Press Releases
PACE Establishes Full-Time Medical Team
Dec 7, 2021 – St. Joseph, MI – PACE of Southwest Michigan is proud to announce that, for the first time in several years, they have a full-time, PACE-employed medical provider team. Medical Director, Jennifer White, MD; Dietmar Grentz, MD; Sherry Simpson, NP; and Thomas McConnell, NP comprise the PACE provider team.
According to Health Care Trends, September 2021, “the US is falling short on the number of primary care physicians they need on a national level. The situation is even more serious in rural areas.”
Along with most of the other healthcare organizations in our communities, PACE has faced challenges in recruiting full-time primary care providers. However, with PACE’s growing reputation for clinical quality and compassionate care along with a culture of servant leadership, they now have an outstanding full-time medical provider team.
When PACE of Southwest Michigan first opened its doors in 2012, Dr. Keith Van Oosterhout, a well-respected Family Practice Physician and Gerontologist, was the first PACE Primary Care Physician and Medical Director. After Dr. Van Oosterhout left PACE years later, PACE employed excellent physicians, but some were contract positions. “Our participants, patients and families deserve a consistent medical team to care for their physical and psychosocial needs. I am delighted PACE is able to provide the highest quality and compassionate care from physicians and nurse practitioners working full-time with our seniors.” explains Jim Schlaman, PACE CEO.
Dr. Jennifer White, who joined PACE in 2020 as a locum Primary Care Physician, accepted the position of Medical Director in August 2021. She also continues to provide patient care to participants. Dr. White received her Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude at Southern Adventist University School of Medicine in Collegedale, Tennessee. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California and completed her residency at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. White is board-certified in Internal Medicine.
Before coming to PACE of Southwest Michigan, Dr. White was a Primary Care Physician at Senior Community Care PACE in Lansing, Michigan. She also served at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan in bariatric medicine, outpatient internal medicine and as a locum hospitalist.
“My goal is to provide person-centered care that focuses on what is most important to seniors living with chronic illness and to help them and their family navigate the sometimes confusing and challenging decisions that may arise when living with chronic illness,” said Dr. White.
PACE primary care physician Dr. Dietmar Grentz joined PACE in September of 2021. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, California and completed his Family Medicine residency at Hinsdale Hospital in Hinsdale, Illinois.
Prior to joining the medical team at PACE, Dr. Grentz served as Medical Director of Occupational Medicine at Unity Point Health Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa; as Primary Care Physician at Visiting Physicians Association in Portage, Michigan; as Staff Physician at Sparrow Medical Group in Carson City, Michigan; and as Staff Physician at Physicians Neck and Back Clinics.
Dr. Grentz shares, “I was attracted to a position at PACE verses a more typical community medical practice because of the team approach to caring for elderly patients with multiple medical problems. This approach makes it easier to meet the many needs of our participants since care is coordinated under one roof rather than being in multiple places with different providers and caregivers from various organizations.”
Sherry Simpson, NP, first joined PACE of Southwest Michigan in 2014. Sherry received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree, her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, and her Master of Science degree in Nursing, all from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Sherry is board-certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and a Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner.
Sherry has also served as a Nurse Practitioner at Southwestern Medical Clinic in Bridgman, Michigan; a Homecare RN for Lakeland in Niles, Michigan; a Nurse Practitioner at Southwestern Medical Clinic serving at several long-term care facilities in multiple locations in Berrien County, Michigan; and as an RN at Hospice at Home in St. Joseph, Michigan.
When asked why she enjoys serving at PACE, Sherry said, “I enjoy being a part of a multi-disciplinary team that works together to meet the diverse needs of our participants. The PACE model puts the participants first and does not have some of the typical barriers one might encounter in a typical community outpatient setting which means that as a provider I can more readily and comprehensively work with each participant to address their needs.” Adds Sherry, “My philosophy of care is quite simple. I am here to educate, support and guide each participant in helping them achieve their goals of care. The PACE model focuses on each participant as the unique person they are, and the entire team works towards helping each participant meet their individual goals.”
Thomas McConnell, NP, came to PACE as a contract Nurse Practitioner in May of 2021 and accepted a permanent position in November. He will begin as a permanent PACE provider on January 1, 2022. Tom received his Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Wayne State University and his Master of Science degree in Adult Gerontology Primary Care at Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. Tom is a member of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. Tom is board-certified in Adult Gerontology Primary Care with specialty certifications in Hospice and Palliative care.
Tom previously worked as a provider at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan; Beaumont Wayne Hospital in Wayne, Michigan; and at the offices of Dr. B. Gandhi, Neurology in Wyandotte, Michigan.