Trinity Health Ann Arbor Establishes Mark Oberdoerster Internal Medicine Education Endowment

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Nov. 18, 2024) – Trinity Health Ann Arbor, in coordination with the family of the late Mark Oberdoerster, MD, has announced the establishment of the Mark Oberdoerster Internal Medicine Education Endowment to further the education of those with a passion to serve as primary care physicians in the community.

Mark Oberdoerster, MD, unexpectedly passed away in August 2024, after spending more than 35 years practicing medicine in the Ann Arbor-Canton communities. As a founding physician of Partners in Internal Medicine (PIIM) and a longtime member of the Trinity Health Ann Arbor medical staff, he committed his life to caring for and serving his community.

"To our family, Mark truly was the sun we orbited around,” said Deborah Oberdoerster, MD, Mark’s wife. “His infectious spark and jovial energy gave comfort and shape to our lives. With ever-present gusto, an intrepid spirit, and an unending quest for learning, he lived each day to the fullest. In the past few weeks, we have heard from many of his colleagues and patients, reminding us how much he was, in fact, part of their own families, sharing in both struggles and joys. He found medicine challenging and intriguing, but he never lost sight of the reason he chose this path. The Oberdoerster family hopes this fund and the memory of Mark will serve to inspire and support new physicians to answer this rewarding call."

Dr. Oberdoerster received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati before attending the Medical College of Ohio (now University of Toledo Medical School). He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.

“Among a medical staff of so many bright and gifted providers, Mark stood out as an especially compassionate and dedicated physician,” said David Vandenberg, MD, chief medical officer of Trinity Health Ann Arbor and Trinity Health Livingston. “Though he has left this world, his spirit of healing and sense of service lives on in all of us. Through this endowment fund, we hope to spread his legacy so that future generations of physicians may carry on the tradition of excellence that he embodied.”

Those wishing to make a gift to honor Dr. Oberdoerster’s memory and to support future primary care physicians can visit: https://giving.trinityhealthmichigan.org/ann-arbor/memorial-donations