PETOSKEY, MI — McLaren Northern Michigan has chosen Tonya L. Darner to become its next president and chief executive officer as longtime leader Gar Atchison prepares to retire on Sept. 30. Darner is scheduled to start at the hospital on Sept. 28, giving the health system a brief transition before the leadership handoff is complete.
The announcement marks an important shift for one of northern Michigan’s major health care providers. McLaren Northern Michigan is part of McLaren Health Care, a statewide system, and serves patients across the region with a focus on keeping care close to home.
Darner brings hospital leadership experience from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Darner most recently served as market chief executive officer for UP Health System–Marquette and UP Health System–Bell. In that role, she oversaw two hospital campuses in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and handled both strategic and operational leadership responsibilities.
UP Health System–Marquette is a 222-bed Level II trauma and specialty care hospital with a Level III neonatal intensive care unit. UP Health System–Bell is a 25-bed critical access hospital. McLaren officials pointed to that combination of experience as evidence that she is prepared for the scale and complexity of her new job.
Before that, Darner served as chief executive officer and chief operating officer of UP Health System–Marquette. She also held executive leadership roles with Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wisconsin, giving her a background that includes both Michigan and out-of-state health care systems.
Board leaders say local relationships will matter in the new role
Patricia Hemingway Hall, chair of the McLaren Northern Michigan Board of Trustees, said Darner stood out because of her experience, character and collaborative leadership style. Hall said Darner understands the value of strong local relationships and physician engagement.
Hall also said Darner is committed to keeping high-quality care available close to home for the communities McLaren serves. That message fits the hospital’s role in the region, where patients often rely on a nearby system for both routine and specialized services.
The board’s comments suggest continuity will be a priority as the organization changes hands at the top. McLaren Northern Michigan has positioned the hire as a way to preserve strong community ties while preparing for the next phase of the hospital’s growth.
McLaren Health Care says expansion and access are central goals
Chad Grant, McLaren Health Care executive vice president and chief operating officer, said Darner brings operational experience and a community-focused approach. He said those qualities will support the hospital as it continues to grow and expand care options for patients and local communities.
Grant said Darner’s background leading complex hospital teams, building physician relationships and working with community partners will help advance access to high-quality care across northern Michigan. His comments tie the leadership change to the health system’s broader effort to strengthen clinical capabilities in the region.
McLaren Northern Michigan has already been making those kinds of investments. The hospital recently broke ground on a $17 million expansion and enhancement project at its Cheboygan campus, a sign that the organization is moving ahead with long-term upgrades while preparing for a new CEO.
Cheboygan campus project and women’s clinic show a changing health-care landscape
The Cheboygan project is one of the clearest examples of McLaren Northern Michigan’s recent growth plans. The hospital system has said the $17 million expansion and enhancement effort will help improve services at that campus, though the announcement did not provide a completion date.
McLaren also established a wholly owned women’s health clinic after a local OB/GYN practice closed. That move was presented as part of the health system’s effort to preserve access to care when a community resource disappears.
Together, the projects suggest the hospital is trying to respond to changing needs in northern Michigan by investing in facilities and service lines. Darner will inherit those priorities soon after taking office, making her arrival closely tied to the system’s next stage of development.
A military career and health-care training shaped Darner’s background
Darner’s professional history extends beyond civilian hospitals. She served more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, where she held leadership positions in medical operations, recruiting, emergency services and clinical practice management.
That military service adds another layer to her leadership profile, especially in roles that required managing teams and coordinating care under pressure. McLaren’s announcement highlighted that experience alongside her hospital executive background.
Darner also has an extensive academic record. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University, a Bachelor of Science in human resource management from Mount Olive College and associate degrees in human resource management and allied health sciences from the Community College of the Air Force.
McLaren Northern Michigan directs patients and families to its website for more information about services, as the hospital prepares for the September leadership transition and the work ahead.
