5.17.18 – James Fahner, MD

Dr. James Fahner is the founding and current Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital and the Spectrum Health Medical Group in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He is Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics/Human Development at Michigan State University.

Dr. Fahner completed his undergraduate degree, M.D., pediatric residency, and pediatric hematology/oncology subspecialty fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Community and agency service includes the Board of Directors of the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Spectrum Health Board Committee for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Past-Chairman of the Spectrum Health Medical Group Board of Directors, the Hospice of Michigan Foundation Board, the VanAndel Research Institute and Graduate School Boards of Trustees, State Medical Advisor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan, and Past-President of the Board of Education for Forest Hills Public Schools.  Previous board service also includes the Michigan Community Blood Centers Foundation and the West Michigan Ronald McDonald House.

Dr. Fahner is a former Chairman of the Board of Hospice of Michigan, and serves on the Executive Board of the Cancer Research Consortium of West Michigan (CRCWM).  Dr. Fahner is the recipient of the Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award, the Philip McCorkle Child Advocacy Award, the Hillman Award, the Crystal Rose Award, the 2010 William Montgomery Award as Pediatrician of the Year from the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Dave and Carol VanAndel Community Leadership Award.  In the fall of 2011, Dr. Fahner was recognized with the naming of Hospice of Michigan’s Pediatric Hospice Program in his honor.  In 2015, Dr. Fahner was asked to serve as the first Chairman of the new National Medical Advisory Council for Make-A-Wish America.

Jim and his wife Gail, an active community and hospital volunteer and Past-President of the Blodgett-Butterworth Hospital Auxiliary, are the proud parents of two daughters: Jill, a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and Therese, a practicing veterinarian in Appleton, Wisconsin.