Sports medicine physician joins Franciscan in Michigan City
Primary Care and Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Thomas Schmittdiel is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Michigan City and La Porte, according to a release.
Schmittdiel, who specializes in primary care and sports medicine, attended medical school at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Columbia, Missouri. and completed his residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Schmittdiel’s fellowship in sports medicine was completed at Ascension Resurrection in Chicago.
Schmittdiel is accepting patients at Franciscan Physician Network Coolspring Health Center, 1225 East Coolspring Ave. in Michigan City and Franciscan Physician Network Monroe Health Center, 400 Legacy Plaza West in LaPorte. Call 219-861-8161.
Community foundation awards $105,000
The Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF) awarded $105,367 in grants to 18 local nonprofit organizations as part of its final Community Fund grant cycle of 2024, according to a release.
The following organizations and programs are receiving funding: Art Barn School of Art, $5,000; Call-A-Ride, $6,000; Community Change Center: WeAreOne, $10,000; Dressed for School, $10,000; Duneland Family YMCA, $7,400; Healing with Human Connection, $2,500; Hebron Country Pantry, $5,000; Housing Opportunities, $3,000; The Humane
Society of Hobart, $5,000; Independent Cat Society, $5,000; Moraine House, $9,967; NeighborLink Porter County, $5,000; Northwest Indiana Symphony Society, $5,000; Playact Theatre, $3,000; Regional Performing Arts Company, $5,000; South Shore Arts, $2,500; Valparaiso Creative Council, $6,000; and VNA Hospice of Northwest Indiana, $10,000.
The next Community Fund grant cycle will open in January with an application deadline of Feb. 15. More information is available online at PCCF.gives.
Internal medicine physician joins Franciscan in Chesterton
Dr. Mohammad Arfeen, an interventional gastroenterology and internal medicine physician, is now part of the Franciscan Physician Network and is accepting new patients in Chesterton, according to a release.
Arfeen attended medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania. and completed his residency in internal medicine at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, Olympia Fields, Illinois. His fellowship in gastroenterology was completed at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields and his fellowship in interventional gastroenterology was completed at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the release said.
He is accepting patients at Franciscan Emergency Center Chesterton at 770 Indian Boundary Road. Call 219-872-6566.
Franciscan hosting open houses in Dyer, Michigan City
Franciscan Health is hosting two Senior Health & Wellness Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) open houses this fall, according to a release.
The national, community-based program to be discussed enables seniors to live as independently as they can by providing all-inclusive primary care and specialty services, the release said.
The first open house is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Oct. 24 at Franciscan Health Senior Health & Wellness, 301 W. Homer St. in Michigan City. The event is free, but registration is required. The second open house is 4-6 p.m. Nov. 13 at Franciscan Senior Health & Wellness, 2150 Gettler St., Suite 305, in Dyer. The event is free, but registration is required.
Additional information on both open houses is available by calling 219-264-8761.
Franciscan awards nearly $450,000 in health improvement grants
A total of 55 non-profit organizations across Indiana and Chicago’s south suburbs will receive a boost through $448,000 in funding from Franciscan Health’s Social Impact Partnership Program (SIPP) for community health improvement programs, according to a release.
The goal of the program is to foster long-term relationships with community providers to better address significant health issues among vulnerable populations, the release said.
Northwest Indiana organizations receiving awards include: NERD Youth Service, TradeWinds Services Inc., Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Inc., Hope Christian Church, Housing Opportunities, Golden Hope Ministry, The Caring Place, St. Michael’s Wheelchair Ramp Ministry, Habitat of Humanity NWI, Metro Community Outreach, Crossroads YMCA, St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Crown Point, Moraine House, Hilltop Neighborhood Housing, Community Health Network, Catholic Charities, Dunebrook Inc., Healthy Communities of LaPorte County, Open Door Community Alliance, Sacred Heart Food Pantry, The Salvation Army, Nest Community Center, We All In Recovery and Stepping Stone Shelter.
Recipient organizations will collaborate with Franciscan’s Community Health Improvement team to ensure program effectiveness meets the organization’s stated goals, the release said.
Lincoln Highway Garage opens in Valparaiso
Valparaiso’s Lincoln Highway Garage, located at the intersection of Lincolnway and Morgan Boulevard, opened Oct. 9, according to a release.
The new Lincoln Highway Garage offers a total of 360 parking spots, including 152 public spaces, six EV charging spots and seven accessible parking spots plus 66 shared spots available to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Like most other City of Valparaiso public parking, parking at the Lincoln Highway Garage will be free for the first three hours, the release said. Parking permits are available for purchase at City Hall for free all-day parking, although overnight parking between 2-6 a.m. is prohibited. The overnight prohibition does not apply to Linc residents. To learn more, visit tinyurl.com/LHG-Valpo.
