From Grant to Impact: Tina Mason’s Nursing Story
Tina Mason along with her son Granger (10) volunteering at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event held at Saginaw Valley State University in October 2025.
Nursing is a mentally stressful, intellectually rigorous, and physically demanding job filled with distinct challenges. In recognition of this worthy profession, in 2014 The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation awarded MyMichigan Health grant funds to establish the Margaret Ann Riecker Institute for Nursing Excellence. The Institute was founded to help nurses across MyMichigan Health receive guidance and support to foster advancements and assume leadership roles.
“We are grateful for the continuing partnership and support from The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation,” says Denise O’Keefe, executive director, MyMichigan Health Foundation. “The Riecker Institute for Nursing Excellence is a testament to Mrs. Riecker’s heart of philanthropy and her deep love for the Midland community. Her passion, diplomacy and superior problem-solving skills are guidestars that lead the way to excellence for our nurses, clinical teams, and certainly all of us here at MyMichigan Health.”
Specifically, the Margaret Ann Riecker Institute for Nursing Excellence program provides tuition and professional membership support; specialty certification training and onsite testing; access to a shared governance program; a new graduate R.N. residency program and nursing research; as well as infuses nurses with excellent nursing practices.
One of the key focus areas of support from the Riecker nursing grant was to encourage and provide an avenue for MyMichigan nurses to achieve a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) and/or certification in their field of specialty in nursing. As a result of this initiative, MyMichigan met its targets in both areas and increased the number of nurses with both Master and Doctorate level degrees. In fact, through 2024, MyMichigan Medical Center Midland had 544 nurses with a BSN or higher (or 58.62% of Medical Center Midland nursing workforce).
Tina Mason, R.N., M.S.N., oncology service line leader, MyMichigan Health, is one of those nurses.
“From a young age I was called to the nursing profession,” said Mason. “After witnessing a close family member’s medical emergency, I was struck by the compassion of the nurses. They cared for their patient who, thankfully, made a full recovery, but they also included me – ensuring that I was appropriately included in that recovery process.”
Mason began her health care journey at H.H. Dow High School in Midland, taking health classes that allowed her to dual-enroll at Delta College. While still in high school, she was a co-op student in the Radiology Department at MyMichigan Medical Center Midland and earned her Certified Nursing certificate. After graduating from Dow High, Mason engaged in post-secondary education from 2009 through 2022, ultimately earning her bachelor’s degree in Nursing and a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and Education from Saginaw Valley State University.
“I received the Riecker Nursing Grant several times in my journey and I am so grateful for the support that helped to lessen the financial burden of my continued schooling,” Mason shared. She added that she was fortunate to have supportive MyMichigan Health supervisors provide the flexibility in her employment that allowed her to further her education.
“MyMichigan Health believes that an excellent patient experience comes from the consistent delivery of safe, high quality clinical care that results in healing and is delivered in an atmosphere of kindness and respect,” said Marissa Palmer, D.N.P., R.N., system vice president & chief nursing officer, MyMichigan Health. “To solidify our values and demonstrate our commitment to the patient experience, MyMichigan participated in a seven-year journey to reach Magnet® status from The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program®. This esteemed program distinguishes organizations across the globe that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. In April 2022, we were so very proud that MyMichigan Medical Center Midland became the first in the region to achieve Magnet® recognition.”
Mason recalls the feeling of accomplishment when Magnet® status was announced, “It was incredibly humbling and momentous to be a part of the nursing teams who demonstrated grit, determination and professionalism. While we celebrated this recognition, we never lost sight of our drive and duty to continue to enhance the patient experience.”
After years of direct patient care, Mason became a manager of cardiac testing, quickly advancing to cardiovascular director of operations. Pulling from her nursing experience in the path of physiology and surgery, Mason reached her current position as the health system’s oncology service line leader.
“My career has been positively impacted by the lasting legacy of the Dow family - from my studies at H.H. Dow High School, to the Riecker nursing grants and now fulfilling our mission of ‘Creating Healthy Communities – Together’ at the James T. and Elsa U. Pardee Cancer Wellness Center.” concluded Mason.
Those interested in learning more about a nursing career at MyMichigan Health may visit careers.mymichigan.org/nursing.
About The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation
Established in1936, The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation was established by Mrs. Grace A. Dow, in memory of her husband Dr. Herbert H. Dow, “for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes for the public benefaction of the inhabitants of the said City of Midland and of the people of the State of Michigan”.
