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.

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 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

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.”

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, 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, 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.

Cass Family Clinic, an independent Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving Southwest Michigan, has installed a new state-of-the-art, high-speed, vial-filling robot at its Cassopolis pharmacy, mirroring the operation at its Niles location.

“Rosie,” a Parata Max 2 robot, is filled with 200 of the most popular pill medications, which are then automatically labeled, counted, dispensed, capped and sorted for Cass Family Clinic pharmacy customers. The clinic’s Niles pharmacy installed the same automated vial-filling robot, named “Arnold,” in August 2024, and has experienced improvement in the speed at which the pharmacy accurately and securely fills prescriptions.

“Since the nearby Rite Aid location closed last September, we’ve seen a 55 percent increase in our prescription requests – we’re now the main pharmacy for local residents and patients to get their prescriptions filled,” said Cass Family Clinic CEO Joe Gavan. “The Parata Max 2 pharmacy robot, now deployed at both of our clinics, has been instrumental in helping us efficiently manage demand and streamline our operations, ensuring we can meet the growing volume.”

The Parata Max 2 is a double-sided design to separate inventory and dispensing. It continues to operate while pharmacists replenish vials, caps and drugs, and features an internal camera that captures an image of every filled vial for verification and recordkeeping. 

“For our staff, having Rosie and Arnold – our Parata Max2 robots – in our pharmacies will increase efficiency, safety, and accuracy while decreasing stress and fatigue from no longer counting the high number of prescriptions that we are now filling,” said Cass Family Clinic Pharmacy Director Kevin Klipowicz. “For our patients, we are now able to continue the fast prescription fulfillment that they are accustomed to by having their prescriptions ready after their appointment. By freeing up staff time of repeatedly counting prescriptions, they will be able to provide better patient care and answer questions more thoroughly. “As our pharmacy staff continues to grow, our Parata Max 2 pharmacy robots have only enhanced our pharmaceutical support and are crucial to us keeping up with orders,” he added. “It is a game changer for our pharmacies.”

The Cass Family Clinic would like to extend a special thanks to the SERVPRO of Cass and St. Joseph Counties. SERVPRO generously provided 300 smoke detectors to the Cassopolis and Niles Family Clinics which were distributed at no cost to patients that were in need of a fire safety protection device. Due to high demand, all 300 detectors were handed  out within one week of receiving them.

“SERVPRO has allowed us to provide a small safety precaution to our patients that will make a huge difference in their everyday lives. Our clinics would like to specially thank Steve Meyer, a co-owner of SERVPRO who has provided his services to the community for 15 years,”   stated Joe Gavan, CEO of the Cass Family Clinic.

“Roughly 15 years ago, SERVPRO was called to a house fire to assist with the post-fire  cleaning and restoration services. We were informed that some of the family members did not make it out in time, and the home did not have working smoke detectors. We were  saddened to hear about these tragedies and decided we wanted to do our part to help where we could. For the past 14 years, we have donated 1000+ smoke detectors per year to local fire departments in Cass and St. Joseph Counties. Smoke detectors save lives, and we want to do our part to help the cause by making these donations every year,”  stated Steve Meyers.

Dr. Madison Mick, Director of Cass Family Clinic Dental, is excited to welcome three exceptionally talented dentists to our team who have dedicated themselves to helping those within the community. Emerging from different backgrounds and experiences, each dentist brings great skill and commitment to our growing dental practice.

Dr. Kristen Brunner is originally from Decatur, IN. She furthered her education at Manchester University, completing a Bachelor of Science degree, and continued to the Indiana University School of Dentistry, finishing in 2017. Before taking a position at Cass Family Clinic, she worked at Van Wert Family Dentistry. She has been in the practice for 8 years and continues to perfect her practice.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor of some sort, but once I shadowed at a dentistry, I loved it and wanted to pursue that as a career.”
-Dr. Brunner

Dr. Bashar Arsanos is originally from Troy, MI. He furthered his education at Oakland University, completing a Bachelor of Science degree, and continued to Arizona (ATSU) Dentistry, finishing in 2024. He has been a certified dentist for one year, starting his profession here at Cass Family Clinic, building his skills and impacting others.

“I was inspired to enter the field of dentistry because I wanted to get more involved in the community by helping others.”
-Dr. Arsanos

Dr. Anamika Roy is originally from India, where she obtained her Master of Business Administration degree at Dibrugarh University. Although she has worked in the dental field for over 10 years in her home country, she recently received her dental certification in 2024 from Boston University School of Dental Medicine. She has chosen Cass Family Clinic as her first professional job in the U.S. to boost her career and inspire others with her unique background.

“What inspired me to become a dentist is my passion. I have always been passionate about community service.”
-Dr. Roy

^{Cass Family Clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides primary care, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services at locations in Niles and Cassopolis, Michigan. Our professionals are committed to providing excellent, accessible health care to all in need regardless of ability to pay. By valuing respect, integrity, and honesty we have grown into a leading healthcare provider serving nearly 14,000 patients from throughout Cass and Berrian Counties.}