Oaklawn Hospital News

Nearly a thousand people turned out last Thursday to help celebrate the opening of Oaklawn Hospital’s new state-of-the-art surgical center* (in Marshall, Michigan). In addition to tours and demonstrations, Oaklawn Board Chairman Bruce Rasher dedicated the center as The Rob Covert Surgery Center of Excellence in an afternoon ceremony, in consideration of his nearly 40 years of service and 35 years of visionary leadership as President and CEO. Dr. Tom Neidlinger also spoke in Rob’s honor, reflecting on how far Oaklawn has evolved during his tenure. Rob has announced that he will be retiring next January.

Hospital staff and equipment experts were on hand to provide demonstrations on the da Vinci surgical robot, the new LED lighting, and the integrated video and sound system that allows multiple cameras to record procedures and transmit digital images to colleagues nearly anywhere in the world for immediate consultation, or capture them on computer for future reference or training. Patients can also bring pre-recorded music to have played in the OR.

The facility is one of the premier surgery centers in Michigan and is the culmination of more than 14 months of construction and several years of planning. The first surgeries were conducted Monday with surgical teams completing 21 surgeries in the new ORs by day’s end. Surgical Nurse Director Todd Mulvaine summed up Day One very simply: “Great day…Cases went very well.”

Rob and Jan Covert shared in the dedication of The Rob Covert Surgery Center of Excellence. "I was surprised, overwhelmed, and humbled," said Rob. "Any successes that I've helped create were really accomplished by many, many hardworking, dedicated, and talented Oaklawn Hospital team members."

*Harley Ellis Devereaux was the architect and engineer for the new surgery center.