McLaren CEO is boosting morale and attracting talent, one bacon sandwich at a time

If you’ve grabbed a burger and fries at the McLaren Central Michigan cafeteria lately, thank Martin Tursky. Tursky is the new President and CEO of the hospital and the namesake of one the cafeteria’s latest and most popular menu items: the CEO Sandwich, a deluxe bacon sandwich with all the fixings.
One of Tursky’s first orders of business after taking on the duties of President and CEO was lifting the hospital’s ban on "unhealthy" food. Tursky’s predecessor eliminated fried foods and red meat in an effort to set an example of weight management and diabetes prevention for the community. The new CEO says he made the bold call to bring the foods back because many people eating in a hospital cafeteria are already having a tough day. If enjoying an indulgent meal or treat may lift their spirits, why not let them make that decision for themselves? A healthy mind and body go hand-in-hand, after all. When Tursky made the call, the hospital cafeteria happily obliged, bringing back favorites of staff and patients alike, including beef burgers, bacon, and french fries.

Martin Tursky, Photo: McLaren Central MichiganTursky says he was shocked by the ripple effect his decision to lift the junk food ban caused. “It uplifted the entire staff,” he recounts, “sales are up, there are six new rotating specials on the menu, and we were even able to remodel the cafeteria.”

The facelift for the hospital’s well-worn cafeteria included new paint and decor, updated fixtures, and, of course, a brand new fryer. “The cafeteria is definitely busier now, both because it's a nicer place to have lunch, and because the food choices now available are what the employees and the public want,” says Vicki Tuma, Senior Executive Assistant to the President and CEO, “We see more and more staff members eating together in the cafeteria now, which is a positive as well.”

Burgers, bacon, and fries may not seem groundbreaking on the surface. However, employment opportunities in small cities like Mount Pleasant are often overlooked by new or relocating doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. It can be difficult to compete with urban areas and larger cities, like Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, when it comes to attracting qualified medical professionals. If an unorthodox approach is what it takes to attract fresh talent to the Mount Pleasant area, tasty foods may be just what the doctor ordered.

Calling the shots, big or small, is nothing new for Tursky. The West Point graduate credits the military for his advanced decision making skills. “The military did amazing things for me,” he revealed, “providing a basis for good decision-making and teaching me to take each opportunity and make the best of it.” Tursky has spent the past 20 years as a decision-maker in the healthcare industry and takes holding patients’ lives indirectly in his hands seriously. “Helping keep families together through healing means a lot and energizes me to do what it takes to allow caregivers to provide the best possible care.” He credits his background in engineering for his love of working within the complex U.S. healthcare system.

Tursky says his wife, teenage son, and daughter keep him going even when his job gets stressful. "Spending time with my family grounds me in life," he explained. He also enjoys traveling abroad. Tursky says he and his wife make a point of showing their children how other people live all around the globe. As a result, they realize how fortunate they are and appreciate all the opportunities they have access to that others simply do not.

A Grand Rapids native, Tursky is overjoyed to be back in Michigan after spending the past several years as CEO of Firelands Regional Health System in Sandusky, Ohio. After the busy summer tourist seasons in Sandusky, he appreciates the small-town feel that Mount Pleasant has to offer. “I don’t know where the Mount comes from, but I know where the Pleasant comes from,” he gushed about the community, “People in Mount Pleasant truly are pleasant, hardworking people who want to do the right thing.”

After restoring joy to the masses by bringing Midwestern favorites back to the hospital’s cafeteria menu, it's clear Tursky is interested in doing the right thing for the Mount Pleasant community. A happy staff and patients who feel trusted to make their own decisions are the first steps to a warmer, more inclusive hospital. If each patient and staff member absorbs just a bit of that warmth and takes it with them into their everyday life, the entire community will benefit.