Mercy Health looks forward to welcoming McLaren St. Luke’s Family Medicine Residency Program and Center, building on the residency program’s legacy as being among the most proficient training programs in the region.

The anticipated transfer of sponsorship ensures that the St. Luke’s program will continue to prosper under the guidance of Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center’s well-established and highly regarded Graduate Medical Education program

To minimize disruption to existing physician residents, the program will retain its overall faculty, staff and structure while inpatient rotations will transition from McLaren St. Luke’s Hospital to Mercy Health – Perrysburg Hospital, about two miles from the Family Medicine Center. The program intends to continue many of its established community partnerships. 

“We educate diverse residents to become accomplished family medicine physicians,” said Dr. Chris Zona, director of McLaren St. Luke’s family medicine residency. “We look forward to joining Mercy Health to continue to provide compassionate, high quality and cost-effective care for our community.”

Pending approval by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the transfer of sponsorship would be effective June. 1. With the addition of the St. Luke’s Family Medicine Residency program, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center will offer two separate family medicine programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). 

The McLaren St. Luke’s Family Medicine Center is made up of six physician faculty members and three non-physician faculty members and dedicated staff. Additionally, at least 16 physician residents will join Mercy Health as they continue to care for patients at their current facility on Lighthouse Way in Perrysburg. 

“We are thrilled to have this outstanding family medicine program join Mercy Health,” said Dr. Randal Schlievert, vice president of Mercy Health academic affairs and designated institutional official for Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center GME program. “Combined with their world-class faculty, residents and staff, we can provide the administrative oversight to ensure this program continues its unique role in the community.  

The St. Luke’s Family Medicine Residency program joins 13 residency and fellowship programs already established at Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center. Started in 1896, the Mercy Health – St. Vincent Graduate Medical Education program has a proven record of building the medical field within the community, as about 25 percent of the trained residents remain to care for patients within the region.

Once fully transitioned to Mercy Health, the Family Medicine Center will be named Mercy Health – Lighthouse Way Family Medicine.