Chairman of the Board
James Fahner, M.D.
Senior Administrative Physician Liaison for Philanthropy and Community Relations
Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
Grand Rapids

Dr. Jim Fahner is serving a second term as Board Chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. He is the Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics/Human Development at Michigan State University and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases at the University of Michigan. With his work in pediatric oncology, Jim frequently experiences the healing power of a wish through his patients and families.

Jim completed his undergraduate degree, M.D., pediatric residency, and pediatric hematology/oncology subspecialty fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Current community and agency service in addition to Make-A-Wish includes the Board of Directors of the DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Spectrum Health Board Committee for Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Vice Chair of the Hospice of Michigan Foundation, Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids, and Vice President of the Board of Education for Forest Hills Public Schools.

Recent board service includes the North American Choral Company, Michigan Community Blood Center Foundation and the West Michigan Ronald McDonald House. Jim is Past-Chairman of the Board of Hospice of Michigan, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Grand Rapids Clinical Oncology Program and is the recipient of the Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award, the Philip McCorkle Child Advocacy Award and the Crystal Rose Award from Hospice of Michigan.

Jim and his wife Gail, an active community and hospital volunteer and Past-President of the Blodgett-Butterworth Hospital Auxiliary, are the proud parents of two daughters, Jill and Therese, who are both students at MSU. The entire family are Make-A-Wish volunteers and were the “founders” of the Huntington Wizard’s Ball, a major West Michigan fundraiser for the Foundation.

Trustee Emeritus
Don Hamilton
President, Hamilton Chevrolet, Inc.
Rochester

Treasurer
F. Scott Miller
Managing Director, UHY Advisors
Rochester

Board Members

Jim Berline
Chairman, The Berline Group
Bloomfield Hills

Christine Farah
Community Volunteer and SE Michigan Walk for Wishes Chair

Steve Heacock
Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel - Van Andel Institute
Grand Rapids 

Susan Jandernoa
Community Volunteer
Grand Rapids

Walter F. “Chip” Perschbacher
Vice President, Greenridge Realty, Inc.
Grand Rapids

Michael Pettibone
Chairman (Retired),  Commercial Contracting Group
Birmingham

Timothy P. Slottow
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer 
The University of Michigan
Ann Arbor