From Bedside to City Hall: How One Oncology Nurse Became Mayor of Plymouth, Michigan

 

What happens when you combine 42 years of nursing experience, a heart for oncology patients, and a deep love for community?

You get Mayor Linda Filipczak of Plymouth, Michigan.

In a time when healthcare is tough and politics can feel even tougher, Linda represents something refreshing: a nurse who didn’t leave her compassion at the bedside when she stepped into public office—she brought it with her.

And yes, she still works full time as a nurse.

Called to Nursing at Four Years Old

Some nurses “fall into” the profession. Others feel a pull later in life.

Linda? She decided at age four.

Inspired by classic films and fueled by a love for caring for others, she never wavered from that childhood declaration. But it was during nursing school at Mercy College of Detroit in 1978 that her path deepened when her father was diagnosed with cancer.

Like so many of us, personal experience reshaped professional purpose.

Watching her father’s journey didn’t just confirm her calling—it defined it. It shaped her empathy, her communication style, and her lifelong dedication to oncology nursing.

And if you’ve ever stood beside a patient whose story mirrors your own, you know exactly what she means when she says: “Because I’ve been in your shoes.”

Forty-Two Years and a Little of Every Kind of Nurse

Since earning her license in 1983, Linda has done what seasoned nurses do best: evolve.

She began on a post-operative unit when the rule was simple: get your foundation before you specialize. Orthopedics, GYN, plastics, oncology—she learned it all. She remembers checking her MAR “20 million times” as a new grad (some things never change).

From there, she grew into:

• Preceptor and mentor
• Clinical coordinator
• Adjunct professor
• Executive Director of Physician Recruitment
• Executive Director of Nursing Recruitment & Retention
• VP of Operations for an oncology service line

And throughout it all, oncology remained her heart.

Today, she still works at Karmanos Cancer Institute as a philanthropy officer, helping shepherd patients into the system and supporting cancer research—work that remains deeply personal because of her father.

But somewhere along the way, another calling quietly took shape.

The Nurse Was Asked to Run

Linda didn’t wake up one morning and declare, “I’m running for mayor.”

In true nurse fashion, she started by saying, “I’m really busy.”

A neighbor, who just happened to be connected to her former anatomy and physiology instructors, kept nudging her to serve on a local committee. Eventually, he showed up at her porch with the application and said he wasn’t leaving until she filled it out.

So she did.

She joined Plymouth’s Historical District Commission, protecting the integrity of the town’s historic homes and buildings. She learned. She listened. She engaged.

Then she ran for City Commissioner in 2020.

In Plymouth, commissioners are elected by residents, and the commission then selects the mayor. In November 2025, her peers elected her mayor.

And just like that, the oncology nurse was leading a city of nearly 10,000 residents.

Nursing Skills That Translate, Perfectly

If you’re thinking nursing and politics don’t mix, think again.

Linda makes a compelling case that nurses are uniquely prepared for public leadership.

Perhaps most importantly, nurses do not care what political party you belong to, what religion you practice, or what your background is when you enter our care.

That mindset now guides her leadership.

As mayor, she focuses on relationship-based leadership—a direct parallel to relationship-based nursing care. Citizens want to be heard. Patients want to be heard. The skill set is strikingly similar.

Sometimes the request in front of you isn’t the right solution—but listening may lead to a better one.

Sound familiar?

It’s triage. Just at city hall.

A Hallmark Town, with a Nurse at the Helm

If you’ve never been to Plymouth, picture this:

• Friday night music in the park
• A bustling farmers market
• Ice sculpture festivals
• Scarecrows in the fall
• Walkable streets filled with small shops and restaurants

Linda describes it as a town people compare to a Hallmark movie, and yes, she carved an ice sculpture this year (with all ten fingers intact).

Her goal as mayor isn’t flashy. It’s simple.

And if that doesn’t sound like a nurse, I don’t know what does.

For Nurses Thinking About Leadership: Start Small

Linda’s advice to nurses who feel the nudge toward leadership outside hospital walls?

Start small.

• Attend a city commission meeting.
• Join a committee.
• Get involved with the school board.
• Volunteer locally.
• Listen first.

Leadership doesn’t begin with a campaign sign. It begins with showing up.

She also emphasizes mentorship—something she experienced firsthand when her father’s oncology nurse (who later became a hospital COO) quietly guided her career.

There are countless paths within nursing, and sometimes beyond it, that still allow you to serve.

More Than “Just” a Nurse

For a while, the phrase “I’m just a nurse” floated around casually.

Let’s retire it.

Nurses are educators. Strategists. Administrators. Advocates. Crisis managers. Communicators. Leaders.

And sometimes?

Mayors.

Mayor Linda Filipczak is proof that the skills learned at the bedside don’t stay there. They move into boardrooms, classrooms, nonprofits—and yes, city halls.

And if you ever find yourself in Plymouth, Michigan, don’t be surprised if the mayor greets you like an old friend.

After all, you can’t break up with your nurse.

You’re stuck with her.

🤔Nurses, would you ever consider running for a position in your community? What’s stopping you? Share your thoughts in the discussion forum below!