Dr. John Lanman Honored With Hammond Clinic Blessing, Dedication

HAMMOND, Indiana - From its opening in 1996, John Lanman, MD, was a fixture at the Catherine McAuley Clinic, volunteering his time to help the uninsured and underinsured patients who walked through the doors.

Dr. Lanman, who practiced internal medicine in Northwest Indiana for more than 40 years, continued treating patients at the volunteer-based Hammond medical clinic until six weeks before his death in 2014 at age 88. Many of those patients attended his funeral to pay their final respects. His life and legacy were celebrated once again on Thursday, August 5, 2021, with the blessing and dedication of the clinic in his name.

Rick Peltier, executive director of the Franciscan Health Foundation, said the Dr. John Lanman Clinic, Franciscan Health Hammond will benefit from a six-figure memorial endowment created by the children of Dr. Lanman, whose gift will be used to pay for healthcare, medication, transportation, food and other financial needs for the most vulnerable in the community.

"This will have a transformational impact for years to come," Peltier said.

Dr. Lanman's four children, Jill Broderick, Janet Noth, Elizabeth Oliver and John Lanman Jr., attended the dedication with their families, joined by staff and supporters of the clinic, as well as Franciscan Health Hammond and Franciscan Alliance leaders.

"I've never known anyone who loved their job as much as my father loved being a doctor," Broderick said. "I think in some ways, McAuley Clinic may have been the most rewarding medicine in his career. That's because my father took care of people. Not just their diabetes or their heart condition, but all of them. He cared about their lives and how they were managing to juggle the stresses of being human. He understood that his patients had challenges beyond those he identified with his stethoscope."

Franciscan Alliance Chairperson of the Board Sister Jane Marie Klein previously served as CEO at the Hammond hospital for 10 years and worked closely with Dr. Lanman. "He was a great physician; he was a wonderful person," she said. "As president of the medical staff, he was always there whenever I needed him for whatever I needed him to do."

"Certainly, the Dr. John Lanman Clinic is a major stronghold for many people in this community who would not get healthcare," Sister Jane Marie added. "John set a wonderful example to our doctors and to all those who are working in the clinic today, our physicians, because we can’t do it without them, and we can't do it without nurses and other staff."

Father Theodore Mens, chaplain at Franciscan Health Munster, conducted the blessing of the renamed clinic. "We have an opportunity to continue to share our talents, our best characteristics through this clinic and all the work that will continue, and certainly, the family of Dr. Lanman continue their own tradition by their own support and generosity of this clinic," he said.

Those gathered also honored Dr. Art Branco, who recently passed away. Dr. Branco assisted the Franciscans in setting up the clinic, continued to serve on the clinic board and assist with the clinic's annual bowling event. This spring, he recorded a video promoting a fundraiser for the clinic’s 25th anniversary. "If anybody deserved to be here today to witness this, because he was so excited, it was Dr. Branco," Peltier said.

Contributions to the Dr. John Lanman Clinic can be made by going online at FranciscanHealthFoundation.org or calling 219-661-3401. One hundred percent of donations will make a direct impact on the vulnerable patient population that depends on the clinic for their medical needs.

Dr. John Lanman Clinic, Franciscan Health Hammond is located at 5530 Hohman Avenue in Hammond and is open Monday through Friday. For more information or to make an appointment, call 219-933-2018.