MRRN Member Bio's

Have you ever attended a meeting and not known some of the members around you? Do you know the names and faces of those around you but don't really know much about them?? Well here's your chance to get to know fellow MRRN members better! Check back often for new member spotlights!

Those wishing to put together a biography for the web site should contact Sarah Bates at 1-800-479-1666 or bates@mhc.org. To view the biography archives, click here.

Our current member spotlight is on
Jeanne O'Dell from Foote Hospital...

Jeanne was born and raised in Jackson, MI. She graduated from East Jackson High School and received her Associates Degree in General Business from Cleary University. Jeanne is currently attending Cleary University to complete her BBA in Organizational Leadership, which will be completed in 2009.

Jeanne has worked full-time for Foote Hospital for the past 15 years. Before coming to Physician Services 2 years ago, she worked in various departments such as billing, accounts payable, and payroll.

Jeanne has been married for 17 years and has three young adults - two daughters, MacKenzie (16), Tamrae (21), and one son Zack (23). In her spare time, when her youngest daughter is not playing basketball, volleyball, or softball, or in school, Jeanne loves to garden, spend time with family and friends, take long walks, and take rides with her husband on his Harley. She also volunteers for Northwest High School Athletic boosters club.


Bio Archives

Catherine Hall-Stephenson - Henry Ford Macomb Hospital
Stacey Simmons - Genesys PHO
Jennifer Feddersen - Henry Ford Health System
Mary Bischoff - Detroit Medical Center
Beth Brackenridge - Michigan Medical, P.C.
Sarah Bates - Michigan Health Council
Kim Keller - Sparrow Health System
Grazi Brown - Promedica Health System
Cari Maser - St. Joseph Health System
Bob Vander Ploeg - Spectrum Health
Jake Shimansky - Visiting Physicians Association
Kathy Lawson - Michigan Medical, P.C.
Konnie Licavoli - Bay Regional Medical Center


Catherine Hall-Stephenson
Cathy is a Detroit native and still lives in the area. She is a graduate of Mumford High School and is currently attending Northwood University to complete her degree in Business Management.

Cathy has 26 years of physician relation’s experience with a strong concentration in recruitment and retention. She received her certification in medical staff recruitment (CMSR) in 2006 from the American Academy of Medical Management. Cathy recently joined the Physician Support Services department at Henry Ford Macomb Hospitals as a Physician Recruiter/Retention Specialist, under the direction of Angela O’Toole.

Cathy has been married for 14 years and has one son who is attending Southfield Lathrup High School. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching old movies, and power shopping.


Stacey Simmons
Stacey is excited to be a new employee of Genesys PHO.

As a relative newcomer to Flint she enjoys exploring her new town and discovering all it has to offer. Originally from North Branch, MI, Stacey was raised as a farm girl and can occasionally be found helping out on the family homestead.

After graduating from high school Stacey attended Michigan State University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences. During and immediately following her college career Stacey worked in the politically-related private sector of downtown Lansing. After several years in this field she felt it was time for a change and found that Genesys was a perfect fit.

Stacey’s interests outside of work include Middle Eastern dance (belly dance), roller derby, cooking and entertaining, travel, and spending time with family and friends.


Jennifer Federsen
Jennifer received her Bachelor's Degree in Human Resource Management from Oakland University. She went on to graduate Cum Laude with her Master's Degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resources from Walsh College. Jennifer holds her certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Jennifer has been in the recruiting field for 10 years and joined the Henry Ford Health System in May of 2006 as one of three Senior Physician Recruiters.

Jennifer has been married for four years and has two sons, ages 2 and newborn. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, scrapbooking and sports. Jennifer also volunteers as a "big" with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Detroit.


Mary Bischoff
Mary received her Bachelor's Degree in Special Education at Eastern Michigan University and completed a Computer Applications Program at Sawyer Business School. She has been working in healthcare since 1993 when she joined St. John Health as an assistant to the Physician Liaison at St. John Hospital and Medical Center. Mary became the Physician Recruitment Coordinator for St. John Health in 2000. In November of 2006, she joined the Physician Recruitment and Development Department at the Detroit Medical Center. She has been an active member of MRRN since 1995 and previously held the position of secretary.

In her free time Mary enjoys playing and teaching piano, singing in the contemporary folk group at church, reading, gardening, and spending time with her friends and family.


Beth Brackenridge
Beth is a West Michigan native who has over 30 years of healthcare experience. She is currently working as a Physician Recruiter for Michigan Medical, P.C. (MMPC) and has been there for over one year. Prior to working at MMPC, she worked at Spectrum Health- Kent Community Campus as the Outpatient Program Director. Beth received a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Systems Administration from Ferris State University.

Beth has been married for 33 years and has two grown children plus a son-in-law. She enjoys walks, boating, golfing, and traveling whenever possible.


Sarah Bates
Sarah is a native of Lansing, born and raised there and still living in the area. She graduated from Lansing Catholic High School and attended both Central Michigan University and Davenport College, receiving her Associates Degree in General Business.

Sarah has over 10 years of experience in the healthcare field, working for Sparrow Health System for 6 years before going to the Michigan Health Council. This past April marked her 6-year anniversary with the Health Council! Sarah started out in the Physician Sourcing Service and currently manages the online physician programs, MOM, MOO, POP and OMI.

In addition to her full time job, Sarah is also a full time mom to her two sons, ages 8 and 11. She and her family enjoy camping, fishing, playing sports and generally just being outdoors! Sarah also loves to shop, scrapbook and read.


Kim Keller
Kim grew up in Jackson, MI and received her BA in Business from Michigan State University. She has over 19 years experience in the areas of Human Resource Management and Recruiting. Most recently, Kim worked as the Manager of Physician Recruitment & Retention at Foote Health System in Jackson for thirteen years. She started at Sparrow Health System four months ago in the role of Physician Liaison, a newly created position.

Kim enjoys spending time with her 10 year old son, Ryan. She also enjoys camping, kayaking, golf, snow skiing and traveling. Kim is a special olympic volunteer and was instrumental in forming a group in the Lansing area to support parents of special needs children.


Grazi Brown Grazi was born in Northern Italy and raised in the Toledo area where she has lived her whole life. She received a Bachelor's in Science Degree from the University of Toledo and has been a physician recruiter for ProMedica Health System for just over one year. Grazi has been in health care for 25 years, all with ProMedica Health System in various positions. Her most recent position was as a Property Manager.

Grazi has been married for 33 years and has three grown children, ages 30, 27 and 25, and two granddaughters. She enjoys traveling and has visited nine countries in her traveling excursions. Grazi also enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, music and playing golf. In addition, she is an avid college football fan.


Cari Maser
Cari has lived in Michigan her entire life. She grew up in Metro Detroit and relocated to West Branch in 1999. Cari is working for St. Joseph Health System in Tawas City and has worked in healthcare for 20 years in the Human Resource field. She has 10 years experience in recruitment and has recently taken on the role of physician recruiter in addition to her current Allied Health recruiting for SJHS.

Cari is currently working on her Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Northwood University and will complete the program in 2006. She is a member of ASPR and local Workforce Training Advisory Board and has served as Chairman for SJHS Service and Student contract committees.

Cari has been married for 20 years this May and has two daughters. She enjoys running, snowmobiling and traveling.


Bob Vander Ploeg
Bob has lived in Michigan his entire life. He grew up in Grand Rapids and received his Bachelor's Degree from Calvin College in Psychology. He then obtained an MBA from the University of Michigan, after which he began his career at Consumers Energy. He worked for that organization for 13 years in various Human Resources roles around the State. During that time he lived in Ann Arbor for a number of years, as well as in Jackson and South Haven.

Bob joined Spectrum Health (then known as Butterworth Hospital) in 1992 and moved back to Grand Rapids at that time. He has held various Human Resources positions, including seven years in Recruitment. In July, he began his current position recruiting Physicians.

Bob has a daughter, Annie, who is 21 and lives in Ann Arbor. He enjoys working out, playing tennis and racquetball, photography and traveling.


Jake Shimansky
Jake was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and called 5 states home before finally spending most of his life in Metro Detroit. An alumnus of Southfield-Lathrup High School, he went on to receive a B.S. in Psychology from Michigan State University. Upon graduating MSU, Jake began a career in social work dealing mostly with the developmentally disabled and chronically mentally impaired.

After nearly 4 years and part of the way through his M.S.W. he decided to switch gears and enter the field of healthcare. Jake worked for 3 years with a major PPO before joining Visiting Physicians Association as a physician recruiter in 2003. VPA is the largest private practice in the U.S. dedicated to providing housecalls to homebound patients, primarily geriatric. With 17 offices in 6 states there are regularly 20-25 openings per year.

Jake has been married for 6 years and has a beautiful 18 month old son. He is active in his synagogue serving on the board for 5 years and teaching in the religious school for 7 years. Jake enjoys fantasy sports and thanks to his son, watches Spongebob Squarepants on a regular basis. Jake also likes penguins and believes that air-conditioning should be the right of all Americans, home and auto.


Kathy Lawson
Kathy has worked in Grand Rapids all of her professional career after receiving her Bachelors in Business from Ferris State University. She has over 21 years experience in the areas of Human Resource Generalist, Nurse Recruiting and Physician Recruiting.

Her current position as Physician Recruiter for Michigan Medical, P.C. (MMPC) is both rewarding and challenging. Kathy's philosophy regarding physician recruitment allows her to successfully recruit as many as 20 new physicians each year. Spending time with each physician candidate, creating relationships and ensuring the right match enables Kathy to recruit physicians who are continually interested in building the culture of their organization.

Kathy has been married for 21 years and has three children, ages 19, 13 and 11. She enjoys spending time with her family, exercising/running and enjoys the seasons (especially the warmer ones) at her lake home in Rockford.


Konnie Licavoli
Konnie was born and raised in Bay City and has lived there her whole life. She has been the Physician Recruiter for Bay Regional Medical Center for 5 ½ years. She loves her job and all of the people she works with.

Konnie has worked in heath care for 27 years in a variety of positions including phlebotomy, holter monitor business and sales and service positions. Her most recent past position was as a sales representative for a medical Laboratory based out of Detroit.

Konnie has 3 children and she enjoys spending time with them. She is vice president of the local Bay Area Family YMCA Board of Directors and she enjoys volunteering for many different community organizations and functions. Konnie also enjoys running.


 

 
 
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