Alumna Dr. Mary Beth Bolton had a successful career as a nurse and a physician

When HFC alumna Dr. Mary Beth Bolton first started college, she was commuting into the heart of Detroit during the late 1960s, which were turbulent times for the city and the nation.

Bolton decided to transfer to HFC (then Henry Ford Community College). She attended on a scholarship and earned her associate degree in nursing in 1972, graduating at the top of her class with high honors. She also earned the Gold Key Award.

“I felt safe at the College,” said Bolton. “It was the right size for me. The classes weren’t that big. I could park right in front of the building. I loved studying at the library. All the teachers knew who I was and were very approachable. It was just a great fit for me.”

Bolton grew up in an era when most working women were expected to enter traditional female professions, such as becoming a teacher, a nurse, a nun, or similar. She chose nursing. She didn’t think she would enjoy nursing — until she enrolled at HFC.

“I was very proud that HFC taught me all I needed to know to be a good nurse,” she said. “A nurse could always get a job and work anywhere in the world.”

Equipped to be the "best nurse of the bunch"

Bolton worked as a nurse in Michigan, Connecticut, California, and Washington, D.C. These jobs expanded her view of the world.

“I felt equipped to be the best nurse of the bunch,” she said. “I felt extremely comfortable in clinical situations. I felt competent. I knew what to do. The education I received at the College was as good as my fellow nurses who were university-trained.”

One of five siblings, Bolton was born in Detroit and grew up in what is now Redford Township. She lives in Novi with Daniel O’Connell, her husband of 41 years. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Bolton is an alumna of Our Lady of Mercy High School in Farmington Hills and HFC. She later earned her M.D. at University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, graduating with honors, and is licensed to practice medicine in California and Michigan. Her father was also a physician who specialized in internal medicine.

“I never thought I’d do beyond an associate degree,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t found HFC. Everything is 20/20 in hindsight. I do know that I would not have been successful in my medical career if not for the education I received at the College.”

Although Bolton completed coursework at Wayne State University, UC Berkeley, George Washington University, and George Mason University in Virginia, she skipped over the bachelor’s degree path. She earned enough credits and did well on the MCAT, which allowed her to enroll in medical school.

The path from a nurse to a physician

Bolton had good reasons to leave nursing and become a doctor.

“I worked alongside doctors who were very kind to me when I was an oncology nurse. They encouraged me to pursue more education. I would have become a nurse practitioner if I did not get accepted to med school,” she recalled. “I could see what some of these doctors were doing and thought I could do it as well or better. For example, I witnessed doctors tell patients that they had cancer and then quickly run out the door. I was left with a sobbing patient who just received profoundly devastating news, and I would offer them comfort. I wanted to be the doctor who wouldn't run out of the room when delivering terrible news. I knew I could offer some consolation.”

Bolton considered oncology, but she realized that specialty wouldn’t combine well with a family life, so she chose internal medicine.

“Internal medicine treats the whole person. Whatever the problem is, everything is open for discussion,” she said. “Clinical work carried intense emotional satisfaction for me.”

Bolton was in the health care/medical field for 47 years until her retirement in 2018. Of her 42 years as a doctor, she spent 21 in medical administration. She also served as an associate clinical professor of medicine at UCSF for a year and at the University of Michigan Medical School for nine years. Her final position before retirement was as a medical director at BCBSM. She also served as the Henry Ford Health (HFH) system Internal Medicine primary care program Director for nearly a decade.

Some of the highlights of her medical career include:

• Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Health Alliance Plan (HAP)
• Vice President for Health Care Management Strategy BCBSM
• Senior Staff Internal Medicine Physician for HFH
• Senior Associate Medical Director – Managed Care Services for HAP

A privilege to treat patients at their time of need

Bolton has been a member of many professional societies and organizations, and is published in medical journals. She also won many awards and accolades, including being named the Woman Physician of the Year in 2009 by the Michigan State Medical Society.

“Dr. Bolton has served as a teacher, a mentor, and an inspiration to countless young physicians and colleagues,” said then-MSMS President Dr. Michael A. Sandler. “All of health care in Michigan, from primary care to hospice care, is better because of her commitment to excellence and her focus on the needs of the individual patient.”

However, none of the awards matter when compared to helping patients in the grand scheme of things.

“What a privilege it was to be the person who helped someone during their time of need,” she said. “It was an incredible gift. You just have to be present for them. For many, that was all they needed or was enough to get them through to the next day. I got as much out of patient interaction as they did from me. Sometimes, I got more from them, especially from the elderly patients, who were often well-grounded and wise.”

Bolton eventually knew it was time to retire and leave the intense work behind.

“I always had more work than I had time to do it,” she said. “That takes its toll on you, on your life, on your family. I’m no longer constantly checking my phone or my email or going to medical conferences. I wanted to enjoy traveling, spend time with my grandchildren, and be present for my family. It’s a blessing to be healthy, to be happily married, and to have time to be with them. Gratitude is a daily practice.”