A Fond Farewell: Hattem-Schiffman Announces Plans to Retire in 2026

A Fond Farewell: With a distinguished career marked by numerous achievements, Marita Hattem-Schiffman, president, MyMichigan Medical Centers in Alma, Clare and Mt. Pleasant, recently announced plans to retire in January 2026.

Marita Hattem-Schiffman, president of MyMichigan Medical Centers in Alma, Clare and Mt. Pleasant, has announced her plans to retire effective Jan. 31, 2026. With a distinguished career marked by numerous achievements, Hattem-Schiffman has led the three Medical Centers through a period of remarkable growth and success.

“With a heart full of mixed emotions, I recently shared with our staff my decision to retire from the role of president. It was important to me to share this with the communities I have served, as well. I have truly cherished my journey with this incredible team and the privilege of working alongside our vibrant communities,” expressed Hattem-Schiffman. “For my family and me, now feels like the right moment to embrace this new chapter. I take immense pride in handing over the reins of the Alma, Clare and Mt. Pleasant Medical Centers in a position of strength. All three stand firm, having achieved remarkable successes and are well-prepared for even greater accomplishments in the future.”

Under Hattem-Schiffman’s visionary leadership, the three Medical Centers achieved system-leading results in quality and safety, patient experience, community involvement and its most recent employee survey. Operating synergistically along the US 127 corridor has supported the Medical Centers’ sustainability in a challenging rural healthcare climate.

In Alma, one standout achievement includes the completion of the Medical Center’s Master Facility Plan, featuring a new main entrance and a 51,200-square-foot operating room expansion. This $34.5 million project included four state-of-the-art surgical suites, two procedure rooms, private pre-operative and recovery areas, and a new Sterile Processing Department. The Medical Center in Alma also invested in a da Vinci® Xi surgical robotic platform, a $2.6 million maternity center, and $1 million in a cardiac catheterization lab. In addition, the installation of cutting-edge MRI technology ensures MyMichigan Medical Center Alma remains a leader in diagnostic imaging, reinforcing its role as a vital community resource. Moreover, under Hattem-Schiffman’s guidance, Alma is earning Leapfrog A’s for quality and safety, achieving top quartile inpatient experience for 8 of 12 months, and maintained a sustainable bottom line from Medical Center operations.

In Clare, Hattem-Schiffman led the Medical Center to undergo a transformative two-phase, 51,000-square-foot renovation and expansion. Currently underway, phase one is dedicated to enhancing critical services with a new Emergency Department, a revamped Inpatient Unit, and an expanded Imaging Department. Additionally, the North Parking Lot is being enlarged to better serve patients and visitors. Phase two of the project focuses on creating a welcoming environment with a new main entrance, modern updates to the patient tower’s windows and panels, new dining facilities, and improvements to the outdoor plaza. These enhancements will strengthen the connection between the Medical Center campus, the downtown community, and the cherished Shamrock Patch Gift Shop.

Lastly, accomplishments at MyMichigan Medical Center Mt. Pleasant range from its rapid growth upon opening in 2017 to recent enhancements, such as optimizing space to support its continuing growth in services, including MRI. Currently, Jazzman’s Coffee Shop is being renovated for 24/7 access for staff, patients and visitors. In addition, a second Mt. Pleasant rehabilitation services location on Mission Street is set to open this month, promising quicker patient access and reduced therapy wait times. The novel and exclusive sports medicine partnership with Central Michigan University has also been very successful.

Bryan Cross, Pharm. D., COO, MyMichigan Health, expressed gratitude for Hattem-Schiffman’s contributions: “Marita’s leadership has been nothing short of transformative for our Medical Centers and health system. Her dedication to excellence and innovation has set a high standard that will inspire future leaders. Marita will be missed not only as a leader but as a cherished member of the communities she served and our own MyMichigan Health family. We wish her all the best in her well-deserved retirement.”

While retiring from the role of president, Hattem-Schiffman plans to continue to contribute to the community through board and committee commitments with the Greater Gratiot Development, United Way, Citizen’s Research Council of Michigan, and other local organizations. She will also continue to promote and advocate for MyMichigan Health, facilitating leadership transitions and supporting the organization’s future endeavors. The search for her successor is soon to commence, ensuring a seamless transition and continued excellence in leadership.

“When I returned home to Michigan in 2017, it was my dream to join MyMichigan Health, serving in a community non-tertiary setting and, of course, to leave things better than I found them,” said Hattem-Schiffman. “I’m forever grateful to have had this opportunity and, most of all, to have worked alongside such an amazing team. They truly made me a better leader and have made me so proud of all we accomplished together. Those achievements, and the culture in which they are rooted, were truly fueled by every one of them and I know it will continue long after I’m gone.”