News Releases

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 21, 2025 – On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Corewell Health™ will officially break ground on the Karl and Patricia Betz Resident Physician Living Center, a housing complex near its Grand Rapids medical campus that will ease the housing burden for resident and fellow physicians, helping them feel supported as they begin their careers and encouraging them to stay and practice in Michigan.

The new 118-unit, mixed-use housing complex is made possible in part by a lead gift from Karl and Patricia Betz, who have been dedicated Corewell Health philanthropists for nearly three decades, supporting Corewell Health in West Michigan and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

“This leadership gift by Karl and Patti Betz will forever be linked to the growth of our physician workforce,” said Kelly Dyer, president, Corewell Health Foundation West Michigan, Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundation. “They recognized the importance of supporting our next generation of health care providers and attracting top physician talent to Michigan. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity.”

According to the Housing Needs Assessment, the real estate market in Grand Rapids and Kent County has become increasingly difficult to navigate due to a severe shortage of affordable and available homes and rental units. The city faces a projected gap of nearly 8,000 rental units by 2027, a 48.9% increase since 2020. Even market-rate rentals are operating at a 97.1% occupancy rate - above the 94% to 96% range generally considered healthy in balanced markets - creating barriers and limited housing options for Corewell Health’s resident and fellow physicians.

“Residency is a critical phase of a physician’s career, and finding housing can add immense stress, especially for those unfamiliar with Grand Rapids or those relocating with families,” said Candace Smith-King, M.D., vice president, academic affairs, Corewell Health in West Michigan. “By addressing one of the most immediate challenges for residents and fellows, we are creating a smoother, more supportive experience to pave the way for a physician’s life-long career in Michigan.”

Corewell Health’s strategic decision to approach housing as a recruitment and retention benefit demonstrates a bold, forward-thinking approach more commonly associated with the nation’s largest and most competitive health systems. This investment confirms Corewell Health’s understanding that a supportive environment is essential to resident and fellow physicians, and also the system’s ability to retain Michigan-trained physicians following their graduation.

The housing complex will be designed to offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom spaces with flexible short- and long-term living arrangements tailored to the varied rotational schedules and financial needs of Corewell Health’s resident and fellow physicians in West Michigan. With an understanding of the personal and logistical burden of relocating, often with limited time to prepare, this initiative will offer accessible housing designed to ease the transition and foster a sense of community. Other amenities will include on-site parking, conference spaces, study areas and commercial retail space.

The Corewell Health Karl and Patricia Betz Resident Physician Living Center, located at 648 Ottawa Ave., Grand Rapids, is expected to open in June 2027. 

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About Corewell Health™

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 16,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.  

Media contact:

Alexis Bolo Neal

alexis.boloneal@corewellhealth.org