Mercy Health - Toledo

10/01/2025

At Mercy Health, we are united in supporting and honoring those who have been impacted by breast cancer.

Who are you honoring this month?

10/01/2025

Please join us in welcoming Muhammad Zulqarnain, MD, an interventional cardiologist, to Mercy Health – West Toledo and Oregon Cardiology!

Inspired by his physician parents and their dedication to patients, Dr. Zulqarnain felt called to follow in their footsteps and pursue medicine. Today, he specializes in interventional cardiology and structural heart care, where he provides life-saving treatments in high-pressure situations.

Dr. Zulqarnain is especially passionate about advancing technology for heart valve and structural heart disease, and he values building trust, compassion and clear communication with every patient and family he cares for.

When he’s not in the hospital, you’ll find him enjoying time with his wife and two children, traveling, staying active outdoors, or playing racquetball.

We’re excited to have Dr. Zulqarnain join our team and continue building compassionate, state-of-the-art heart care for our community.

09/29/2025

Fall’s is here, but allergies are still in full swing. 🌼🤧 From ragweed to mold, Mercy Health Urgent Care can help you get back to feeling your best. Save your spot by clicking the link in the comments and we’ll see you soon!

09/26/2025

Our Mercy Health — Toledo teams have been busy supporting Connecting Kids to Meals and September's Hunger Action Month! Across our hospitals, we joined the fight against hunger with local meal-packing events — from Mercy Health — St. Anne Hospital to Mercy Health — St. Charles and Perrysburg Hospitals. Connecting Kids to Meals has been a long-standing partner of Mercy Health — Toledo, and we are proud to sponsor the organization's efforts to serve kids in our community. There are nearly 50,000 kids in our area who face hunger regularly, and that number continues to rise each year.

09/24/2025

From the field to the court, fall sports can take a toll 🏃‍♂️🍁 If your child needs a “timeout” from pain or injury, Mercy Health Urgent Care is here for quick, convenient treatment.

"With fall sports back in full swing, here's a friendly reminder that we are here," shares Dr. Philip Lam, regional medical director for Mercy Health Urgent Care locations in Ohio. "If you or your child has pain or injury, visit your closest Mercy Health Urgent Care, and we'll help you get back to your fall sport."

Walk in or click “Save My Spot” by clicking the link in the comments below. 👇

09/23/2025

Please help us welcome Basem Alawneh, MD, Interventional Cardiologist, to Mercy Health – West Toledo and Oregon Cardiology!

Dr. Alawneh was inspired to pursue medicine after seeing the impact that limited access to care can have on families and communities. Today, he specializes in interventional cardiology, where he performs advanced, minimally invasive procedures to treat serious heart and vascular conditions. His work focuses not only on saving lives in the moment, but also on improving long-term cardiovascular health.

Dr. Alawneh has a special interest in making heart care more accessible, especially for underserved communities. He believes in taking time to truly listen, building trust, and working side by side with patients to create the best care plan for their lives.

Outside of work, Dr. Alawneh enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, hiking and staying active.

We’re grateful to have Dr. Alawneh on our team, bringing both skill and compassion to heart care in our community.

09/23/2025

We celebrated Mercy Day and the beautifully reopened Mercy Health — St. Anne Hospital chapel with a eucharistic liturgy led by Father Richard Morse, OSFS, and the accompanying music by Sister Verneta Schneider, SND.

The chapel was recently updated since its opening in 2002. Thank you to our generous donors from the Mercy Health Foundation. New floors, wall color and ceiling tile brighten the space, while new seating provides accessibility to all who visit, with wider seats, handrails and a wipeable surface for infection prevention. Updated technology includes built-in sound, video/audio broadcasting ability and lighting.

Grateful for our donors and all who made this accessible, uplifting space possible.

09/22/2025

Honoring a renewed sacred space! We recently celebrated the reopening of the chapel at Mercy Health — St. Anne Hospital. Thank you to all the Mercy Health Foundation donors and team members who made this chapel refresh possible.

This beautiful space now shines brighter with new paint and flooring, enhanced lighting, beautiful chairs and a sound system allowing us to broadcast Mass throughout patient rooms. And there is more to come. Now that the bones are in place, we will add some flesh through artwork that will both harken us back to the beauty of the chapel at St. Vincent and depict the spiritual and corporal works of Mercy Health.

This space offers solace to those who work hard to bring our Mission to life and to those who come here for healing. The Bishops wrote a document entitled Built of Living Stones to provide guidance on sacred spaces. They remind us that just as we read in the first letter of Peter, the true temple of God is the community of believers—all of us gathered as the living church. They state that sacred spaces are the physical and visible sign of this living Church and that spaces like ours should be suitable for worship by reflecting the presence of God and the presence of the Community.

We are grateful to all who have contributed resources to create this sacred space for our employees, patients and their families. It helps us cultivate our hearts, our healing mission and ground ourselves in prayer, which gives us strength, purpose and well-being.

09/21/2025

Mercy Health — St. Vincent Medical Center emergency medicine residents recently joined forces with EMS, fire, law enforcement and Owens Community College for EMS Training Day!

This annual event gives physicians hands-on experience in vehicle extrications, fire suppression, hazardous materials and flight simulations. This year's training also included a mass casualty plane crash drill.

Our residents are strengthening their skills through immersive emergency scenarios, ensuring they're better prepared for real-world emergencies.

09/19/2025

In February 2022, Jason’s life changed in an instant when a forklift accident crushed his leg at work. He was rushed by ambulance to Mercy Health — St. Vincent Medical Center. Even in that moment, his sense of humor came through—his first thought was about how his summer was ruined because he wouldn’t be able to drive his stick-shift Volkswagen car.

Jason’s injury was severe. His tibia (shin bone) was shattered and the wound was difficult to heal. Throughout his recovery, he went through 11 surgeries, battled infections and even had to use an external fixator, which he jokes he “wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy.”

By the end of 2022, Jason began physical therapy, but something still didn’t feel right. When he met with Dr. Phillips, they discovered a portion of the bone still hadn’t healed.

Because of Jason’s history of infection, Dr. Phillips recommended a newer surgical technique called plate-assisted bone segment transport (PABST).

“This process is used to rebuild missing sections of bone. A stabilizing plate holds the ends of the bone in place, while a magnetic nail slowly moves a middle bone segment into the gap. As the segment advances, new bone naturally forms and heals behind it, gradually filling in the defect,” explains Dr. Phillips.

“It felt like a burning sensation,” Jason says. “It was a long process, but worth it for the outcome—and I only have minimal scarring.”

Dr. Phillips monitored Jason closely to make sure the bone was healing correctly. In February 2024, Jason was finally able to start physical therapy again. Step by step, he worked hard—building muscle, moving from a wheelchair to a walker, then a cane and finally walking on his own.

Jason says he always felt supported by his Mercy Health care team. “I wish Dr. Phillips could be my regular doctor,” he shares. “He was always positive, which matched my outlook. He supported my choice not to amputate and did everything possible to save my leg.”

“Jason has been an exceptionally delightful patient to work with. His positive outlook and unwavering dedication to his recovery have truly set him apart, making the journey all the more rewarding,” shares Dr. Phillips. “I could not be more thrilled with the remarkable results he has achieved through his persistence.”

Jason also remembers the residents and nurses who encouraged him along the way. Their support kept him motivated through the most challenging times.

Jason knows how overwhelming it can be to face a traumatic injury. His advice for others: “Don’t give up, even when things feel at their worst. Stay positive, listen to your doctors and focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. There is a finish line—I’m grateful I reached mine.”

He is especially thankful to Dr. Phillips for never giving up on him and standing by his side through it all.

09/19/2025

A Unified Statement From Our Community:

Compassionate health care for every child and every family requires meaningful collaboration, shared accountability and a collective commitment to putting children first. While the path to partnership has not always been easy, the growing complexity of pediatric care makes it clear that working together is essential.

Since 2019, collaboration between Mercy Health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital has helped improve pediatric care within our community in meaningful ways. Families in our region have seen expanded access to care, new pediatric specialists and broader services that meet children where they are. These outcomes are proof that when institutions align around a common purpose, real progress is possible.

At the same time, recent tensions have raised concern and threatened to slow the momentum of this important work. As a greater community, we recognize those concerns. We also know that no single organization can meet the needs of our children alone. It will take a unified approach to move forward. That approach must be grounded in transparency, cooperation and the inclusion of all.

We are encouraged that dialogue has resumed. We thank Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and Tina Butts of The Movement for their leadership in bringing stakeholders back to the table. Their efforts show what is possible when trusted voices step forward with courage and clarity to keep the focus where it belongs, on the children and families of this community.

Now, with that foundation reestablished, we call on ProMedica Health System to join Mercy Health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in charting the next phase of pediatric care in northwest Ohio. A stronger future is within reach, but only if we continue this work together.

We stand united in support of a renewed, transparent and inclusive partnership that places children at the center of every decision. Let us move forward as one community, committed to a shared vision of building a better community.
Through sincere collaboration and with transparency among all three health systems, our entire community stands to benefit. The time is now.

09/18/2025

You’re not alone—know the signs and reach out for support. Your mental health matters. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3V6RKQT 💚 ***dePreventionMonth

September is Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. Mercy Health Su***de Prevention Program has resources available. If you are in immediate need, call 988.