44 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024 
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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.