Two new hires at Munson Health Care

Munson Medical Center in Traverse City has a new VP of operations, as well as a new physician who specializes in physical rehabilitation.

The new VP of operations is Derk Pronger, a Traverse City native and graduate of Northwestern Michigan College. He has served in several administrative positions at Beaumont Health System, most recently as the VP of surgical and ancillary services in Troy, Michigan.

"Derk will provide leadership for our clinical services to include behavioral health, laboratory, oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, radiology and surgical services areas among others," says Kathleen McManus, executive VP and COO of Munson Medical Center. "He has great experience in health care and a foundation in northern Michigan. We didn't have to convince him about the beauty of living in the area."

Pronger will fill the position vacated in 2011 by senior VP Mark Anthony, who is now in a senior leadership role in a Kalamazoo hospital.

He has roots in Michigan and the Traverse City area; he received his master's degree in health services administration from University of Detroit Mercy, a bachelor's degree in accounting from Purdue University and an associate's degree from NMC. Besides that, his mother was a nurse at Munson and instructor at NMC, and his father was the Traverse City post commander for the Michigan State Police for many years.

The other new addition to the Munson staff is Dr. Tracy Riddle, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She will practice at Neuromuscular and Rehabilitation Associates at 3988 West Royal Drive in Traverse City. She is accepting new patients.

Riddle graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, and completed a residency at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, and a fellowship in interventional spinal injections and electrodiagnostic medicine at Lansing Orthopedics.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kathleen McManus, Munson Medical Center