EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Lisa Whipple, DO, will serve as the site medical director for Eastern Michigan University’s new health center, the IHA Health Center @ EMU, which will open for patient care on Monday, Nov. 4.

Dr. Whipple, who currently practices at the IHA Family Medicine - Arbor Park on Clark Road, will head up the IHA Primary Care team at the new center, which is a collaboration of IHA, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System and the University. The center will provide vital primary health care services to students, faculty and staff, as well as to members of the community at-large.

Dr. Whipple received her medical education at the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, and did her residency at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. Her clinical interests include preventive care and wellness, nutrition and smoking cessation.

A patient-centered approach                                                   

Speaking at a gathering of EMU administrators on Sept. 30, Dr. Whipple said IHA feels fortunate to be collaborating with Eastern, with whom it shares similar community values, focus and vision. “We will always remain patient-centered,” Dr. Whipple said of IHA’s services. “It’s a privilege to be a family physician and I am dedicated to providing the most evidence-based, efficient and compassionate care to all of my patients.”

Whipple will head up an experienced primary care medical team that also includes Dr. Thuy Orlando, Dr. Robert Breakey and Certified Nurse Practitioner (CNP) Stacy Deckhart. Dr. Lisa Jeffries will head up gynecology services, supported by CNP Liz Loomis, and Dr. Matthew Ajluni will oversee urgent care and virtual medicine services.

A special “Save your Spot” feature

The center is located on the northwest end of campus on open land off Huron River Drive and Oakwood Street, near the present headquarters of the EMU Department of Public Safety. The center will offer:

• Comprehensive primary care services.
• Well-woman visits and other women’s health services.
• Seven-day-a-week urgent care services, including x-ray.
• Electronic Medical Record capabilities, including a 24/7 patient portal.
• Online appointment scheduling.
• A “Save your Spot” tool to manage urgent care arrival and wait times so that patients don’t have to wait in the facility but can inquire ahead and then be texted when they can arrive to receive medical services. 
• Onsite third-party pharmacy, operated by Campus Medical Pharmacy.

A community open house will be held at the new center from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Nov. 2.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.

About IHA

Established in 1994 and celebrating the 25th anniversary of its founding in 2019, IHA is one of the best and largest multi-specialty groups in Michigan, delivering more than one million patient visits each year. IHA employs more than 2,400 staff, including more than 700 providers consisting of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and midwives in approximately 74 practice locations across Southeast Michigan. Recognized as Metro Detroit’s Top Physician Group by Consumer Reports magazine. IHA offers patients extended office hours and urgent care services, along with online patient diagnosis, treatment and appointment access tools. IHA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System and a member of Trinity Health. For more information about IHA, visit the IHACares website.

About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving seven counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Lenawee. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 443-bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 136-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, and 133-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea.  Combined, the five hospitals are licensed for 1,553 beds, have five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 15,300 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 2,700 physicians.   SJMHS has annual operating revenues of about $2 billion and returns about $115 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs.

 SJMHS is a member of Trinity Health, a leading Catholic health care system based in Livonia, Mich. Trinity Health operates in 22 states, employs about 133,000 colleagues, has annual operating revenues of $17.6 billion and assets of about $24.7 billion. Additionally, the organization returns almost $1.1 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

 For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit the Saint Joes Health website.