Tomah Health and the hospital’s Medical Executive Committee have recognized Michael Saunders, M.D. for his 37 years of service to the organization and community. Saunders, a family practice physician at the Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Health Care Clinic in Tomah, officially retired earlier this year after a career that brought him to Tomah Memorial Hospital in 1984.
Above: Tomah Health board of directors chair Oak Moser, left, and hospital Medical Executive Committee president Jeffrey Cavaness, M.D. presented a recognition clock to Michael Saunders, M.D. for his years of service to the hospital and community.
“We wanted to honor Dr. Saunders for his service both to the hospital and our community,” Tomah Health Medical Executive Committee president and Mayo family practice physician Jeffrey Cavaness, M.D. said during a recognition ceremony Dec. 2. “He’s been instrumental with most of our policies and procedures at the hospital and all the committees here creating structure for our organization,” Cavaness added.
Throughout his medical career, Saunders has served a number of roles including hospital medical staff president, medical staff executive committee member, Tomah Memorial Hospital board of director’s medical staff representative, peer review committee and medical staff bylaws committee member, and hospital staff instructor. “I came here 37 years ago and have never regretted that decision and felt that I have gotten much more than I have given over the years in terms of gratitude to both the patients and many co-workers,” said Saunders.
In 2018, the hospital along with the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative (RWHC) honored Saunders for his dedication to rural health care. “I’m most proud of the quality of care that we have been able to deliver here,” Saunders said of his time at the hospital.
Saunders said he plans to remain active and provide care as the medical director at the St. Clare Health Mission of Monroe County- a volunteer run, nonprofit medical clinic in Sparta. “I’ve always felt it is a privilege to have people put their trust in me to be able to work with them to improve their health and their lives.”