UP Health System-Marquette Hires Neuropsychologist
The hospital adds Keara J. Kangas to its Brain & Spine team to expand regional access to adult neuropsychological services.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Healthcare
UP Health System-Marquette has officially hired clinical neuropsychologist Keara J. Kangas. She joins the hospital's Brain & Spine team to provide specialized care to patients throughout the Upper Peninsula.
Why it matters
The hiring of a dedicated specialist aims to address the critical need for advanced neuropsychological services in rural communities. This move ensures residents across the Upper Peninsula have improved access to expert adult care.
Keara J. Kangas holds a doctorate from Marquette University and earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern Michigan University. She also completed a professional fellowship at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
The players
Keara J. Kangas
She is a clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in adult care and recently joined the Brain & Spine team at UP Health System-Marquette.
UP Health System-Marquette
This is a major healthcare provider that serves the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan with a variety of medical specialties.
The details
Kangas specializes in adult neuropsychology and will work to develop these essential services for the regional patient population. She plans to collaborate closely with other medical providers to enhance the standard of specialty care available in the community.
Timeline
The hiring announcement for Keara J. Kangas was published on October 31, 2026.
Market Landscape
The hiring of a specialist trained at the University of Michigan's neuropsychology fellowship program reflects a broader trend of rural hospitals importing expertise from major academic medical centers. This move positions the health system to better compete for patients who might otherwise travel long distances for specialized care.
Patients throughout the Upper Peninsula will have improved access to specialized adult neuropsychological evaluations closer to home. This change reduces the necessity for residents to travel to distant medical hubs for these specific diagnostic services.
The takeaway
Access to specialized neurological care is expanding in the Upper Peninsula through this new medical appointment. Patients requiring neuropsychological assessments can now coordinate with local providers to plan their diagnostic or treatment paths.
Further reading
For more information on medical staffing and local services, see the healthcare section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Mining Journal.
