West Michigan Woman recently caught up with Salina Bishop, the new President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan (RMHCWM), to learn more about her vision for the organization and how it should have a "seat at the table" in the local healthcare landscape as more patients come to West Michigan for specialized pediatric care.
What are your strategies for educating the community about the true scope and value of RMHCWM's work?
One of our greatest opportunities is educating people who don't think they'll ever need us. If you live close to a hospital, it's easy to overlook the challenges that families traveling hours—or even states away—have for their child's care. We use first-person storytelling as an education strategy. Our families can speak to parents who may have just been handed a diagnosis and immediately worry not just about their child but about their everyday needs: where they'll sleep, what they'll eat, and how they'll afford it all.
We're sharing the reality that our House is the only place in West Michigan offering this kind of comfort and support at no cost. As our healthcare systems grow, we're shining a light on the fact that the safety net for families—RMHC—hasn't grown at the same pace. Through community conversations, storytelling, and strong partnerships, we help people understand that the House is more than a place to stay. It's a critical part of the care and support families receive.
How are you cultivating stronger relationships with hospitals and healthcare systems to deepen RMHCWM's impact?
We're proud to be in conversation with local healthcare systems about how we support the families they serve. Recently, I attended a hospital gala focused on increasing access to care for West Michigan families. But the truth is, families from all over Michigan and beyond are coming to Grand Rapids for treatment, and they need more than medical care. They need a home base.
We're taking a collaborative approach by having honest conversations with our healthcare partners about what it means to grow together. As hospitals expand services and facilities, we're advocating for RMHCWM to be part of that vision from the start. That includes adding new Ronald McDonald Family Room spaces within hospitals and increasing access to our core services. When we work together, we ease the burden on families and help them focus on what matters most: their child's healing.
What does success look like for RMHCWM five years from now under your leadership?
Success means fewer families on our waitlist. It means more families with a warm bed, a hot meal, and peace of mind during the hardest moments of their lives. In five years, I want to look back and say we served more people, with deeper care and greater capacity.
But it's also about influence. I want RMHCWM to be recognized as an essential part of the pediatric healthcare landscape in Michigan. RMHCWM should be woven into the care experience, not seen as separate from it. Our legacy is 35 years strong, and our future is focused on growth, equity, and unwavering support for every family who needs us.
Edited by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.
This article originally appeared in the Aug/Sept '25 issue of West Michigan Woman.
