Munson Cancer Center Earns Rare National Accreditation for Rectal Cancer Care

Fewer than 6% of hospitals in the country treat as many rectal cancer patients as Munson Medical Center did last year. That volume, more than 60 patients in 2025, is part of what positioned the Traverse City hospital's Cowell Family Cancer Center to earn one of the more selective credentials in oncology: accreditation through the American College of Surgeons' National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, known as NAPRC.

The accreditation, announced March 23, makes Munson Medical Center one of only eight hospitals in Michigan to hold the credential. Munson Healthcare, the largest health system in northern Michigan, serves a region where specialized cancer care has historically required patients to travel hours downstate.

"This recognition underscores Munson's commitment to delivering the highest-quality, evidence-based care for patients with rectal cancer across Northern Michigan," said Ed Hagen, MD, colorectal surgeon at Munson Medical Center.

The NAPRC designation reflects more than patient volume. It requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary model of care and commits accredited programs to continuous improvement through regular review and updated clinical standards. For Munson, that model is backed by imaging technology not found anywhere else in the region. The Cowell Family Cancer Center operates the only fixed CT/PET scanner in northern Michigan, and Munson Medical Center runs the only 3 Tesla MRI magnet north of Grand Rapids, which enables the specific rectal MRI protocol required for precise staging and surgical planning.

Dr. Richard Tooley and Dr. Shruti Sevak are among the providers working alongside Dr. Hagen within the program.

The Cowell Family Cancer Center sits on Munson Medical Center's main campus at 1105 Sixth St. in Traverse City. The facility's 44-chair infusion and chemotherapy suite overlooks either a rooftop garden or a fireplace, and patients are paired with navigators throughout diagnosis and treatment to coordinate care and field questions. Specialty clinics cover breast, prostate, and lung cancers, alongside cancer genetics services and expanded clinical trial access.

For northern Michigan patients, the accreditation means rectal cancer care that meets the same evidence-based standards as programs at major academic medical centers, without leaving the region. Patients or families seeking more information can reach Munson's Ask-a-Nurse line at 231-935-0951 or the main hospital at 231-935-5000.