Patients Rally After MyMichigan Health Terminates Longtime Sault Ste. Marie Physician

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The termination of longtime Sault Ste. Marie physician Dr. Thilak Chander by MyMichigan Health has prompted a strong public response, with hundreds of patients and community members voicing concern online about the loss of a doctor many say they have relied on for decades.

Patients commenting on local social media posts described relationships with Chander spanning 10, 20 and, in some cases, 30 years. Several said they plan to seek care from him wherever he practices next.

Chander holds a 4.8-out-of-5 rating across hundreds of verified patient reviews, where patients frequently cite his attentiveness, willingness to listen and thorough approach to care. A former employee also said she had seen Chander assist patients with prescription costs from his own money and make house calls outside regular hours.

MyMichigan Health has not publicly detailed the circumstances surrounding Chander’s departure.

The reaction comes amid broader concerns in the community following MyMichigan’s acquisition of the former War Memorial Hospital. Before joining the larger health system, War Memorial had faced financial difficulties, including operating losses, job cuts and wage reductions. The affiliation was presented as a way to improve financial stability, invest in the facility and preserve local care.

The transition, however, has also brought tension. In 2024, approximately 120 nurses participated in a five-day strike during contract negotiations involving staffing, recruitment and retention, compensation, and working conditions. Union representatives said employees felt the hospital had shifted away from its community-oriented culture, while MyMichigan disputed aspects of the union’s claims. The parties later reached a contract agreement.

The hospital is now transitioning to Critical Access Hospital status. MyMichigan has said the designation is intended to improve reimbursement and help maintain local services, and the system has continued to invest in the Sault Ste. Marie facility.

For Chander’s patients, however, the immediate concern is continuity of care. Many now face the task of finding a new physician, renewing prescriptions, following up on tests and transferring medical histories built over many years.

The situation has renewed questions about physician retention in the eastern Upper Peninsula, where recruiting and keeping experienced medical professionals has long been a challenge. Community members are calling on MyMichigan Health to provide more information about the decision and its plans for affected patients.