Nurse Turned Mayor: Plymouth Elects Longtime Oncology RN to Lead City
- Linda Filipczak, an oncology nurse with 42 years of experience, was elected mayor of Plymouth, Michigan, in December 2025.
- Her nursing background, particularly in oncology, has shaped her leadership style and approach to public service.
- Filipczak continues to serve as a city commissioner while taking on the mayoral role through 2027.
- Her election highlights how nursing skills translate into effective leadership beyond the healthcare setting.
After more than four decades in oncology nursing, Linda Filipczak is stepping into a new leadership role in public service. On December 1, 2025, the Plymouth, Michigan City Commission elected Filipczak as mayor in a 4–1 vote. Her term will run for two years, and she will continue serving as a city commissioner through 2027.
Filipczak has spent 42 years working in oncology at Karmanos Cancer Institute, where she has held a variety of clinical and leadership roles. Following her election, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve her community, saying she is deeply committed to Plymouth and honored by the trust placed in her by fellow commissioners.
Her path into municipal leadership began in 2021, when she was first elected to the Plymouth City Commission. She was reelected in 2023, building a record of continued civic involvement alongside her nursing career.
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A Nursing Career Rooted in Oncology
Filipczak began her nursing career in Detroit in the late 1970s. Her decision to specialize in oncology was shaped by a personal experience watching her father receive cancer treatment at the Michigan Cancer Foundation, now known as Karmanos Cancer Institute. That experience influenced her long-term commitment to cancer care and patient advocacy.
Today, Filipczak works as a philanthropy officer at Karmanos, where her role focuses on helping patients access care, securing funding for clinical trials, and supporting physicians and researchers. She has described her work as meaningful and purpose-driven, reflecting a career-long dedication to improving outcomes for patients and families affected by cancer.
Applying Nursing Skills to Public Leadership
Filipczak has often pointed to listening as a skill that connects her nursing background with her approach to governance. She has said that people want to be heard, whether they are patients, residents, or colleagues, and that careful listening helps uncover what truly matters to a community.
This perspective now informs her leadership as mayor. Skills commonly developed in nursing, such as communication, assessment, and collaboration, translate naturally into public service. Filipczak’s approach emphasizes understanding community concerns before pursuing solutions, a practice familiar to many nurses.
A Collaborative City Commission
Filipczak’s election comes during a period of transition for Plymouth’s City Commission. New commissioners Joe Elliott and Karen Sisolak joined the body in December, alongside returning commissioners Jennifer Kehoe and Alanna Maguire. Filipczak succeeds outgoing Mayor Suzi Deal, who chose not to seek reelection after serving the city for ten years.
She has emphasized that the role of mayor is collaborative, noting that decisions are made collectively by the commission and supported by city administration. Her leadership priorities include community engagement, sustainable infrastructure, and maintaining Plymouth’s appeal as a place to live and visit.
What Filipczak’s Journey Represents for Nurses
Filipczak’s transition from oncology nursing to municipal leadership highlights how nursing skills extend beyond healthcare settings. Communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience are core competencies in nursing that can also support effective leadership in government and community roles.
Her story reflects a growing trend of nurses taking on leadership positions outside traditional clinical environments while continuing to apply the values and skills developed through years of patient care. For nurses considering civic involvement or leadership beyond the bedside, Filipczak’s experience demonstrates how a nursing background can inform and strengthen public service.
As Filipczak begins her term as mayor, her career serves as an example of how nursing experience can shape leadership in diverse settings, from hospital corridors to city hall.
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