Bronson Healthcare Appoints New Leaders and Five New Members to Board of Directors
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Bronson Healthcare, a not-for-profit, locally governed health system serving southwest and southcentral Michigan, announces the appointment of James Liggins, Jr., as the new chair and Michael Odar as the new vice chair, both who joined the board in 2016. Five new members also join the board:
- Genevieve Coleman, Vice President of HR Strategy & Corporate Functions – Stryker Corporation
- Katharine Werme Hermsen, Realtor – Jaqua Realtors
- Kellie Hoffman, Community Leader
- Grace Lubwama, MPH, DPPD, President and CEO – Kalamazoo Community Foundation
- Rachel Parfet Worgess, Community Leader
“Bronson is governed locally so decisions are made by board members, administrators and clinicians who are deeply connected to the community’s health needs. Now, more than ever it’s our duty to reinvest our resources into our talent and services to meet those needs,” says Board Chair James Liggins, Jr. “All five of these new board members have considerable local governance and leadership experience and are invested in the communities Bronson serves. We are incredibly fortunate to have them join our board, as they each bring a tremendous amount of value and passion and are committed to helping enhance health care for those we serve, aligning with Bronson’s mission of advancing the health of our communities.”
Genevieve, Katharine, Kellie, Grace and Rachel join current board members: Richard Allen, MD; Lynn Chen-Zhang; Randall Eberts, PhD; Scott Gibson, MD; Jorge Gonzalez, PhD; Brenda Hunt; Nelson Karre; James Liggins, Jr.; Steven Lins, MD; Bill Manns; Dr. Robert Nicholson IV; Neil Nyberg; Michael Odar; Donald Parfet; Honorable Namita Sharma; Erick Stewart; L. Marshall Washington, PhD; and William Workman, DO.
Thank You to Outgoing Chair
Nelson Karre, former board chair served in this role for five years. Under his guidance, we navigated numerous challenges and achieved remarkable milestones. Nelson remains on the board, and we look forward to continuing to benefit from his wisdom and experience.
Farewell to Outgoing Board Members
We also extend our gratitude to outgoing board members, Dr. Mahesh Karamchandani, Katy Fink and LaJune Montgomery Tabron who served Bronson for many years. Their dedication will impact our region for years to come.
About Bronson Healthcare
With over 9,300 employees, more than 1,700 medical staff members and 747 licensed beds, Bronson Healthcare is the leading healthcare system and largest employer in southwest Michigan. With the largest Medical Group in the region, it offers a full range of services including primary and OB care, cancer, cardiovascular, neurosciences, orthopedics, surgery, critical care and post-acute care. The system provides care across 70 locations, including four acute care hospitals in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Paw Paw and South Haven, has the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, children’s hospital and high-risk pregnancy and birthing center in southwest Michigan. Bronson Healthcare is recognized across the state and nationally for exceptional quality care, by Healthgrades, Fortune and PINC AI, and ranked as a top employer by Forbes, Newsweek and the National Association for Business Resources (NABR).
