Saint Mary's steadily builds talented staff for new neurological center

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

Last week, Saint Mary's Health Care announced the appointment of Deborah F. Gelinas, MD, as director of clinical neuroscience research. Dr. Gelinas specializes in ALS and will head up research at the new ALS Clinic at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.

But she fills only one of nine top medical positions created by the development of Saint Mary's Hauenstein Center, scheduled to open in January 2009. Five of those positions are still open.

The 14,000-square-foot Hauenstein Center will be West Michigan's premier location for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders and injuries.

"We have two other neurologists on board right now, plus two epileptologists who specialize in treating epilepsy," says Leanna Krukowski, hospital spokesperson, "but through 2010 we'll be looking for four additional neurologists to grow our sub specialty programs."

Those programs include treatments for patients suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and epilepsy, plus programs in neuro-opthalmology, neuro diagnostics, neuro oncology, and the possible future development of an MS clinic and headache clinic.

Neurologists are at a premium because there aren't enough of them to take care of the number of patients who need them, says Krukowski, adding that many neurologists have several job offers on the table, so the hospital is working with recruiters.

The top job, that of Hauenstein Center medical director, is close to being filled after 18 months of working to locate, recruit and sign the right person.

But the jobs don't stop there.

Saint Mary's and the Van Andel Research Institute met yesterday to discuss more neuroscience research between the two entities, which are already conducting joint Parkinson's and oncology research. That could mean more researchers and research assistants.

"And as our inpatient neuro services grow, we'll need more nurses," Krukowski adds.

Source: Leanna Krukowski, Saint Mary's Health Care

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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].