Henry Ford Health

Happy Opening Day! Our spirited team couldn’t miss an opportunity to celebrate the Detroit Tigers in style! ⚾ Join our team: https://bit.ly/3HI3frz

Freestanding emergency departments are achieving higher rates of safe discharge for patients who are admitted with chest pain, according to a recent study conducted by Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences. They’re doing this by using a high-sensitivity troponin protocol. Troponin is a protein that’s located inside the heart’s muscles. When it leaks into the bloodstream, it usually signifies a heart attack. High-sensitivity troponin tests can detect even small amounts of troponin in the bloodstream – allowing clinicians to quickly rule out a heart attack (sometimes within an hour). This helps reduce unnecessary time in the emergency department while ensuring patients receive appropriate care. "The study found that freestanding EDs demonstrated meaningful operational advantages when using the accelerated troponin pathway, including faster rule out and earlier discharge of low-risk chest pain patients while maintaining comparable safety outcomes,” says Dr. Satheesh Gunaga, vice chair of emergency medicine at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital and lead author of the study. "Overall, the observed association between the accelerated protocol and safe discharge was stronger in freestanding EDs than in hospital EDs.” As one of the fastest-growing segments of emergency care in the U.S., freestanding EDs are caring for an increasing number of patients with symptoms that could signal a heart attack. Dr. Gunaga says these findings provide important validation that high-sensitivity troponin tests can be implemented safely and effectively outside traditional hospital environments. Read more in Cardiovascular Business: https://bit.ly/47zhQCF

Cases of a rare, life-threatening infection called acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) are increasing – but outcomes are improving. AIFRS can spread quickly beyond the sinuses to the eyes and brain, making early recognition critical. “The window between early mucosal disease and skull base or intracranial involvement can be as short as days, not weeks,” says our otolaryngologist Dr. Amrita Ray who spoke to Physician's Weekly to highlight why early clinical regimens and screening practices are so crucial. People who are immunocompromised or living with poorly controlled diabetes are most often affected by AIFRS. Early symptoms like facial pain, fever or visual changes can escalate quickly without prompt intervention. Read more about Dr. Ray’s recommendations and what physicians are doing to identify cases early in Physician's Weekly: https://bit.ly/4s6scS0

To mark the passage of House Bill 5455, which ensures Michigan’s continued participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital President Rand O'Leary, FACHE recently welcomed Michigan State Representative Rylee Linting for a special celebration. Rep. Linting, a Wyandotte native, championed the bill that makes it possible for our hospitals, including Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, to continue recruiting physicians from other participating states within the IMLC. Dr. Ahmad Maarouf, Chief Medical Officer at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, shared that the IMLC allows us to streamline recruitment in high-need specialties such as emergency medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and primary care. "We’re able to recruit physicians who are already licensed in other IMLC states to come practice here in Michigan while fully complying with Michigan’s regulatory and disciplinary authority," said Dr. Maarouf. "With this critical tool, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital has already attracted the talent of 8 skilled physicians with many more to come." Learn more: https://bit.ly/3PDFZSu

For Doctors’ Day, we asked a few of our team members to share kind words about our doctors “behind their backs.” The responses were thoughtful, heartfelt and a great reminder of the impact our physicians make every day. 💙

National Doctors’ Day celebrations started early across all of our hospitals, honoring the incredible work and dedication of our physicians. 💙🩺 Dr. Steven Kalkanis MD, our our Executive Vice President & CEO of Henry Ford Hospital and CEO of the Henry Ford Medical Group, helped kick off the celebrations.

"My career didn’t just come full circle – it was born in the very moment my life was nearly taken." At 21, Kellie Kunkel was studying for nursing finals when a rollover car accident left her paralyzed from the neck down, with no certainty of how much mobility she would regain. While awaiting surgery, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and student took time to explain how critical it was to protect her cervical spine and safely manage her airway. Their calm presence in a moment of uncertainty left a lasting impression. “I had already considered CRNA school someday, but watching their role in that moment cemented something deep inside me,” Kellie says. After a long recovery, Kellie graduated from nursing school and began working at Henry Ford Hospital. Over time, she realized becoming a CRNA wasn't just a goal – it was a calling shaped by the care she experienced firsthand. Years later, while sharing her story at work, Kellie’s colleague Rachel Estrada said it sounded incredibly familiar. Rachel was the CRNA student present during Kellie’s surgery – she was there during Kellie’s surgery and even prayed over her. Today, they work side by side as colleagues and close friends. Now a CRNA supervisor at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, Kellie brings both clinical expertise and personal perspective to every patient she cares for – inspired by the very role that helped shape her journey. "I'm proud to be part of Henry Ford Health,” she says, “and honored to serve patients knowing firsthand what it means to be on the other side of the drape." If you're interested in joining our inspiring team, visit henryford.com/careers.

This CME event will provide attendees the opportunity to learn the latest in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of common allergic disorders. Both primary care providers and allergy/immunology specialists will benefit from attendance. AMA and ABIM credits available.

Our Liver Transplant Program is leading the way! As reported by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN), we were the busiest Midwest program in January and February and America's 4th most active liver transplant program during the same period! Our team credits the use of state-of-the art technology and a willingness to accept even the most complex cases to their success in saving so many lives in 2026. Congratulations!

When Dr. Débora Barbosa Vendramini-Costa was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 39, it was hard for her to relinquish control. As a pancreatic cancer researcher, she wanted to study her tumor tissue but couldn’t for ethical reasons. She knew even before her official diagnosis that she likely had breast cancer – as she could identify her tumor on the ultrasound screen. After a double mastectomy, Dr. Vendramini-Costa is now on the other side of her diagnosis and is undergoing long-term hormone treatment. She says her cancer journey has given her a unique perspective and a deeper understanding of what it means to have cancer. “So often we are focused on our work. We understand the disease but we don’t really know what it means to be on the other side,” Dr. Vendramini-Costa says. “Now I know what it means to cross the bridge into the hospital. I respect our patients even more because it is hard to be a patient. It is hard to sit there and here those words. It is hard to be told you need to be under treatment. “As a researcher, I became even more determined to fight for my dreams, and one of my dreams was always to develop therapies to help patients. And now I understand the urgency even more.” Listen to Dr. Vendramini-Costa’s full interview on Michigan Voices: https://apple.co/46W3Sug