More than 1,000 people came out Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of Clarkston Medical Group and McLaren Health Care Services.
‘It was fabulous. I was pleased and so happy, it was very, very heartening and I think we had just a good a time as everybody else did,? said Dr. James O’Neill, founder of CMG. ‘It was a fun and very memorable day, and we thank everyone.?
The day began with a dedication. Pastor Loren Covarrubias of Mount Zion Church gave the opening prayer, followed by speeches from Gregory Lane, senior vice president/CAO of McLaren Health Care; Philip Incarnati, president/CEO, McLaren Health Care; Dr. Timothy O’Neill, president, Clarkston Medical Group; L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County executive; State Senator Mike Bishop; and State Representative Eileen Kowall, who presented a special proclamation to Dr. James O’Neill, founder of CMG, and Dave Wagner, Independence Township supervisor.
‘It’s good to be here,? said Lane. ‘We’re looking forward to a lot of good years working with the community.?
The Grand Opening featured tours of the Clarkston Medical Building, Great Lakes Cancer Institute-Clarkston, and Garden of Healing and Renewal, as well as lunch, health screenings, and raffles. Some featured activities included performances by Clarkston community and school musical groups, games, and children’s activities led by Independence Parks and Recreation, performances by Quest for Change youth troupe, demonstrations by the Clarkston High School robotics Team RUSH, and face painting.
‘This is a great thing for the community, they’ve not had state-of-the-art cancer treatment in this area ever, so this is going to be great because CMG building is right across the street with 15 odd practices and with urgent care,? said Dr. Praveen Dalmia, chief medical physicist and manger with GLCI. ‘Before this, all the patients had to drive either 20 to 30 minutes north or 20 to 30 minutes south and now they’ve got something right here.?
Dr. Stephen Franklin is excited to join the GLCI team of doctors in Independence Township, since moving from California where he has spent the past five years. He said having parents who are 80 years old and being the only doctor in the family gave him incentive to move closer to home.
‘I was a bit reluctant at first in the summer, but I started thinking about further and it would be a good transition for me to move closer to home,? he said. ‘Also by linking up with Dr. Fraser, I knew that the type of radiation oncology he was practicing was in line with what I was doing out in California, so it made it that much easier to make the transition.?
Franklin, who was born and raised in Chicago, said he has family roots in Michigan though.
‘My great, great aunt was born in 1888 and lived in Michigan, my grandmother’s twin sister, my two uncles, and my aunts. They are as north as Flint and as west as Benton Harbor, so I spent a lot of my younger years in Michigan,? Franklin said. ‘I wasn’t particular about living in the state of Illinois, I love Michigan. It’s prettier, it’s hillier, the scenery, the people, I’ve always had a good experience from Michigan.?
Wagner said the grand opening was a ‘real welcoming to the community.?
‘Hopefully it will produce the jobs that we’re expecting in the near future even though the economy is down and there is a lot going on out there, the medical field continues to grow, it’s the only growth industry in the country right now,? he said. ‘I think we have an excellent opportunity and I’m looking forward to working with the McLaren folks on their next phases.?

Owners Brenda and Jay Rogers were joined by members of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to celebrate their ribbon cutting for Clo-Bear Canine and Feline Foo-Foo Store, located in downtown Lake Orion, last Friday. Even the Rogers? dogs, Cloie and Pedro, came out for the special event. Clo-Bear is located at 18 North Broadway and can be reached at (248)693-5922.