Metro Health President and CEO Mike Faas has received the highest osteopathic honor awarded by Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Faas has been named one of the 2009 recipients of the Walter F. Patenge Medal of Public Service. This marks the fourth time in the past three years that executives from Metro Health have been honored with the distinguished medal.
The annual award has recognized "excellence in the areas of health care, education or public service" for the past 36 years. Recipients are nominated by their peers and evaluated by a selection committee of MSU faculty and administrators, as well as by affiliates in the community.
"I know I speak for the entire Metro Health organization when I extend my sincere congratulations to Mike for his Patenge Medal," said Doyle Hayes, board chair for Metro Health. "Mike's tireless dedication to the highest levels of service and health care is exemplary. We value and appreciate his commitment to Metro Health, and to the practice of osteopathic medicine and the West Michigan community as well.
"It is a great honor for Metro Health to have not one but four Patenge Medal recipients over the past three years. We are proud they are part our executive team and commend them all on their many fine accomplishments."
Faas joined Metro in 1994 as its chief executive. In this role, he led the organization's efforts to design, fund and build a new LEED-certified hospital and surrounding Metro Health Village. The hospital and village opened in fall of 2007 and have quickly become a health-care destination in West Michigan and national models for the delivery of community health care.
With more than 25 years working in the health-care field, Faas has held previous leadership positions such as senior vice president of operations for St. Luke's Methodist Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and co-CEO of the Borgess Metro Health Alliance. At Metro Health, he has responsibility for the hospital, neighborhood outpatient centers and its more than 2,500 doctors, nurses and staff.
Contact: Ellen Bristol, Metro Health Hospital (616) 252-5033or Mary Ann Sabo, Sabo Public Relations (616)485-1432.