McLaren Oakland, the Pontiac-based hospital with care locations throughout Oakland County, has appointed Dr. Joseph Zajchowski as its chief medical officer, assuming the role last served by Dr. Hassan Beiz prior to his transition to the same role at McLaren Macomb.
Most recently the CMO at McLaren Lapeer Region, Zajchowski formally joined McLaren Oakland on Sept. 8.
“In getting to know Dr. Zajchowski, it is clear that he brings not only strong leadership but also a deep commitment to clinical excellence to the patients in our community,” says Lorenzo Suter, president and CEO of McLaren Oakland. “He has a proven ability to create an environment in which high-quality care thrives — one that supports clinical teams, prioritizes patient outcomes, and promotes a culture of compassion and accountability. I am excited for Dr. Zajchowski to join us and am proud to welcome him to McLaren Oakland.”
An emergency medicine physician by training, Zajchowski has served as CMO of McLaren Lapeer Region since August 2020, initially joining the hospital five years prior as its medical director of emergency medicine. As the leader of the organization’s medical staff, his tenure at McLaren Lapeer Region has been characterized by strong collaboration between administration and the medical staff, improvements in quality and safety scores, and patients’ overall experience with their care.
Zajchowski brought a familiarity of the system to Lapeer, having previously served stints as a physician in the emergency departments at McLaren Northern Michigan and McLaren Flint. Prior to joining McLaren, he served as an emergency provider at Kona Community Hospital in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Scottsdale.
“Dr. Zajchowski has made a significant impact during his time at McLaren Lapeer Region, driving measurable improvements in both quality and patient safety,” says Dr. Justin Klamerus, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of McLaren Health Care. “He is a dedicated leader in quality improvement and a strong advocate for clinical and service excellence. McLaren Oakland services a vital service in delivering essential care to its community, and we are pleased to have Dr. Zajchowski step into this expanded leadership role within our system.”
Zajchowski earned his degree from Wayne State University before completing an emergency medicine residency at St. John Hospital in Detroit. He continued his education by earning a Juris Doctor in health care law from Arizona State University — and has been admitted to the State Bar of Michigan — and a Master’s in Business Administration from Auburn University.
