Franciscan Health hospitals name new CFO, vice president of medical affairs
Two Franciscan Health hospitals in Northwest Indiana have a new CFO and Franciscan Health Crown Point has a new vice president of medical
affairs, according to a release.
Justin Kats is the new chief financial officer for Franciscan Health Crown Point and Franciscan Health Michigan City effective April 8, the release said. Kats recently served as the executive director/system controller for UChicago Medicine for 10 years and previously served as manager for audit services for Crowe Horwath, LLP for 10 years.
Kats is a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant.
Dr. Ryan Misek became Franciscan Health Crown Point’s new vice president of medical affairs on April 1, the release said. Misek, an emergency medicine physician, completed his internship and residency at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields and joined the medical staff at Franciscan Health Crown Point in 2015. As a member of the medical staff, he served as chairman of the department of medicine from 2022 to 2023 and as vice president of the medical staff in 2024, the release said.
Northwest Health opens catheterization laboratory
Northwest Health — Porter’s new $ 5.85 million hybrid catheterization laboratory/operating room combination opened April 16, according to a release.
The hybrid catheterization lab is a specialized medical suite that combines the capabilities of a traditional cath lab, used for minimally invasive
interventional cardiac procedures such as angioplasty and stenting, with those of a surgical operating room, the release said.
The new hybrid cath lab is approximately 1.5 times larger than the hospital’s other four traditional cath and electrophysiology labs and is suited to treat a range of conditions from complex coronary and structural heart disease to peripheral vascular disease, the release said.
Chesterton athletic trainer to be recognized
Chesterton High School has announced that athletic trainer Bernie Stento will be honored in June with the Servant’s Heart Award at the upcoming National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA) annual convention in New Orleans, according to a release.
The award celebrates Stento’s unwavering dedication and exceptional service to the safety and success of Chesterton High School’s student-athletes, the release said.
Beyond his technical skills and expertise, he is known for his concern for the well-being of every student-athlete under his watch, the release said.
The release said along with Stento, other athletic trainers at the school include Marnee Flinn-Smith, and Lisa Lazar.
Community Foundation awarded $5M
The Porter County Community Foundation received its largest funding to date for First Things First Porter County (FTF) — a $5 million grant
from Lilly Endowment Inc., according to a release.
FTF will focus on four impact areas in the county, the release said, including: Help Me Grow (HMG) Porter County; Support for Porter County
pediatricians; Birth-to-school (B2S) programming; and Collaboration Challenge grants.
HMG Porter County serves as a centralized access point for connecting caregivers of young children to community resources like developmental
screenings, prenatal and postpartum care, parenting education, social support, housing and financial assistance, the release said, while local pediatricians, early childhood specialists, will be added to care teams to provide support for nurturing parenting. Associated Pediatricians LLC, the pediatric practice caring for the most children in Porter County, will pilot the project.
Birth-to-School programming works toward a seamless transition into the formal school environment. The Collaboration Challenge grants will
be increased to offer additional investment and funding for more organizations, the release said.
Northwest Health – Porter donates $6K
Northwest Health – Porter celebrated National Doctors’ Day recently by making a $6,000 donation to the Porter County Emergency Management
Agency in honor of its medical staff, according to a release.
The donation is in support of upcoming upgrades to the radio systems at the Porter County Central Dispatch Center. The funds will be allocated to
volunteer fire departments in the area to assist in covering the cost for reprogramming up to 120 existing portable emergency radios, the release said.
For more information about the Northwest Health – Emergency Medical Services, visit nwhealthporter.com/ambulance-services.
Franciscan WorkingWell to host free direct-to-employer solutions luncheon
Franciscan WorkingWell is hosting a free, informative luncheon May 15 to help attendees learn more about employer-based health and wellness
programs, according to a release.
Luncheon topics include advanced primary care/employer-sponsored clinics, cost-saving medical models, HEALTHeACCESS, WorkingWell,
advanced imaging, HEALTHeLIFESTYLE and more, the release said.
The event is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 15 at Briar Ridge Country Club, 123 Country Club Drive in Schererville.
Attendees are asked to arrive and check in between 11 a.m. and noon.
The event is free, but registration is required by May 6. To register, contact Franciscan Health Employee Health Specialist Melissa Wood at
219-877-2143 or melissa.olsch@franciscanalliance.org.
