44 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024
J
N
C
orewell Health welcomed
Lamont Yoder, RN, as its
new president of Corewell
Health East, effective May 6.
He reports to the system’s Chief
Operating Officer, Dr. Darryl
Elmouchi.
“We were searching for a
dynamic, proven health care leader
to oversee our eight hospitals
in the Metro Detroit area,” Dr.
Elmouchi said. “Lamont has
more than 25 years of heath care
leadership experience across the
country. Throughout it all, he has
maintained his nursing license
and always put people first. We are
excited for him to join our team.”
As president of Corwell Health
in Southeast Michigan, which
includes eight hospitals, 4,500
physicians, 33,000 team members,
a fully integrated health plan with
Priority Health, and numerous
partnerships across the community,
Yoder has the opportunity to
reshape healthcare across Southeast
Michigan.
Gary Torgow, president of the
Jewish Federation of Detroit,
said, “Corewell East is a critical
institution for our community, and
Lamont is a wonderful choice to be
at the helm at this important time.”
Yoder spent his first few months
on the job talking with team
members at the point-of-care
frontline.
“My focus was on listening. I
wanted to learn what they need
from me to create a great place to
work and a great place to go for care
so that we can become the trusted
steward in healthcare for all our
community members in southeast
Michigan,” Yoder said.
Yoder began his career as a
nursing assistant on the night shift
and then worked his way through
nursing school. His experience
now measures in decades. His
first 15 years were spent in direct
patient care. “That served as a
foundation for me for working with
different disciplines and members
of care teams that need to come
together, collaborate, have clear
communication and teamwork
in order to maximize patient
outcomes,” he said. “That really
helped give me perspective that
continues to be beneficial in my role
today.”
One of his first goals, he said, is
to bring down the cost of healthcare
for the community and make sure
people have access to the care they
need.
“Our focus is really on cost, access
and inequity in our communities,
making sure that everyone has
fair and equitable access to the
care that they need with excellent
outcomes at an affordable cost,” he
said. “I’m grateful we’ve been able to
create Michigan’s largest integrated
delivery healthcare system that
really can leverage our collective
strength — teamwork, knowledge,
research, and education — for the
benefit of all of our communities.”
Corewell Health is leveraging its
strength in virtual care and clinics
in local schools, creating new value-
based care models and partnerships,
he said. It also continues its
partnership with Oakland
University William Beaumont
School of Medicine, which recently
graduated 1,000 new physicians.
“Our first nurse scholars
graduated in August, and we’ve
launched new programs and
continue to support programs with
Schoolcraft College and Henry Ford
College,” Yoder added.
WORKING WITH THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY
Corewell Health worked with the
Jewish community to build an
eruv that connects the Bais Refoel
Hospitality House to Corewell
Health William Beaumont
University Hospital in Royal Oak.
Bais Refoel is a three-bedroom
ranch located just west of
Beaumont, where Jewish families
can stay when loved ones are in
the hospital. The house offers
Wi-Fi, a family room complete with
children’s toys, plenty of reading
material, a kosher kitchen and
many religious items.
The eruv gives Orthodox Jewish
families an opportunity to visit
patients in the hospital on Shabbat
and holidays. “The project swas
just completed,” Yoder said.
“We have a strong, foundational
relationship at Corwell Health with
the Jewish community in Southeast
Michigan,” Yoder said. “We have
longstanding support of our
hospitals and care teams from the
Jewish community and are proud to
be the healthcare provider of choice
for many in the Jewish community.”
Yoder added, “My biggest
desire is to make sure everyone
knows how grateful I am for the
opportunity to come here and settle
into the community. I welcome
anyone to reach out to me and our
leadership team. We’re establishing
an amazing leadership team here
that is focused on delivering care
in an equitable way with access to
everyone.”
New President at
Corewell Health
Lamont Yoder’s goals include
lowering costs and increasing
access for patients.
JACKIE HEADAPOHL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
BUSINESS
Lamont
Yoder, RN
Guests at the Bais Refoel house
will soon benefit from an eruv
going up around the hospital.