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News Photo by Crystal Nelson
MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena President Chuck Sherwin, second from right, and Regional Vice President of Medical Affairs Richard Bates, far right, on Thursday talk during one of the hospital’s vaccination clinics.
ALPENA An Alpena doctor has received national attention for his willingness to drive the COVID-19 vaccine nearly 150 miles from Midland to Alpena, highlighting the struggles of rural health care.
Richard Bates, a former OB-GYN and regional vice president of medical affairs at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena, has for weeks regularly traveled about 300 miles roundtrip in his pickup truck to bring the COVID-19 vaccine to Alpena from Midland.