Andrews Alumni Honored as “Legends of Michiana”

By PBS Michiana WNIT

Loren and Lowell Hamel were recently honored with a documentary film on their lifelong service to the southwest Michigan community. (Photo by PBS Michiana WNIT)

Loren and Lowell Hamel were recently honored with a documentary broadcast highlighting the decades they have spent promoting health for the Berrien County community through the Corewell Health system. The documentary was produced by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and was broadcast by the local PBS Michiana WNIT channel for its “Legends of Michiana” documentary series. The hour-long documentary aired on May 29 and June 1, 2025. As long-time members of the Berrien Springs and Andrews University communities, the twin brothers have blessed countless people in southwest Michigan by modeling their ministries of health care after the servant leadership Jesus demonstrated in the Gospels.

Loren and Lowell are the fourth and fifth children of Paul and Beatrice Hamel, who contributed to the Berrien community through a successful instrument business. Paul Hamel also served as the chair of the Andrews University Department of Music for several years. His leadership was honored through the naming of the campus building Hamel Hall.

Both brothers shared similar interests growing up and worked many of the same jobs together as teenagers, including at the Andrews Grounds Department. They were high achievers in their academic careers, earning their high school diplomas at Andrews Academy, their bachelor’s degrees in biology at Andrews University and finishing medical school at Loma Linda University in three years instead of the usual four.

Lowell briefly served in the United States Air Force while Loren interned in Chicago, Illinois, before both eventually became practicing medical doctors. Despite having the pick of several jobs, they decided it was important to return to and care for the southwest Michigan community.

Both began working as physicians at the then-named Lakeland Healthcare system, which would later merge with Spectrum Health to form Corewell Health. After serving in various vice president roles within Lakeland Healthcare, Loren was asked to become president of the organization, and Lowell took on his previous administrative role. Throughout their tenure, they focused on caring for and benefiting the community while trying to lower costs for patients as much as possible.

Colleagues experienced Christ-like care and compassion from both brothers. One former employee shared in the documentary that Lowell once gave her all of the salary he accrued from paid time off to pay for the funeral services for her mother. A highlight of Loren’s tenure as Lakeland Healthcare’s president was his “Bring Your Heart to Work” campaign, which inspired an attitude and culture of kindness within the organization and translated into more compassionate care for patients.

“Both Lowell and I view leadership as ‘how can I make things better for others,’” said Loren during the documentary. Inspiration from God, along with friendly brotherly competition, helped shape their vision for the future.

Throughout the documentary, many colleagues, employees and family members affirmed how the Hamels have impacted their community. This was reflected during a sobering point of the film, which discussed Lowell’s serious bout with COVID-19.

Former Pioneer Memorial Church Pastor Dwight Nelson recalled during the film that the concern and support from the Berrien community were immense. “The community was united because it was focused on someone who lived in our midst, who has given of himself,” said Nelson. “That unifying prayer for saving the life of Dr. Lowell—I have never seen this community pray over anything more than they did for that prayer request.”

Since Lowell’s recovery, the Hamel family noted they have been tremendously blessed by the support of the Andrews and regional communities, and they have continued to see God richly bless them. Three generations of Hamels currently live in Berrien County. Although both are retired now, Loren and Lowell continue their friendly brotherly competition through a shared love of woodwork and John Deere equipment.

The ultimate legacy of the Hamel brothers is the way they have always put their community first, best explained by Lowell’s final statements in the documentary: “If each day you try to make the right decisions, and if each day you are honorable and faithful to the people you serve and the profession, I think that creates a legacy,” he explained. “A legend doesn’t mean famous. A legend, for me, means that people know you’re dedicated to what you’re doing. They understand and trust what you’re doing.”

To watch the full episode of “Legends of Michiana: Loren and Lowell Hamel,” please visit PBS Michiana WNIT’s website.