Cass Family Clinic Opens New Healthcare Facility in Dowagiac
On Aug. 29, Cass Family Clinic held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of a new clinic in Dowagiac, located at 57392 M-51 S. This marks Cass Family Clinic’s third location, joining clinics in Cassopolis and Niles.
The Dowagiac clinic includes primary medical care and a pharmacy with drive-through services, which is expected to open later this fall. It is managed by two medical providers: Family Physician Dr. Sabrina Cole and Physician Assistant Katie Basha, and employs about 15 Cass Family Clinic employees. It will serve an estimated 2,400 patients in the area.
“We’re pleased to welcome such an experienced medical team to serve the Dowagiac community, including Katie Basha, who many local patients will remember from her previous practice here,” said Joe Gavan, CEO of Cass Family Clinic. “Dr. Sabrina Cole and Katie Basha bring both skill and passion to their work, and we are confident patients will benefit greatly from their care.”
Designed by Barker Nestor Architecture + Design of Chicago, construction for the 4,000-square-foot Dowagiac facility in the former Community Care of Dowagiac building began in March of this year.
“With the opening of our Dowagiac clinic, Cass Family Clinic is bridging convenient access to healthcare and pharmacy services for patients between Cassopolis and Niles,” said Tracy Hertsel, Cass Family Clinic board president. “We believe this new healthcare location will be a benefit for all Cass County residents.”
Medical hours for Cass Family Clinic’s Dowagiac Clinic are:
- Monday and Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Tuesday and Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Closed: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
The Dowagiac clinic’s pharmacy is expected to open in October or November.
Cass Family Clinic Enters Partnership with Cass County Medical Care Facility
CASSOPOLIS, Mich., Aug. 11, 2025 – Cass Family Clinic has announced a partnership with Cass County Medical Care Facility (CCMCF) in Cassopolis, effective Aug. 15.
Established in 1977, CCMCF is a licensed 80-bed nursing home, with six private rooms, that provides quality 24/7 skilled nursing and rehabilitation services for its residents. CCMCF, a non-profit, is one of 34 county-owned medical care facilities in Michigan that serve residents throughout the state, regardless of the ability to pay for care.
“We are all extremely excited to establish this partnership with Cass Family Clinic as both organizations share a deep commitment to providing the highest level of care for our elderly and those acquiring medical care,” said Mercedes Schirripa, administrator of CCMCF. “Dr. Wetzel and Mr. Bowman have both served residents of Cass County Medical Care Facility in the past and we’re happy to welcome them back to serve our residents and families.”
Under Cass Family Clinic’s partnership with CCMCF, Dr. Elizabeth Wetzel will serve as the facility’s medical director, and Neil Bowman as its nurse practitioner. Together, they will provide a variety of services, including: assessing residents’ change in behavioral/health, reviewing medical changes, and speaking with residents’ family members about their loved one’s care.
“We recognize that Cass County Medical Care Facility residents were likely our patients at one time, and we want to continue to care for them as they continue their life’s journey,” said Cass Family Clinic CEO Joe Gavan. “We’re grateful for the trust they and their families put in us to manage their healthcare needs. We’re also grateful for the renewed opportunity to partner with Cass County Medical Care Facility – a critical organization for Southwest Michigan residents.”
Dr. Wetzel, who has been with Cass Family Clinic since 2014, received a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Des Moines University. Bowman, who joined Cass Family Clinic in 2016, received a Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Goshen College. He worked as a medic for many years before joining Cass Family Clinic. Wetzel and Bowman have previously served the medical care facility under Cass Family Clinic.
“Cass Family Clinic has stepped up to meet the needs of our county in multiple ways, including a mobile clinic to serve areas of our county without healthcare, treatment of opioid use disorder with Narcan distribution, mental health services – and now, helping to fulfill the acute physician need at Cass County Medical Care Facility,” said Dr. James Wierman, chair, CCMCF Board of Directors. “We are grateful for their unwavering commitment and support in our county.”
Cass Family Clinic Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Celebration For New Mobile Health Clinic
Cass Family Clinic held a ribbon-cutting event on Tuesday, July 15, for its new Mobile Health Clinic. The event took place at Cass Family Clinic’s Cassopolis location, 261 M-62 North.
Cass Family Clinic is launching the Mobile Health Clinic to better serve the residents of Southwest Michigan. The year-round Mobile Health Clinic will offer health and wellness exams, sports physicals, substance use disorder (SUD) behavioral therapy, acute musculoskeletal issues, blood pressure checks, influenza vaccinations, patient education, and other medical resources.
“At Cass Family Clinic, our goal is to ensure that residents have access to quality healthcare – no matter where they are,” said Cass Family Clinic CEO Joe Gavan. “The Mobile Health Clinic allows us to deliver care in a new and innovative way, reaching patients who might otherwise face challenges accessing services. We’re deeply grateful for the generous support of Corewell Health, which makes it possible to bring these vital resources to communities across Southwest Michigan.”
“We are proud to partner with Cass Family Clinic to bring high-quality care closer to home for individuals and families,” said Natalie Baggio, president of Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan. “Access to care is the foundation of a healthy community. By working together to reach rural areas through mobile services, we’re helping ensure that every resident, regardless of location, has the opportunity to live a healthier life.”
Cass Family Clinic has also been awarded $250,000 for over five years from the Cass County Opioid Settlement Fund, a grant approved by the Cass County Board of Commissioners, to help fund the Mobile Health Clinic.
The Mobile Health Clinic will be on tour July 16-25, visiting various communities, including Niles, Marcellus, Jones, Vandalia, Dowagiac and Edwardsburg.
The Mobile Health Clinic services are available to anyone in the community, not just Cass Family Clinic patients. Residents may register as a Cass Family Clinic patient at the Mobile Health Clinic. Medicaid and most other insurance plans are accepted. For those without insurance, a sliding fee payment scale based on income and family/household size is available.
The Mobile Health Clinic will operate Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Scheduled and walk-in appointments will be available
Cass Family Clinic's Summer Greeter Program Provides Paid Job Opportunities to Local High School Students
Cass Family Clinic is giving nearly 30 high school students from Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana job opportunities this summer through its Summer Greeter Program.
This summer, 28 students from high schools in Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Berrien Springs, Buchanan, Edwardsburg, Niles, Brandywine, and St. Joseph in Michigan, as well as Marian High School in Mishawaka, Ind., are working at Cass Family Clinic’s Cass and Niles locations. As part of a paid summer job program that runs through August, the students are welcoming and assisting visitors, distributing clinic merchandise, and shadowing staff. In addition, they will receive training in job interview skills, resume writing, and financial planning.
“These students are gaining valuable, first-hand insight into what it’s like to work in the medical field,” said Joe Gavan, CEO of Cass Family Clinic. “Our hope is that this experience at Cass Family Clinic will strengthen their communication and workplace skills, while helping them make more informed decisions about their future career paths.”
The program’s student greeters are assigned weekday shifts based on their availability. They will have at least one job shadowing opportunity with a staff member in their field of interest.
Josue Gonzalez, a senior at Niles High School interested in pursuing radiology or MRI as a career path, is looking forward to gaining exposure in the healthcare field while participating in the program.
“I’m excited about getting work experience, building my resume, and hopefully getting closer to the path I want to take after graduating,” Gonzalez said. “The Summer Greeter program at Cass Family Clinic gives me the opportunity to observe potential future jobs and learn what it’s like working in healthcare.”
During their shifts, students will be stationed at the entry of Cass and Niles clinics, aiding patients and welcoming them into the facilities. Additionally, they will assist patients with wheelchairs, umbrella escorts (in the event of rain), and directional information, among other support services.
“The Greeter Program gives students a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the day-to-day operations at Cass Family Clinic,” said Gavan. “Now in its second year, the program is designed to provide students with a foundational understanding of the healthcare field. By August, we hope they leave with a clearer view of the industry and feel inspired to consider a future career in healthcare.”
Cass Family Clinic: Niles Clinic Under Construction to Make Way For Dental Center
NILES, Mich., June 3, 2025 – Construction is underway at Cass Family Clinic’s Niles facility to make way for its Niles Community Dental Health Center – unifying healthcare services under one roof.
The Niles Community Dental Health Center, which is moving two miles from its current location at 122 Grant St., will occupy 4,500 square feet in the west wing of Cass Family Clinic’s Niles facility. Construction began in March. The facility is expected to open in September.
“Having our dental team under the same roof as our other healthcare services in Niles provides integrated care for our patients,” said Joe Gavan, CEO of Cass Family Clinic. “We’re excited and proud to open this new space to better serve our community.”
The facility will feature 12 treatment rooms and provide a full spectrum of dental services, including hygiene exams, prophy, debridement, sealants, scale and root planning, fillings, extractions, dentures, crowns, root canals, and space maintainers.
In addition to high-quality dental care, the center will include features not commonly found in other practices, such as a dedicated special needs treatment room and wheelchair-accessible equipment. A state-of-the-art lift system will enable patients to receive care directly from their wheelchair, improving both comfort and accessibility.
With the integrated healthcare offerings in Niles, Cass Family Clinic will increase its staff to 31 at the newly-constructed dental clinic, including University of Michigan dental interns, who will join in the fall.
Barker Nestor Architecture + Design of Chicago designed the new dental space, while construction is being managed by Astrong Construction of Niles.
Cass Family Clinic Receives Grant For Three Narcan Vending Machines
Cass Family Clinic awarded a $13,000 grant from the Cass County Opioid Settlement fund
Cass Family Clinic, an independent Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving Southwest Michigan, has installed Naloxone/Narcan vending machines at its Cass and Niles locations, providing access to free opioid overdose reversal kits. A third machine will be installed at Cass Family Clinic’s Dowagiac facility when construction is complete later this summer.
Opioid overdose is a leading cause of accidental deaths and has led to a decrease in life expectancy nationwide. The Naloxone/Narcan provided at Cass Family Clinic’s facilities is a nasal spray drug that restores breathing by blocking opioids’ effects on the brain. It has no potential for abuse.
The new vending machines at Cass Family Clinic were made available through a $13,000 grant from the Cass County Opioid Settlement fund.
“It’s proven that Narcan saves lives and reverses the effects of an opioid overdose,” said Cass Family Clinic Pharmacy Director Kevin Klipowicz. “We’ve already had to re-stock the Narcan vending machine at our Niles location since being installed in April – so we know there is a definite need for safe and effective overdose reversal medication in Southwest Michigan. With the support of Cass County Opioid Settlement funds, Cass Family Clinic is proud to equip residents in the communities we serve with this life-saving tool and potentially save more lives.”
Opioid-related deaths in Michigan increased by more than 300% starting in 2013, according to government officials. Opioid-related deaths accounted for over 80% of all drug related deaths in the state in 2017, and prescription opioids were involved in over 70% of those deaths. In Cass County, alcohol and marijuana use continue to have the highest negative impacts on residents, but heroin and other drug use were 6-12% of hospital admissions in 2020 and disproportionately high in the court system.
In February, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported nearly 24% decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths.
“By offering Narcan vending machines at our Cass and Niles and soon-to-be Dowagiac facilities, it is our hope that our sustained efforts will help reduce the opioid epidemic in our small corner of the country,” said Cass Family Clinic CEO Joe Gavan. “We’re also looking into additional resources, such as fentanyl test strips that can be used to test drugs for the presence of fentanyl, to expand our treatment initiatives.”
The Cass Family Clinic’s Narcan vending machines are located in the foyer of each facility, and are accessible during clinic hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Cass Family Clinic has installed Naloxone/Narcan vending machines in the foyer at its Cass and Niles locations, providing access to free opioid overdose reversal kits. They are accessible during clinic hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. A third machine will be installed at Cass Family Clinic’s Dowagiac facility when construction is complete later this summer.
Cass Family Clinic Begins Construction On New Healthcare Facility In Dowagiac
The Dowagiac clinic will be Cass Family Clinic’s third location, joining Cassopolis and Niles
Cass Family Clinic, an independent Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving Southwest Michigan, has kicked off construction of its new Dowagiac healthcare clinic in the former Community Care of Dowagiac building on M-51. The new clinic will be Cass Family Clinic’s third location when it opens late summer 2025, joining the organization’s Cassopolis and Niles locations.
The 4,000-square-foot Dowagiac facility, located at 57392 M-51 S, was designed by Barker Nestor Architecture + Design of Chicago, and construction began in mid-March. It will feature primary medical care and a full-service pharmacy, including a drive-through, and serve an estimated 2,400 patients. The new clinic will employ about 15 Cass Family Clinic employees.
"Cass Family Clinic's new Dowagiac location will provide convenient access to healthcare and pharmacy services for patients," said Joe Gavan, CEO of Cass Family Clinic. "As an independent community health center, we're thrilled to begin working on this new clinic to better serve the residents of Cass County."
Cass Family Clinic currently operates two locations:
- Cassopolis Family Clinic: 261 M-62 North, in Cassopolis, providing medical, dental, pharmacy and lab services.
- Niles Community Health Center, 1951 Oak St., in Niles, providing medical, behavioral health, pharmacy and lab services.