Doctors' Day

We also have more big news. Each year, the UM Health-Sparrow Women’s Board of Managers honors outstanding UM Health-Sparrow physicians nominated by their peers, who have stood out over the last year, going above and beyond in service to our community. On this Doctors’ Day, in conjunction with the Women’s Board of Managers, we’re proud to announce the following physicians are being recognized:

Physician of the Year

• Philip Croft, M.D., J.D., of UM Health-Sparrow Pathology, who provided invaluable COVID data and analysis throughout the pandemic, helping prepare UM Health-Sparrow’s clinical teams during patient surges.
• Mohamed Farhat, M.D., a UM Health-Sparrow Pediatric Intensivist, who after witnessing a horrific accident assisted on-scene, focusing on four critically injured children and accompanying them to UM Health-Sparrow for further care.

Thank you, Dr. Croft and Dr. Farhat, for your outstanding service to UM Health-Sparrow patients and our community.

Physician Hall of Fame

• James Barton, M.D., an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Lansing OB/GYN, is a dedicated physician, educator, and leader who is the “go-to” when difficult surgeries and issues arise.
• Donald Bartkowski, M.D., recently retired after dedicating more than 20 years to pediatric urology patients at UM Health-Sparrow Hospital.
• Suad Khalil, M.D., a distinguished pediatric neurologist and current chair of Pediatric Neurology, has expertise in epilepsy and whose fierce advocacy for her patients is second to none.
• Candace Metcalf, RN, D.O., a retired OB Anesthesiologist and past UM Health-Sparrow Chief of Staff, led the OB anesthesia team to receive the Center of Excellence designation from the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology, bestowed on a select group of institutions nationwide.
• James Richard, D.O., a Pathologist and Medical Director of UM Health-Sparrow Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, providing outstanding leadership to UM Health-Sparrow’s laboratory teams throughout the COVID pandemic.
• Jeffrey Stowitts, D.O., a long-time Greenville Primary Care physician, is kind, caring, compassionate, and dedicated to his patients.

Thank you all for your compassionate care!

Physician Leadership Award

The physicians receiving the Physician Leadership Award went to extraordinary lengths to protect the community and some of our sickest patients during COVID surges, including doubling or tripling their hours and numbers of patients. Their selflessness was an example to all:

• Aaron Abramovitz, M.D. (SMG-Critical Care Service)­
• Kristy Beckholt, D.O. (Family Medicine/Geriatrics/University of Michigan Health-University of Michigan Health-University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Specialty Hospital)­
• Selwan Edward, M.D. (SMG-Critical Care Service)­
• Jennifer Ely, D.O. (Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants)­
• Christopher Huhta, M.D. (Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants)­
• Nagham Jafar, M.D. (SMG-Critical Care Service)­
• Madhavi Kanneganti, M.D. (SMG-Critical Care Service)­
• Ghulam Khaleeq, M.D. (Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants)­
• Michael Masnyj, D.O. (Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants)­
• Corey O'Brien, D.O. (Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants)­
• Rajit Pahwa, M.D. (SMG-Critical Care Service)

Please thank these physicians for their dedication and commitment to providing quality, compassionate care to our patients!

Please view this special message from Karen Kent VanGorder, M.D., UM Health-Sparrow Health System Chief Medical and Quality Officer.