiac Rapid Diagnostic Center, a prostate seed implant machine for cancer patients, an ultrasound powervision angiography machine, the Genesys Sanctuary Garden (an outdoor chapel and place for reflection located on one of the nature trails), the EverGreen (which includes a greenhouse on the Health Park campus where volunteers grow and sell flowers and plants), seven courtesy coaches, and much more.

To earn this money the organization conducts fundraising events throughout the year that include book sales, jewelry sales and nut sales at Christmas. In addition, proceeds from the Genesys Acorn Gift and Floral Shop, the EverGreen
and the annual Charity Ball go to support Genesys patients and the community.

This year’s Charity Ball will take place Saturday, Nov. 14.

In addition to fundraising events held throughout the year, Genesys volunteers donate their time and talents throughout the hospital in these areas: surgery waiting rooms, the information desk, family lounges, as courtesy coach drivers, flower arranging and delivery, employee health, eucharistic ministry, pet therapy, the Genesys hip and knee program, and two new services: emergency department liaisons and FERNS (ForEveR Nurses).

Family Focus volunteers (liaisons in the emergency department) are specially-trained to serve as liaisons in the emergency department – greeting visitors, comforting patients and families in the waiting areas and treatment
rooms, and providing updates from the clinical staff to patients and families.

FERNS are a group of three retired registered nurses who work in the Quality department tabulating clinical data, helping at educational seminars for nurses, conducting hand hygiene inservices and inspections throughout the
hospital, and assisting in other areas within the Quality department.

At the annual appreciation luncheon, volunteers elected a new board. They are:
Edward Hugan from Holly: president
Janet Barker from Grand Blanc: president-elect
Linda Coppola from Holly: recording secretary
Dennis Wagner from Grand Blanc: finance director
Stan Byk from Grand Blanc: communications director
Dawn Chalmers from Clarkston: fundraising director
Peggy Newell from Grand Blanc: membership director
Dorothy Franke from Holly: program director
Edward McLean from Grand Blanc: service director
Connie Ozanich from Fenton: past president advisor

For more information on Genesys Volunteers, call 810-606-5100.