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Introducing Dr. Elizabeth Ritt -- Provost of Mercy College 14

Dean Joan McCleish Honored with 2010 Catherine McAuley Award for Nursing Excellence 16

Vatican Officials Visit Campus

Fall/Winter 2010

2 | VitalSigns

As we near the end of another year, it is easy to look back in amazement at what occurred in our world, our country, our state and our College in

the last 11 months! In August, we were honored to host a visit by His Excellency, Archbishop Zgymunt Zimowski, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, from The Vatican. The Archbishop was the guest of our local Bishop Richard Pates. The Archbishop’s visit just before the start of the fall term was a blessed way to begin a new academic year and a special memory for the College! Also in August, we welcomed Dr. Elizabeth Ritt as Vice President of Academic Affairs & Provost. The impact Dr. Ritt has made on the College in the short time she has been in her role, reaffirms that great things are in store for Mercy College. You can read more about her in this issue of VitalSigns. We’ve also made progress since March 1 in preparing to educate hundreds of refugees and immigrants who are being admitted to one of six health care career fields as part of our federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. Pathways to Health Care Careers – Iowa is a partnership with Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services to increase diversity in the health care workforce while expanding the cultural knowledge of Iowa’s health care employers. Through grant funding we’re expanding our support services for the Limited English Proficient (LEP) students who meet our admissions standards by extending the curriculum to a part-time basis. We’ve also hired a transcultural clinician to help respond to any potentially-confusing cultural references found in traditional curricula to better enable content mastery. We will have Pathways students begin course work in 2011. Throughout the year we’ve also been working with our Board of Directors, faculty and staff on a new strategic plan to cover the period from January 2011 until spring 2014. This end date has been chosen to correspond to the 10-year visit by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. These discussions have helped us to focus on the future of health science education in order to prepare graduates for the realities of the health care workforce they will face over the next few decades. I also want to extend my congratulations to our newest distinguished alumna honored this fall – Dr. Joan McCleish – for her important contributions to Mercy College, the nursing profession and central Iowa. She is a fine example of the legacy that we cherish. Finally, I hope to see you at one of our upcoming events highlighted on page 23. Until then, I invite you to contact me with your ideas or suggestions.

Barbara Q. Decker, J.D.President

message from the president

College Board of DirectorsPatricia A. Shoff, JDBoard Chair

Dave HarmeyerVice Chair

Deborah A. Willyard, RN Class of ‘79 & ‘98Secretary

Willard L. Boyd III, JD

Laurie Conner

Barbara Q. Decker, JD (ex officio)

Diana Deibler

Jacqueline Easley

Sister Jude Fitzpatrick, CHM

Diane Huber, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, NEA-BC

Martin F. Larréy, Ph.D.

Sharon Phillips, RN

Robyn H. Wilkinson (ex officio)

New Board MembersMercy College is pleased to introduce two new College Board members – Laurie Conner and Dr. Diane Huber.

Laurie ConnerAdministratorMercy Medical Center — West Lakes

Diane Huber, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, NEA-BC

Professor, NursingUniversity of Iowa

Retiring from the College Board in summer 2010 were Dr. Mary Mincer Hansen and Sandra A. Ruhs, M.D. We thank these two members for their many years of service to Mercy College and our students.

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in this issue

4 College Highlights New Faces on Campus Milestones 2011-14 Strategic Planning Committee In Memory - Rodney L. Ausich

Cover Story

8 Vatican Officials Visit Vatican Visit Validates Mercy College as a Catholic Educational Institution

14 Introducing Dr. Elizabeth Ritt Provost of Mercy College

16 Dean Joan McCleish Honored with 2010 Catherine McAuley Award for Nursing Excellence

features

PublisherBarbara Q. Decker, J.D.bdecker@mercydesmoines.org

EditorBrian Tingleffbtingleff@mercydesmoines.org

Associate EditorJim Tagyejtagye@mercydesmoines.org

Graphic DesignerMelissa Millermmiller3@mercydesmoines.org

Writers Debra SteilenJim TagyeBrian Tingleff

Photography Jim HeemstraMelissa MillerJim Tagye

© Copyright 2010VitalSigns is published by the Marketing Department. Submit address changes online at mchs.edu/update or mail to Mercy College of Health Sciences, Office of Institutional Advancement, 928 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1239.

It is the Mercy College policy to conduct academic programs and business activities in a manner that is free from discrimination and to provide equal opportunity for and equal treatment of students regardless of race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, physical or mental disability, status as a dis-abled veteran or veteran of war, or any other factor protected by law.

Fall/Winter 2010 | Volume 10 | Issue 1

19 Program Highlights

21 Student Profile

22 Mercy College Donors

23 Alumni News

24 News & Notes

27 A Reflection of Health Care

Photo taken by Jim Heemstra

4 | VitalSigns

Quinn CameronAdmissions Counselor

Quinn started at Mercy College in June 2010 in the Admissions Department. After graduating from the University of Iowa, Quinn moved to Denver, Colorado for two years. While in Denver she worked as an Admissions Scout at the Aveda Institute - Denver. She enjoys working with students and spending time with family and friends.

Shannon KlausSystems Analyst

Shannon joined the Mercy College family in August 2010 as the Systems Analyst. Prior to her transition to the College, she was a stay-at-home mom and has worked for the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care since 2000 as a Database Administrator and Reporting Lead. Shannon has an Associates degree from AIB in Business Communi-cations and Public Relations and returned to school to complete her BS in Management Information Systems from Graceland University. Shannon lives in Grimes with her husband Jon and their three kids: Morgan, Gavin and Owen; she enjoys snuggling with her kids, cooking, doing anything outdoors, and photography.

Jenny MetzgerPathways Admissions Counselor

Jenny joined Mercy College in 2010 as the Pathways Admis-sions Counselor. She has her BA in Spanish from Moorhead State University, Minnesota and studied abroad in Spain and Mexico. After working for several years, Jenny returned to school to get her teaching license and Master’s degree in Higher Education at Iowa State University. Jenny lives in Des Moines; she enjoys being outdoors and watching movies.

Khristi BloctonLibrary Assistant

Khristi joined Mercy College in August 2010 as a Library Assistant. Prior to her transition to the College, she worked at Principal Financial Group and the Des Moines Area Community College Library. Khristi has a BA in Music Education from Drake University and is currently working towards a Masters of Library Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Distance Education program. Khristi has one cat and enjoys reading and travelling to new places.

Nichole HinesPathways Student Health Nurse

Nichole moved here from St. Louis, Missouri in September 2010. She started working for Mercy at that time; she also works on the Mercy Neurology floor. Prior to moving to Iowa she worked at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center as a Med-Surg nurse. She lives in Ankeny with her husband Ron, son Nick (10) and daughters Lauren (8) and Lani (4). Nichole enjoys reading and spending time with her family.

Tabatha LambPathways ESL Academic Counselor

Tabatha joined the Mercy College family in July 2010 as an Academic Counselor for the Pathways Program. Prior to her transition to the College, she has worked overseas as an ESL teacher since 2005. She holds a BA in International Studies and Christian Ministries from Taylor University and a MA in Curriculum and ESL Education from the University of Phoenix. Tabatha lives in Des Moines with Shayla, her Bichon and “Man of the House,” and her beta fish. She spends her spare time exercising, exploring Des Moines, and hanging out with her Little Sister (Big Brothers Big Sisters).

college highlights

Leah BakerLibrary Assistant

Leah joined Mercy College in August 2010 as a Library Assistant. Prior to her transition to the College library, she worked for the Des Moines Public Library as a clerk at the South Side Branch and as a page in Technical Services for the Central Branch. She is in the process of obtaining her BSN and wants to pursue a career in oncology. Her long-term goals are to achieve her MSN and teach at a local college or university. She lives in Pleasant Hill and is getting married this coming summer. She enjoys spending time with family, participating in church activities, and exercising.

Tiffiny DlouhyDepartment Secretary

Tiffiny joined Mercy College in September 2010 as the Department Secretary for Admissions, Marketing and Student Services. Prior to her transition to the College, she worked at Nationwide Advantage Mortgage for two years. Tiffiny has an AAS from DMACC. She lives in Ankeny with her husband Cameron and their son Tryce; she enjoys going to ISU football games/tailgating and spending time with friends and family.

Linda KnowlesPathways Secretary

Linda joined Mercy College in February 2010 as a temporary secretary supporting the academic deans of the College. She quickly transitioned to a full-time position in June 2010 as Secretary for the Pathways Program. Prior to her transition to the College, she worked at The Des Moines Register as the Executive Assistant to the Director of Retail Advertising. Linda has 14 plus years experience in support roles. Linda lives in West Des Moines with her husband Marty. She has three children; two sons and a daughter. She enjoys spending time with family, traveling, reading and going to movies.

New Faces on CampusCollege Staff

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college highlights

FacultyDawn BowkerAssistant Professor, Nursing and Pathways Transcultural Clinician

Dawn joined Mercy College in July 2010 as an Assistant Professor in Nursing and as the Transcultural Clinician for the Pathways program. She relocated to Des Moines from St Paul, Minnesota in July 2010. Dawn has been an ARNP since 1987 and has been in private practice and employed at multiple com-munity health sites during that tenure. Dawn also holds a master’s degree in Transcultural nursing from Augsburg College. Dawn and her husband Wayne have three daughters; Lauren, Lisa and Grace. They enjoy traveling, reading and spending time with family.

Mary CoughenourClass of 2004Nursing Instructor

Mary is a nursing clinical instructor for all levels of the nursing program. She has been an adjunct for the last three years and came on board this fall full time. Mary continues to work PRN at Mercy Medical Center. After receiving her ASN degree, she went back to school and completed her BSN degree at Mercy College. She lives out in the country with her husband and 2 boys. Her family enjoys camping, horseback riding and playing sports.

Tracy PorterAcademic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Physical Therapist Assistant

Tracy accepted the ACCE posi-tion with the PTA program in October 2010. She had been an adjunct instructor prior to becoming full-time faculty. She received her Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree from Des Moines University in 1997 and is pursuing her DPT degree through Washington University in St. Louis. She has practiced as senior PT and clinic director with 21st Century Rehab for over 10 years. Tracy lives in Ames with her husband Todd and two active sons ages 8 and 9. Tracy enjoys exercise, being involved in her sons’ activities, leading a Cub Scout den, and working with the international ministry at Memorial Lutheran Church.

Erin QuigleyStudent Services Associate

Erin Quigley joined Mercy College in March 2010 as a Student Services Associate. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Software Engineering through the University of Advancing Technology.

Marci CordaroAssistant Professor and Clinical Coordinator, Emergency Medical Services

Marci joined Mercy College in June 2010 as Clinical Coordina-tor and Assistant Professor in the EMS Program. Prior to joining Mercy, Marci taught in the Health Careers program at Central Campus in Des Moines. Marci has her BSN and MSN from the University of Iowa. She lives in Johnston with her husband Kelly, son Sam, daughter Sophie and 2 dogs. Marci enjoys camping and being outdoors with her family, running and knitting.

Karla HallAssistant Professor, Nursing

Karla joined the faculty of Mercy College in September 2010 as an Assistant Profes-sor in the nursing division. Before joining the College, Karla worked as an adjunct clinical instructor for the Des Moines Area Com-munity College while also working on the Cardiac Telemetry and the Renal/Med Surg units at Iowa Methodist. Karla received her BSN from Emory University and her MSN from Nebraska Methodist College. Karla lives in Des Moines with her husband and two of their children and she keeps tabs on the three children now in college.

Doug OwenEnvironmental Services Staff

Doug joined Mercy College in March 2010 as part of Environmental Services. Prior to his transition to the College, he went through 5 year ap-prenticeship training through Plumbers & Steamfitters Local #33 training center in Des Moines. He has been a licensed plumber since 1978, later earning a license as a Medical Gas installer and Brazer certified, as well as Backflow installation and Tester license. Doug is married with 3 children living in Ankeny, including a daughter who went to University of Iowa, one son going there currently, and a third son planning to go there. GO HAWKEYES!

Joshua BradyAssociate Instructor, Emergency Medical Services

Joshua joined Mercy College in June 2010 as an Instructor in the Emergency Medical Sciences Program. Prior to his transition to the College, he was a medic in the US Army deployed to relief efforts at Hurricane Katrina, and Iraq. Joshua is currently taking courses toward a Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences at Mercy College. Joshua lives in Des Moines with his wife Sabine and their two cats, where they enjoy watching movies and trying out new restaurants.

Laura HackfortNurse Aid Instructor

Laura joined Mercy College in June 2010 as Adjunct instruc-tor in the Nursing Assistant program. In August 2010 she became the part-time Nurse Aid Educator. Prior to her transition to the College she worked 10 years at On With Life in Ankeny and currently still works PRN. Laura has her RN degree from DMACC, is a certified brain injury specialist, and a CPR instructor. Laura lives in Ankeny with her husband and two children; Kyler 5 years old and Madyson 3 years old. Laura enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

6 | VitalSigns

MilestonesYears of Service with Mercy

college highlights

Five Years Carolyn Bucklin Registrar

Glenda Clark Adjunct Faculty

Donna DaVilla Adjunct Faculty

Marti Doyle Associate Professor

Kimberly Garrett Library Clerk

Sue Hurd Adjunct Faculty

Tom Iverson Systems Technology Supervisor

Brenda Long Short-term Certificate Programs Coordinator

Melissa Miller Graphic Designer

Clare Polking Adjunct Faculty

Cheri Ranfeld CPR and First Aid Instructor

Tara Sheets Adjunct Faculty

Amanda Simonson Adjunct Faculty

David Steenhoek Facilities Manager

Seeta Mangra-Stubbs Adjunct Faculty

Jim Tagye Marketing Manager

Coral Wagner Adjunct Faculty

Kim Wetzel Secretary

Ten Years Joni Cowden Student Health Nurse

Carl Johnson Adjunct Faculty

Maggie Moore Admissions Associate

Luke Mortensen Adjunct Faculty

Mark Norris Admissions/ Marketing Representative

Rose Woody Adjunct Faculty

Fifteen Years Jeff Brock Adjunct Faculty

Mary Beth Olander Student Health Nurse

Twenty Years Julianne Yost Adjunct Faculty

Twenty-Five Years

Theresa Smith Class of 1987 and 2003 Dean of Allied Health

Forty Years

Joann Olson Class of 1968 Adjunct Faculty

Faculty Promotions Truc Nguyen, PhD Assistant Professor to Associate Professor

Staff Title Changes Brenda Long, RN, MSNurse Aid Coordinator to Short-term Certificate Programs Coordinator

Missy Spring Data Entry Clerk to Admissions Associate

Educational MilestonesMichael E. Allsopp, PhD

Professor, Liberal Arts and Sciences

- Published two (2) 1500-word essay-reviews in the National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly.

- Presented a paper on “Third Wave Critical Thinking: Learning, Research Concerns” at the annual meeting of the Humanities Education and Research Association in El Paso, TX on March 11-13, 2010.

- Received a research award from the Humanities Educa-tion and Research Association in El Paso, TX on March 11-13, 2010.

Robert J. Loch, MBA, CNMTChair, Nuclear Medicine Technology and Assistant Professor

- Awarded $5,000 scholarship from the Society of Nuclear Medicine to aid in completing a doctoral degree.

Joe Moravec, DMinProfessor, Liberal Arts and Sciences

- Presenter/panelist for the University of Louisville’s I2a Inaugural Institute on Developing Critical Thinkers in Louis-ville, KY (May 27-29, 2009).

- Lecturer/presenter for the South Central District of Radio-logic Technologists Conference on “Religious Competency for Health Care” (July 18, 2009 and again on April 16, 2010).

Janet Roberts-Andersen, EdD, MT(ASCP)Chair and Associate Professor, Medical Assisting

- Presented doctoral research on “Physician Office Health Coaches” to the Evidence-Based Practice Seminar in June 2009 and at the 5th Annual Research Conference on Qualitative Research on April 19, 2010.

- Textbook Reviewer for a clinical procedures text, adminis-trative procedures text, and a human disease textbook.

Julie M. Weldon, RN, MSNAdjunct Faculty

- Named one of the 100 Greatest Nurses in Iowa for 2010.

Accreditation Updates The accrediting processes are spearheaded by Dr. Joan McCleish, Dean of Institutional Research, Assessment and Distance Education, Amanda Brezina, Assessment Coordinator, and each respective academic program chair within the College. The following updates reflect accomplishments, reports in progress, as well as those soon to be submitted to their respective accrediting body.

• The Physical Therapist Assistant program accreditation site visit occurred in January 2010 during a busy first week of Spring classes. The program received confir-mation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that they received 5 years accreditation, which was the maximum possible.

• The Radiologic Techonolgy program received confirma-tion of an extension of accredi-tation for 8 out of 8 possible years after their March 2009 site visit.

• Both the Associate and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs received confirmation that they received a full 6-year approval from the Iowa Board of Nursing follow-ing a site visit in March 2010.

• The Nuclear Medicine Technology program site visit was held in July 2010 and has been granted three years continued accreditation.

• The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program site visit took place in October 2010 and is awaiting a final report.

• The Emergency Medical Services program site visit took place in November 2010 and is awaiting a final report.

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college highlights

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Former College Board Member and Chair Former Mercy College of Health Sciences Board Chair, Rod Ausich, died Friday, June 25, 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer. Ausich is survived by his wife, Becki, and his two children, Brandyn and Evan.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Rod Ausich. His unique insight and unwavering commitment to education was apparent in his tenure on the Mercy College Board of Directors,” said Barbara Decker, Mercy College President.

As Des Moines based Kemin Health’s president and FloraGLO® Lutein inventor, Ausich is credited with realizing lutein’s benefits for eye health in combating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and pioneering a new methodology for the development of purified lutein still used at Kemin today. “Rod was a true pioneer in the fight against blindness caused by AMD. As founding father of Kemin Health, millions of people have benefited from his work and his legacy will be remembered by many,” said Chris Nelson, Ph.D., Kemin Industries President and CEO.

Rodney L. Ausich, Ph.D.

New Vision, Mission and Values

Our VisionTo be a national leader for excellence

in the delivery and innovation of

health sciences education.

Our MissionMercy College of Health Sciences

prepares graduates for service and

leadership in the healthcare

community by integrating its core

values with a professional and liberal

arts and sciences education.

Our ValuesMercy College of Health Sciences

is a Catholic institution of higher

education, rooted in the heritage of

the Sisters of Mercy, guided by our

core values of knowledge, reverence,

integrity, compassion and excellence.

A team of 17 members, representing the student body, staff, faculty, adminis-trators and board members have established the framework of what will ultimately culminate into the College’s strategic plan for the next four years.

One outcome of the committee’s work is the review of the existing vision and mission of the College. Adjustments were made to these statements to allow the core values to stand on their own and the addition of “rooted in the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy” to the values statement. More details around the developing strategic plan will be communicated in the next issue of VitalSigns.

Committee Members

2011-14 Strategic Planning Committee

Sr. Jude Fitzpatrick, CHMCo-Chair, Board of Directors

Shirley Beaver, RN, PhD, NEA-BCCo-Chair, Dean of Nursing

Willard Boyd III, JDBoard of Directors

Barbara Decker, JDCollege President

Sharon Phillips, RNBoard of Directors

Patricia Shoff, JDBoard of Directors

Robyn Wilkinson Board of Directors

Deb Willyard, RNClass of ‘79 & 98, Board of Directors

Michael Allsopp, PhDLiberal Arts and Sciences Faculty

Tom Leahy, JD

Director of Business Operations

Bob Loch, MBA, CNMTAllied Health Faculty

Joan McCleish, RN, PhDDean of Institutional Research, Assessment and Distance Education

Elizabeth Ritt, RN, EdDVice President of Academic Affairs/Provost

Wendy Rivas Student Senate

Mary Schemmel, RN, MSNNursing Faculty

Brian Tingleff Vice President of Admissions and Advancement

Carole Adams Administrative Assistant to the President

In Memory

8 | VitalSigns

Vatican Officials

VisitCampus

With 234 Catholic colleges in the

United States, only one entertained

Vatican officials on a recent U.S. visit:

Mercy College of Health Sciences in

Des Moines. The purpose of the visit:

for Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski and

Monsignor Charles Namugera, both

members of the Pontifical Council for

Health Care Workers, was to see a

health sciences college that combines

the best in scientific and technological

advances within a framework of

Catholic values and tradition.

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From Poland, Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski was ordained a bishop by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. Zimowski led the Diocese of Radom, Poland until 2009 when he was named President of the Pontifical Council on the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers by Pope Benedict XVI. Zimowski was raised to the dignity of Archbishop at the same time.

10 | VitalSigns

“What’s so impressive is that someone from the Vatican had the interest to come to a Catholic college this small and this new. We only have 792 students and we’re only 15 years old,” says Brian Tingleff, Vice President of Admissions & Advancement for Mercy College. “Archbishop Zimowski is the pope’s expert on health care worldwide, and he came to our doorstep.” Zimowski and Namugera visited Des Moines as the special guests of Bishop Richard Pates, who had described the Des Moines diocese’ Mercy College to the Archbishop while meeting with him in Rome. Since the Vatican team already planned to visit Omaha for the 25th Anniversary of the Pope Paul VI Institute, they decided to combine a two-day trip to Des Moines into their travel plans. One day would be spent touring Mercy Medical Center and the other day at Mercy College.

Vatican Visit Validates Mercy College as a Catholic Educational Institution Three moments stand out in Brian Tingleff’s mind regarding the Vatican visit and what it meant to Mercy College and its staff, students, and supporters. Archbishop Zimowski and Monsignor Namugera began their tour of Mercy College in Sullivan Center lobby because of glass signage proclaiming Mercy’s core values: knowledge, reverence, integrity, compassion, and excellence. “While we were chatting, the Archbishop pulled out a pad of paper and wrote down the core values,” Tingleff recalls. “He referred to them with every group he met. Clearly our core values reso-nated with him, a good indicator that we’re on the right path as a Catholic institution.” The Vatican team’s visit coincided with a professional programming day for new nursing students who were waiting

to hear details for their upcoming clinical rotations and classes. Zimowski talked to them about his vision for the role of health care workers. “He impressed upon them the importance of what they were doing and the impact they were going to have on people’s lives,” Tingleff says. “He said, ‘Health care is about ministry; it’s about touch.’ That’s a very important statement for us at Mercy College.” Zimowski earlier shared a key concept about understanding and accepting suffering with faculty and staff. He made the point that health care workers have to deal with patients holis-tically in order to foster healing: not just the physical, but the mental, and spiritual aspects as well, Tingleff recalls. ‘Health care workers are not usually about accepting defeat,’ the Archbishop said. ‘Some people are just going to suffer; it’s part of being human. You may not be able to cure cancer, but you can deal with a patient’s spiritual issues. And as we become more diverse, we have to deal with spirituality with a lot of different faiths and cultures.’” This message really resonated with Mercy staff, Tingleff says. “Even or non-Catholic employees came away from the visit understanding and appreciating we are all on the same path with The Vatican.”

Archbishop Blesses Pathways to Health Care Careers Program Since refugees comprise a significant portion of The Vatican’s health care concerns, it was a timely connection to meet the Archbishop just as Mercy was launching the Pathways to Health Care Careers – Iowa Program, Tingleff says. The program grew from health care employers’ concerns that they needed to do a better job of serving minorities by providing caregivers from their cultural or racial demographic. Funded by a $3.4 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of

The Day's Events: September 1, 2010

The Archbishop enjoys visiting with members of the College Cabinet, Provost’s Council, and Board of Directors.

The Archbishop and Monsignor Namugera meet with faculty and staff.

Greetings from Rome to Nursing Students Participating in Professional Program Day Event - “A Vision of the Role of the Health Care Worker”.

Archbishop Zimowski, Monsignor Namugera and Bishop Pates toured the College Campus with the President Decker and Brian Tingleff.

10 | VitalSigns

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Jesus Christ with the Children of the World Relief was blessed by His Excellency Monsignor Zygmunt Zimowski of the Vatican, President of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers in prayerful support of the staff and students embarking on the Pathways to Health Care Careers - Iowa Program.

Liturgy concelebrated with Bishop Pates and Deacon Dave O’Brien.

President Decker received a farewell gift from the Archbishop.

Archbishop meets Bill Knowles, past Mercy College Board Chair during the luncheon.

Archbishop meets with students enrolled in the Pathways Program.

12 | VitalSigns

Bishop Richard Pates on the Theology of SufferingWhy is it important to understand and accept suffering? Because suffering is part of the human condition. No matter how hard we try, we cannot eliminate it. So we need to understand the total picture of suffering as it relates to Christ, who suffered and died that we might someday experience redemption.

It is vital for health care workers in Catholic hospitals to understand the total picture of suffering, death, and resurrection. That way, they can provide hope to patients through their generous ministry and service – whether or not those patients are believers.

Mother Teresa is a good model for us to follow. She worked with the sick and the poor, many of whom were not Christians. She understood they were children of God and deserving of love, even if it could not be expressed in the individual’s own language. That expres-sion of universal love consoles patients who are suffering. And that is how God works through us.

At Mercy College, the curriculum for nurses and other health-related career fields raises understanding of the whole human person to the top of students’ consciousness. The result is health care workers who are able to help patients heal physically as well as bring them a sense of hope and spirituality. This is the benefit of a Catholic education in the health sciences.

Labor, the program brings together three collaborative partners: Iowa Workforce Development, Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services, and Mercy College of Health Sciences (see sidebar). “In Catholic health care we’re all about making sure that we do things that are respectful of all patients’ traditions and beliefs,” Tingleff says. “That philosophy can truly have an impact on outcomes and health care costs. If we can get people to

medical homes faster [because they feel more comfortable with health care workers from a similar background], we believe they won’t be as likely to delay treatment nor have as many emergency room visits.” Tingleff says they asked Archbishop Zimowski to bless a piece of religious art to reflect the Vatican’s support of the Pathways program. That artwork, a bas relief plaque from Italy titled “Jesus Christ with the Children of the World,” now hangs in the Sullivan Center lobby. After the blessing, the Archbishop met with three refugee students - one of whom was born in Bhutan but spent 17 years in a refugee camp in Nepal. “He said it shaped his life because he watched people die in that refugee camp,” Tingleff recalls. “When he heard about the Pathways opportunity he knew he wanted to make a dif-ference in people’s health.” Two Cambodian refugees shared similar experiences in refugee camps in Thailand. “It was clear that both Archbishop Zimowski and Msgr. Namugera appreciated the sacrifices of the three Pathway’s students,” Tingleff says. “This is due to their own experiences with being strangers in a foreign land. They both have spent considerable time away from their home countries while serving in Vatican posts.”

Mercy Medical Center – Des MoinesDuring his time at Mercy, the archbishop prayed with the sick, blessed care providers and offered a special Mass for the intention of Mercy’s patients and staff in the East Tower Auditorium at Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines.

Left Photo: Deborah A. Willyard, RN, Class of ‘79 & ‘98, College Board Secretary gives a tour of the Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines during his visit to Central Campus on August 31, 2010.

“‘Health care workers are not usually about accepting

defeat,’ the Archbishop said. ‘Some people are just going

to suffer; it’s part of being human. You may not be able

to cure cancer, but you can deal with a patient’s spiritual

issues. And as we become more diverse, we have to deal

with spirituality with a lot of different faiths and cultures.’”

12 | VitalSigns

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Iowa’s refugees and immigrants will both provide – and receive -- more effective health care in the future due to an innovative partnership between Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services, and Mercy College of Health Sciences. Known as Pathways to Health Care Careers - Iowa, the program opens a high-potential career path to the state’s newest Iowans by assisting them in overcoming language and culture barriers. That’s because the program provides course content modified in pace and teaching style to meet the needs of these students. The resulting bilingual health care professionals will be prepared for seven career fields: medical billing and coding, emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B), nursing assistant, medication aide, medical assistant, paramedic, and surgical technologist. “We’re talking about moving refugees and immigrants into the workforce to reflect the diversity of the state,” says Brian Tingleff, Vice President of Admissions and Advance-ment for Mercy College. “The end result will be that we can do a better job of serving minorities by making it possible for them to be treated by people from their own cultural or racial demographic.” Mercy Admissions Counselor Jenny Metzger stands on the front line of the Pathways effort, working to admit students for the programs. “As a staff member you have to be patient and culturally aware, and take the students on a step-by-step process.” Potential students learn about the program from the Iowa Bureau of Refugee Services and IWD. If interested, they register with IWD and take screening tests in math and English to qualify for the program. About 244 candidates tested in June and November, Metzger says. Nearly 125 came back to attend informational sessions where they met with program chairs, watched videos, and toured labs. Ultimately, Metzger helped more than 104 students apply for different programs.

Ten students were admitted in the first nursing assistant class (which began September 27). Other programs are scheduled to begin in 2011. Metzger says the program goal this spring is to admit 10 students each into the nursing assistant, EMT-B, and medical billing and coding programs; 12 into the medical assistant program and 15 into the paramedic program. Several classes will be offered multiple times over the duration of the grant to allow more refugees and immigrants to enter a health-care career path. The nurse’s assistant program, for example, will be offered 10 times. All applicants take a 20-hour class in English as a Sec-ond Language (ESL), which includes textbook orientation, study skills building, and other introductory subjects. “We know the ESL students are motivated because they get here 10 minutes early for class,” Metzger says. “You can tell they want to be here to improve their quality of life.” Metzger recently observed ESL students forming a circle in the parking lot after taking a required math test. “They were waiting for one another to finish the test and report how well they thought they did,” Metzger recalls. “That told me how significant the ESL class is in terms of fostering camaraderie.” Overall, the program seems to be attracting an even mix of men and women from ages 18 to 50, Metzger says. They represent 15 countries: Bhutan, Bosnia, Burma, Burun-di, Canada, Eritrea, Iraq, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Lione, Somali, Sudan, and Thailand and a variety of professions left behind in the quest for a new life – ranging from teaching to engineering. “I can’t wait until the nursing assistant students gradu-ate in January,” Metzger says. “It’s going to feel so good. My hope is that these students also go on to get nursing de-grees. That way the nursing field will become more diverse and able to serve a more diverse population.”

Pathways Program Promotes a More Diverse Future for Health Care

Pictured left to right: Jenny Metzger, Kathy Balmer, Ines Pecuvcic-Jasarovic, Bishop Pates, Tabatha Lamb, Asgdish Fellake, Theresa Smith, President Decker (holding bas relief), Loren Bawn, Archbishop Zimowski, Dawn Bowker, Mone Aye, Brian Tingleff, Hei Thaw, Brenda Long, Gopal Khadka, Monsignor Namugera and Venus Vendoures Walsh.

14 | VitalSigns

When you look at Dr. Elizabeth Ritt’s resume, it’s easy

to be impressed by her degrees, her leadership

experience, her scholarship, her awards, and her

professional affiliations. But when it comes down to basics,

Dr. Ritt is all about the patient – and teaching students how to

be the best possible health care professionals possible.

Dr. Elizabeth Ritt meets Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski during her first month at the College.

IntroducingDr. Elizabeth Ritt

Provost of Mercy College

www.mchs.edu | 15

“When you work in health care, whether it is as a nurse, an emer-gency technician, or in laboratory science, you’re going to be encoun-tering patients when they’re at their most vulnerable,” Ritt says. “To be present with patients at this time is really a privilege. So when we prepare students, we prepare them for a life in which they serve others. It’s not a job; it’s a calling.”

This philosophy, coupled with Ritt’s extensive background in higher edu-cation, makes her a perfect match for Mercy College of Health Sciences. “I resonate with the mission, vision, and values of this College,” she says. “There’s a strong focus on academic rigor, community, and service projects. I’m happy to see that students are very well prepared academically and from a practitioner standpoint.”

All of Ritt’s efforts will support Mercy College’s mission of preparing health care students for careers in which they’re guided by the College’s core values: knowledge, reverence, integrity, compassion and excellence. “There is a strong focus here on critical thinking, communication, and lifelong learning, she says. “These skills, coupled with the rigorous health care curricula and practical experience, prepare students to be leaders in their respective fields. I’m proud to become part of this strong tradition.”

Dr. Ritt comes to Mercy College from North Park University’s School of Adult Learning in Chicago, where she served as dean. She holds an Ed.D, specializing in Leadership and Educational Policy Studies from Northern Illinois University. She received a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), specializing in Adult Health Nursing/Education, from Loyola University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from North Park University. Dr. Ritt is frequently sought out by national and international organiza-tions for her expertise on adult learning, assessment, and accreditation.

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Ritt, who started in August, identifies four major areas she’ll focus on as Provost.

Promoting the mission, vision, and core values of the College. “My responsibility is to embody and role model the Catholic identity of the College,” she says. “This means managing multiple operational priorities and strategies while not losing sight of the institutional vision.”

Maintaining and creating a passion for higher learning in the health sciences. “I’ll focus on consensus-based decision-making that reflects a com-mitment to quality,” she says. “I want to foster open com-munication with the deans, faculty, senate members, staff, president, and the broader com-munity in an effort to advance a healthy student-centered learning environment.”

Serving as a careful steward of resources (human, technical, financial, instructional, and physical). “It’s imperative to encourage and facilitate scholarship, interdisciplinary work and research, and professional attainment,” Ritt says. To do so, she’ll oversee faculty and staff development, examine instructional design and delivery, and thoughtfully allocate existing resources, while exploring new sources of revenue.

Strengthening existing rela-tionships as well as explor-ing new opportunities and partnerships. “Exploring the appropriate balance of external relations is key,” Ritt says. “My goal is to make sure such relationships are reciprocal and mutually beneficial.”

“The impact Dr. Ritt has made on the College in the short time she has been in her role, reaffirms that great things are in store for Mercy College.”

Mercy College President Barbara Quijano Decker

16 | VitalSigns

When you ask Dean Joan McCleish, RN, Ph.D., Class of 1980, about why she won the McAuley Award

for Nursing Excellence, she deflects the discussion to her colleagues at Mercy College. “Everything I do is done with other people,” she says. “When something great is accomplished, it’s not me, it’s we.”

Maybe Dr. McCleish’s focus on “we” is because she’s been part of the Mercy family for 33 years. Or maybe it began when she was a child, growing up with 16 siblings on a farm in Rockwell City, Iowa. Or it could be due to a childhood role models, cousin Pat Oleson, and sister Monica Rotert, also nurses, who inspired McCleish to enter the nursing profession. “Pat truly started her own legacy of Mercy nurses who graduated from Mercy,” Mc-Cleish says. Today, Oleson still works at Mercy Medical Center on the Mother/Baby unit – and six family members in addition to McCleish proudly work as nurses who have graduated from Mercy.

“We studied together, lived together, worked together, and played together,” McCleish recalls about her student career at Mercy. “In fact, two of my sisters-in-law [nurses Janet Wuebker and Linda Wuebker] met my brothers when I took my peers to the family farm for a visit.”

After graduating with her R.N. degree in 1980, McCleish spent 10 years as a bedside nurse taking care of patients. She recalls a patient for whom she spent an entire shift moving his injured leg a fraction of an inch at a time to make him more comfortable. When McCleish said she was leaving for the day, he said, “You know…I can tell you care by the look in your eyes.”

It was her love of patient care that inspired McCleish to design an orientation program for Mercy nurses in 1988. The weeklong program helped nurses who were new to Mercy understand how their roles were interrelated with the hospital’s other health

care professionals as part of the overall health care experience. That program continues today.

McCleish also nurtured her love of education, earning her BSN and MSN from Drake University and her Ph.D. in Education from Iowa State University. “I used every course I took,” she says. “I knew I could bring it back to my work and apply what I learned in some way.”

Her pursuit of knowledge and dedication to patient care did not go unnoticed. In 1990 McCleish was a patient at Mercy Medical Center, having just given birth to her second child. Dr. De Remer, then president of Mercy College, stopped to visit the mother of two. “Dr. Remer asked if I had ever thought about education and working for Mercy College,” McCleish recalls. “That was exactly when I made a decision to do it.”

Dean Joan McCleish

“I have known Joan McCleish since she was a student at Mercy and I was one of her instructors. She has consistently represented the best of Mercy’s ideals and has been an excellent role model for young people working toward their personal and professional goals.”

Dr. Katherine Aller Retired nursing instructor, Mercy School of Nursing,

Des Moines, Iowa

(who nominated Dr. McCleish for the McAuley Award)

“I worked with Joan McCleish for 17 years and hold her in the highest esteem. She is a great leader in our faculty, a critical thinker who sees the big picture and the opportuni-ties. She’s willing to take the risk of trying something new. She’s a professional who always works to the point of excellence. Joan also brings others along, willing to share her help and expertise and to recognize and celebrate their successes.”

Connie Clark, RN, Ph.D, Professor of Nursing, Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota and former Mercy

College Nursing Faculty Member 16 | VitalSigns

Honored with 2010 Catherine McAuley Award for Nursing Excellence

www.mchs.edu | 17

Have someone special in mind to nominate for 2011?

Deadline for submission of nominations for the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Awards is May 2, 2011. Nomination forms can be found online at mchs.edu/award.

She started teaching in Mercy’s R.N. program and initiated a nursing arts lab to teach students important skills before they entered a clinical setting. In 1995 she be-gan teaching in the BSN program, where she saw a need for distance learning to help students who were trying to bal-ance school, jobs, and families. McCleish began integrating online courses into the program and students responded enthusi-astically. As of fall 2010, all BSN courses are offered online.

McCleish became Mercy’s Dean of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Distance Education in 2007 -- a long title with a simple explanation. “I oversee how effective we are at doing what we say we’re doing,” she says. “I use evidence to support what we do and the changes we need to make at the college.”

Her passion for evidence-based practice and research stands out as one of her contribution to nursing, McCleish says. A long list of published articles and profes-sional affiliations support that theory. Her latest research project (done in collabora-tion with colleagues on Mercy’s volunteer research committee) is about compassion – one of Mercy’s core values. “As a commit-tee we’ve been able to mentor each other in the research process, write an article, do a poster presentation at an international conference, and many other research activities. That’s one of the really rewarding parts of what I do.”

When all is said and done, McCleish judges her success – and Mercy College’s success – by the quality of students they graduate. “When I hear about students’ successes, at the bedside, at clinics, in home care, wherever it occurs,.. that’s when we know we’ve been successful,” she says. “I’m constantly writing references for students who want to advance their education. I know we’ve been successful when that happens.”

Dr. McCleish lives in Urbandale, Iowa with her husband Dale who is a partner in a CPA firm in Urbandale. She has two grown sons. Stephen, who just graduated from Creighton, works in accounting at his father’s firm. Ryan is a third-year engi-neering student at Iowa State University. They all root for both the Cyclones and Hawks sports on game days and agree to split allegiance to the teams when they play each other (Ryan and Mom for ISU, Stephen and Dad for the University of Iowa).

“Nurses nurturing nurses best describes the learning partnership between Joan McCleish and me. That partnership focused on integrating practice, education, and research with a watchful vision and sensitivity for emergent opportunities with Mercy College of Health Sciences and the Mercy Medical Center. Today Joan is a faith-based, servant leader who is strategic, diligent, and generous. She is a person of integrity with an incredible sense of gratitude. Mission with a sense of urgency drives her to think about possibilities, new programs, and initiatives, including the underserved. As a nurse educator, researcher and academic leader, she is making a difference in the lives of students, multidisciplinary colleagues and in shaping nursing’s future.”

Sr. Maurita Soukup, RSM, RN, Ph.D,

Health Trustee, Nursing Practice Consultant/Researcher-Critical Care,

Cedar Rapids, Iowa and former Mercy Medical Center — Des Moines

Administrator

Distinguished Alumni Program Past Recipients

2009Rosemary (Anderson) Holland, RN, BA, ‘56

Mary Carol (Clark) Cryer, RN, ‘64

Debra (Schiefelbein) Shriver, RN, MSN, ‘79

2008 Kathy (Pottebaum) Olmstead, RN, BSN, OCN, ‘81 & ‘03

Helen Roberts, PhD, Friend of Mercy College

Ann Valdez, RN, BSN, ‘82

2007Kathy (Dinsmore) Comito, RN, BA, MHA, ‘64

Sr. Mary Rocca, CHM, RN, BA, ‘75

2006 Barbara (Kent) Allen, RN, BSN, NCSN, ‘69

Lynne (Trafford) Kinseth, ARNP, MSN,AOCN, ‘83

Elizabeth (Betty) Hammes, RN, BS, ‘51

Joann (Nizzi) Olson, ARNP, CPNP, CNE, ‘68

2005Sandra (Detrick) Caligiuri, RN MS, ‘63

Joan (Crawford) McMartin, RN, ‘61

Joanne (Forret) Sassatelli, RN, ‘51

2004Linda (Hitchcock) Carey, RN, CHPN, ‘66

JoAnn (Galezzi) Humphreys, RN, EdD, ‘68

Patricia (Wright) Jablonski, RN, COHN, ‘64

Anne (Lane) Roush, RN, BSN, MSW, ‘51

2003Katherine (Kleber) Aller, RN, EdD, ’70

Judy (Stevenson) Frizzell, RN, ‘77

Jean (Kirschbaum) King, RN, MSN, ‘65

Suzanne Mains, RN, MS, ‘64

2002Joan Beard, RN, BSN, ‘81

Louise Brady, RN, ‘43

Barbara (Holland) Paul, RN, ‘51

Leona Sweeney, RN, Friend of Mercy College

2001Jill (Harry) Coghlan, RN, ‘76

Joyce Hutchison Carpenter, RN, ‘61

Inie Johnson, RN, ‘54

Mildred (Farr) Walker, RN, ‘34

2000Mary Ann (Waterhouse) Adams, RN, ‘75

Ronald F. Caulk, CRNA, ‘59

Marilyn Russell, RN, ‘52

1999Gladys (Bowery) Black, RN, ‘30

Rose Marie (Vecchi) Cunion, RN, ‘66

Sr. Mary Zita Brennan, RSM, RNFriend of Mercy College

Sr. Mary Sebastian Geneser, RSM, RNFriend of Mercy College

18 | VitalSigns

October 9, 2010Alumni Reunion Celebration and Annual Meeting Hoyt Sherman Place Ballroom

Alumni Reunion Weekend Open House Mercy College of Health Sciences and Mercy Medical Center — West Lakes

18 | VitalSigns

On October 9, 2010 nearly 90 alumni and friends gathered to celebrate their Mercy School of Nursing education, first in the morning with a tour of the College and Mercy Medical Center’s newest facility located in West Des Moines, and later in the evening at the historic Hoyt Sherman Place. Hoyt Sherman was the site of the first hospital when the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Des Moines in 1893. Clockwise from top: Members of the Nursing Class of 1960 gather on the front steps of Hoyt Sherman for a group picture. Mercy – West Lakes administrator Sheryl Barnes discusses features of Mercy’s state-of-the-art hospital that opened in fall 2009 in four photographs down the page. Dr. Joan McCleish accepts the Catherine McAuley Award. (lower left corner).

www.mchs.edu | 19

Above Assistant Professor Dawn Bowker’s desk is a small plaque that reads: “One person can indeed make a profound difference.” Bowker, who heads Mercy College’s Community Health program, believes this

fervently. And she believes her BSN students will learn to share this attitude after taking her class. “My hope is that they will end up with a greater vision for those who are underserved,” Bowker says. “I want them to recognize the need and their ability to impact change in the community – because they can.” Every BSN student is required to take the semester-long class in community health nursing, which refers to the nurse’s role outside of bedside nursing in a hospital. “Community health goes beyond the physical environment,” Bowker says. “You need to view all aspects of the client: spiritual, psycho-logical, and physical.” Students utilize this holistic approach to nursing with the aggregate population to which they’re

assigned for their five-hours-a-week practicum – such as homeless outreach, home health nursing, school nursing, and the county health department. Through a partnership with Des Moines University (DMU), the students also provide health care to the homeless population via DMU’s Mobile Clinic.Homeless outreach is a particular passion point for Bowker, who is a nurse practitioner with a master’s degree in trans-cultural nursing and community. “Many people believe it’s a choice to be homeless,” she says. “Often it’s not a choice. People believe that anyone who is homeless is alcoholic, has a mental illness, or is uneducated. Yes, those things can be true, but it is not true for everyone.” Because Bowker wants to foster an increased awareness of Des Moines’ homeless population, her students visit the homeless camps by the river and work with families and indi-viduals there. This action challenges students’ social comfort zones, Bowker says, leading to a wider vision of people whose

Community Health Project Teaches BSN Students to Make a Difference

program highlights

Teri Schuman conquered homelessness in 2010 with the assistance of Joppa Outreach after living on the streets of Des Moines for 9 months. Through her poems, Teri gives back to the community by raising awareness of homelessness and the struggles that unsheltered persons face. Mercy College BSN students, Brianna Rumbaugh and Brandi Harned worked with Joppa After-care fall semester and have gained insight and appreciation for homelessness and the impact they can make through individual efforts and through forming relationships with people like Teri. The poem below was provided by Teri.

Here I set feeling like my life is spent

Wishing for a job so again I can pay rent

No family or friends that care

It isn’t fair!

Nowhere to go and no money to spend, sometimes wishing my life would end

Where do I go? What do I do? I have no clue!

I just stay depressed and feeling blue

Day after day crying myself to sleep wondering, will I ever get back on my feet?

Too much pride to ask for money

Things are not looking very sunny

I had a dream for my future, before

Now I feel like I’m up a creek without an oar

Homelessness - By Teri Schuman

www.mchs.edu | 19

20 | VitalSigns

lives are far different than their own. The students learn to see beyond the stereotypes of homeless and recognize them as individuals with potential. “You establish relationships, recognize their health needs, and validate them by listening to their stories,” she says. “You provide accompaniment. This means that you accept them where they’re at, offering respect, compassion, dignity, social justice, and acceptance.”

Working with outreach organizations such as Joppa Outreach and Hope Builders, the students also help relocate and support people who are unsheltered. The organizations take donations for home furnishings, blankets, clothing, tents, and propane. “Our role is one of advocacy, bringing awareness about homelessness, and providing nursing care,” Bowker says. The class will eventually create a photo journal that will foster reflection on the change, growth, and amazing experi-ences of both the students and the persons they work with. “We hope to share our photo journal in the future to bring

awareness to others about homelessness,” Bowker says. Students also talk to the homeless about their social issues, such as being forced to leave their shelter because it’s on city-owned property, Bowker says. “Last Wednesday we talked with a woman who was told her electricity was being discontinued and she would have to leave her hooch [shelter]. She was losing everything she had. Society doesn’t view her

possessions as valuable, but to her they are everything, they are her treasures.” Bowker says she has been working with Dr. Joe Moravec to visit different sites where vulnerable populations are being served. Dr. Moravec teaches Religion, Critical Thinking, and Caring & Compassion courses at Mercy College. Together they established clinic sites at six locations in Des Moines they had not previously used: Corinthians (Baptist Church) Free Clinic, Joppa Outreach, Hope Builders, Polk County Housing Continuum, Children and Family Urban Ministries, and Des Moines University’s mobile clinic.

“Joppa has been quite a life-changing experience thus far. I have had the opportunity to go out to these individual’s homes to provide supplies and food, and most importantly, build relationships. My personal goal that I want to accomplish before this course is completed is to be able to leave a lasting impact with Joppa. I want to be able to make a difference with each individual I come into contact with. As a nurse I have the skill set that is needed in a variety of areas. I feel it is my privilege to help those who need it most. Above all, I believe this experience has helped me to grow not only professionally as a nurse, but also as an individual in my everyday life.” Brandi Harned - BSN student, Community Health

Iowa Statistics23,808 homeless people (14,068 people in families); 54% of whom are under 18

15,351 people at risk of homelessness (13,153 people in families)

38,078 people in total

Statistics provided by the Iowa Institute for Community Alliances, 2009

Des Moines Statistics48.7% of homeless are homeless for the first time

35% identify medical reasons as the primary cause of homelessness.

7.6% more homeless individuals than in 2008

60% more at-risk families than in 2008

20 | VitalSigns

program highlights

www.mchs.edu | 21

She says she’s outgoing, opinionated, and a little bit bullheaded. She says she

likes to get things finished as efficiently as possible. And she admits to spending a lot of time thinking about sleep.

She is Abby Kinyon, a Mercy College student who earned a certificate in Polysomnographic Technology in August 2010, will complete her Associate’s degree in December 2010, and is on track to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Allied Health in 2011.

What is it about the nature of sleep that intrigues Kinyon? It all started with her fascination with the human brain.

“It’s just so complex,” Kinyon says, who recalls watching Science Channel programs about the brain when younger. “There are so many things going on in the brain that we can study. And if the brain is sleep deprived, it can’t function as well as the brain of someone who is sleeping normally.”

Kinyon, who works at a sleep center (night shift, of course), can tick off the dangers of a sleep disorder at a moment’s

notice. The effects of sleep apnea, for example, can worsen diabetes, hyper-tension, and heart disease, and lead to depression. “Because when your body and brain are sleep deprived, you’re not in your best shape,” she says.

It’s with these patients that Kinyon is at her best, using her outgoing personality – and stubbornness – to get to the bottom of a patient’s problems. “A lot of people I see are sleep deprived, so they’re not always the warmest and most friendly,” she says. “They don’t realize how tired they are until they’re asked; they think their fatigue is normal. I want to help them individually, hear them out completely, and see the best way to help them. I just want to get them feeling their best as efficiently as I can.”

As a sleep technician, Kinyon introduces patients to the sleep lab and the purpose of the study, which is to look for indi-cations of sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. She talks about the wires patients will be connected while they sleep. She describes the possible treatments, such as medication, behavior therapy, or continuous positive airway pressure (a type of ventilation therapy that uses mild air pressure to keep airways open).

Then Kinyon answers questions, the most common of which is: “Can you see my dreams?” She can’t, Kinyon says to the patient, she only sees brainwaves on the computer monitor in the control room where she works while the patient sleeps. She also documents the patient’s heart rate, breathing patterns and other physiological parameters. Kinyon provides all the diagnostic data, along with her direct observations, to a physician

who diagnoses the sleep disorder and prescribes treatment.

Successful treatment for sleep disorders leads to an improved quality of life for the patients, says Abby (Auburne) Overton, MHA, RPSGT, Program Chair of the Polysomnographic Technology Program at Mercy College. “Treating a sleep disorder successfully can save jobs and families. We can give patients back their lives.”

student profile

Meet the Abbys’ of Sleep Technology

A New Approach to our Online Student NewsletterThis snippet is from our first issue of our newly developed Mercy Messenger Online.

Mercy Messenger Online is a student newsletter produced by the Marketing Department. The publication will feature current Mercy College students sharing their stories with the College community. Our first issue features Abby Kinyon, a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health student and Polysomnographic Technology alumna.

The complete story may be found online at mchs.edu/messenger.

We hope you enjoy getting to know our student body.

Mercy MessengerOnline mchs.edu

Continuing reading online at www.mchs.edu/messenger

www.mchs.edu | 21

22 | VitalSigns

As we confront the challenges of the future, we know that the generosity of those who assist us will make a difference to the

future of Mercy College. That is why we seek your support. However, we want to make sure that you benefit from making a gift to us. This exchange of benefits is what we like to refer to as the best gift. The best gift improves your financial and tax situation and provides Mercy College with the resources to educate our future healthcare providers. The best gifts require more time than a quickly written check or a donation made online; they are thoughtful expressions of gen-erosity and gratitude that come out of estate assets. Making the best gift through your estate is well worth the investment of your time – even if your estate is modest. Planning allows you to make the deci-sion about your estate, not the govern-ment. So, where do you begin? The best place to begin is to contact Mercy Foundation for information. Mercy Foundation will send you a comprehen-sive brochure titled, Guide to Giving. Mercy Foundation’s Guide to Giving explains different types of gift planning vehicles that might be useful to you.

For example, did you know that by opening a charitable gift annuity you could supplement your income with steady payments that are partially tax-free or change ownership on a life insurance policy you no longer need to benefit students at Mercy College? There are many ways to make the best gift, but the best way to make the gift depends on you. With the year coming to an end you might be interested to learn about trans-ferring appreciated securities (stocks, bonds, and mutual funds). It’s a very simple process. As the benefactor, you transfer your securities to Mercy Foun-dation and then Mercy Foundation sells the securities and uses the proceeds for the area you designate. As a benefactor you receive gift credit and an immediate income tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities on the date of transfer, no matter what you originally paid for them. In addition, you pay no capital gains tax on the securities you donate. Just remember these helpful hints: Don’t sell stock first and then give Mercy Foundation the proceeds. Even though you are making a gift, the IRS will impose capital gains tax on your sale, eliminating a key tax benefit of this best

gift. The transfer of securities only works to your benefit if the securities you hold have risen in value. Don’t contribute securities that have declined in value. The fair-market deduction rule works against you: if you bought the stock for $30,000 and it’s now worth $10,000, your charitable deduction will be limited to $10,000. You won’t earn a capital loss by making the transfer to us, either. Instead, sell the depreciated stock, claim the resulting tax loss as one deduction, then make a deductible cash gift to Mercy Foundation with the proceeds. Always remember to speak with your financial advisor before making the best gift for you. You have to consider the impact of your gift on your overall financial condition. Can you afford a siz-able gift at this time, or should you make it later by will? What is the best way to make the best gift? What are the tax implications? Through careful planning you can make the best gift.

Please contact Mercy Foundation today (515) 247-3248 to receive your Guide to Giving and remember that your inquiry is confidential.

Make the Best Gift for You

Mercy College Scholarship LuncheonPatricia Coates returned from southern California to share her reflections on why she established an endowed scholarship at Mercy College with students, staff and other donors participating in the 2010 Scholarship Recognition Luncheon. Pat also made a financial commit-ment this year to get her scholarship started and is shown with Jonathan Escobar, a nursing student, who was selected as the first recipient of the Patricia Coates Scholarship. Far left: College Board Member Sr. Jude Fitzpatrick, CHM speaks with Michelle Harding, the recipient of a Freshman Academic Scholarship and a first semester nursing student.

Mercy College Donors

www.mchs.edu | 23

2011 Alumni CalendarTuesday, January 11, 3:45 p.m. Alumni Association Board MeetingSullivan Center, Room 130

Tuesday, March 8, 3:45 p.m.Alumni Association Board MeetingSullivan Center, Room 130

Friday, April 8, 8:30 a.m.-NoonCEU Workshop Sullivan Center, Room 130

Tuesday, May 10, 3:45 p.m.Alumni Association Board MeetingSullivan Center, Room 130

Tuesday, August 9, 3:45 p.m. Alumni Association Board MeetingSullivan Center, Room 130

Friday, September 16, NoonGolden Years LuncheonTeacups & Tiaras, West Des Moines

Saturday, October 8, 10-11:30 a.m.Alumni Reunion Weekend Open HouseSullivan Center, Room 102

Saturday, October 8, 5-8 p.m.Alumni Reunion Celebration & Annual MeetingLocation TBD

Friday, October 14, 8:30 a.m.-NoonCEU WorkshopSullivan Center, Room 130

Monday, October 17, NoonMercy College Scholarship Luncheon Medical Center East Tower

Tuesday, November 21, 3:45 p.m.Alumni Association Board MeetingSullivan Center, Room 130

Friday, December 2, Noon-1:30 p.m.Alumni Christmas LuncheonLocation TBD

Visit mchs.edu/events for details.

Sandy HallPresidentDiploma Graduate,1979 and BSN Graduate, 2003

Rachel ReynoldsASN Graduate, 2003 and BSN Graduate, 2007

Karen GamerdingerVIce-PresidentDiploma Graduate,1982

Margaret RicheyDiploma Graduate, 1982

Mary SchemmelTreasurerDiploma Graduate,1976

Rhonda HeimSecretaryDiploma Graduate,1973

Cathy SmithDiploma Graduate, 1976

Shirley BeaverDean of Nursing (ex officio)

Deb WillyardDiploma Graduate, 1979 and BSN Graduate, 1998

JoAnn HumphreysDiploma Graduate,1968

2010-11 Nursing Alumni AssociationBoard of DirectorsMercy College Nursing Alumni Association is pleased to introduce two new Board members — Kate Bowersox a BSN Graduate, class of 2002 and Jennifer Miller an ASN Graduate, class of 2009.

Mary Jan MillerDiploma Graduate,1956

Not Pictured: Bonnie McCoy, BSN Graduate, 2001

Willow PattersonDiploma Graduate,1979

Jolene RunkelDiploma Graduate, 1979

alumni news

Jane DeGooyerDiploma Graduate, 1981

24 | VitalSigns

ting married. She has 5 grand-children. Her family is a very strong part of her life. She enjoys scrapbooking and singing in the church choir.

Janice Skinner Hood ‘60 lives in Lodi, Wisconsin with her husband Tim. They have two children. Janice retired thirteen years ago from Islamic Saudi Academy as a school nurse. She enjoys fly flishing, traveling, boat-ing and supporting St. Coletta in Jefferson, WI.

Evelyn De Tar Houska ‘60 works part-time during flu sea-son administering the flu vaccine for Carle Clinic in Illinois. She and her husband, Jos, have four children, seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter. She enjoys needle arts, reading, cooking, walking and solutions on the computer.

Ruth (Dinnebier) Laughlin ‘60 retired from Westridge Manor in Knoxville 10 years ago. She and her husband, Philip, live in Knoxville, Iowa. They have four children and five grandchildren. She enjoys gardening, church

1960Rosemary Babcock ‘60 retired from Warren County Public Health 11 years ago. She and her husband, Bill, have six children, 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Rosemary is a resident advocate at Good Sam and helps with activities for the residents. She enjoys line danc-ing, walking and biking as well as making quilts for her grandchil-dren at Christmas.

Margaret (Peggy) Martin Casper ‘60 lives with her husband, Robert, in Winterset, Iowa. Margaret retired from nursing in 1990. Currently, she and her husband run BB&P Feed and Grain, Inc. They have three

children and 6 grandchildren. She enjoys grandchildren, gardening, playing bridge and traveling. I have volunteered in many areas of our town and school and also on a couple of state boards and on an IRS committee.

Janice (Tentinger) Coon ‘60 re-tired three years ago from Buena Vista Regional Medical Center as staff nurse in the medical/surgical department. She has nine children, 13 grandsons & 7 granddaughters. She enjoys baking, making jams, growing flowers and reading. Janice has also started volunteering at St. Anthony’s Care Center.

Phyllis Brenny Garcia ‘60 lives in Bartlett, Illinois. She worked in her husband, Santiago’s, office for 32 years as a office nurse prior to living and working in Madrid, Spain, shortly after get-

News&Notesvolunteering, dog sitting for friends, USA and world travel, and renewing old friendships.

Barbara Clausen Liebentritt ‘60 retired from Nebraska Methodist Hospital as the Head Nurse – Men’s Surgical Floor. Barbara and her husband, Arthur, have eight children and 15 grandchildren. She delivers Meals on Wheels, enjoys reading and spending time with family.

Rosann McCullough ‘60 lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Gene. She retired in 2002 from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. They have two children and two grandchildren. Rosann volunteers at the Denver Mu-seum of Nature and Science. She and her husband have also volunteered at a pilgrim hostel in Rababal, Spain on the Camino de Santiago for the past three years. She enjoys walking, swimming, hiking, cross-country skiing and international travel.

news&notes

Share some news with classmates in our News & Notes section of the magazine. Submit your content using our online form at mchs.edu/notes. We’d love to hear from you!

What’snew with

You?

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Janece Feinberg Rohwer ‘60 works part-time at Iowa Health Home Care as a staff nurse. She and her husband, Chris live in Des Moines, Iowa. They have two children and two grandchil-dren.

Susan Scarpino ‘60 retired from Mercy Hospital six years ago. She and her husband, Larry, live in Windsor Heights, Iowa. They have four children, two grand-daughters and four grandsons.

Gertrude Comer Schultze ‘60 retired from the US Postal Service 10 years ago. She and her husband, Gene, live in Mesa, Arizona. They have two children and three grandchildren. Gertrude volunteers at hospice and church and enjoys spending time with family.

Patricia M Sparks ‘60 retired ten years ago from Mercy Hospital. She and her husband, Jerry, live in Ankeny, Iowa. They have two children, two grand-children and three great grand-children. Patricia enjoys playing with computers, reading, crocheting and slot machines.

Judith Brown Walker ‘60 lives in Superior, Wisconsin with her husband, Richard. They have two children and four grandchildren. She retired from Douglas County Health Department four years ago. Judith started an organi-zation for families affected by alcohol related birth defects. She enjoys playing golf and working as a consultant.

Dorothy Whitehead ‘60 lives in Indianola, Iowa. She has four children and five grandchildren. She is retired from Mercy Hospital after 47 years. Dorothy was named Volunteer of the Year 2005-2006 by the Indianola athletic booster club. She also

helps out with the high school swim teams. Dorothy swims competitively in US and Iowa Masters. She was named to the Iowa Hall of Fame Senior Olympics in 2008.

1965Judy Ackerman ‘65 lives in Perry, Iowa. She retired three years ago from Dallas County Hospital as a medical/surgical nurse. She enjoys gardening, flower arranging, just about anything outside.

Patricia Juhl McCullough ‘65 lives in Ankeny, Iowa with her husband James. They have two children and five grandchildren.

1970Judith Swoboda DeLeon ‘70 lives in Everett, Washington with her husband, Victor. She retired 10 years ago from the US Postal Service as a Occupational Health Nurse Administrator. She enjoys

Bible study, golf, traveling, and volunteering at a retirement home. They spend their winters in Harlingen, Texas.

Jan (Anderson) Jansen ‘70 is the Office Nurse at Wolfe Eye Clinic in Des Moines, Iowa. She and her husband, John, have one child, Erin. Jan loves to play golf and attend Iowa State football games.

Belva (Eggers) Snow ‘70 lives in Humeston, Iowa with her husband, Terry. She is self-em-ployed as a Parmedical Insur-ance Examiner. They have four children and five grandchildren. Belva practices herbal and alter-native therapies. She is active in her community and church. She loves spending time with her family.

Elizabeth (Tracy) Stewart ‘70 is the Quality Improvement Co-ordinator at MMSC Home Care Plus in Marshalltown, Iowa. She and her husband, Howard, have three children and five grand-children. She enjoys golfing, cross-stitch, Genealogy, and her grandchildren.

1975Mary M. Ryan ‘75 lives in Sabetha, KS. She is the Director of Nursing at Neaha County Home Health and Hospice. She enjoys Bible study and women’s ministry at her church. She also volunteers with the Wild Cat Trap-Neuter-Return Program.

Pat (Hoffman) Oleson ‘75 works at Mercy Medical Center as a Staff Nurse in the Mother Baby Unit. She and her husband, Jim, have three children and two grandchildren. She enjoys family, sewing, quilting, traveling, read-ing, and off road jeeping with her family around the US.

1980Laurie Rychnovsky ‘80 lives in Iowa City, Iowa with her hus-band, Robert. She retired from the University of Iowa seven years ago and is currently work-ing for Visiting Nurses of Johnson Co. They have two children, Jenny and Mitchell.Laurie enjoys book club, dinner club, ballroom dancing, hiking, horseback riding, traveling, and gardening.

news&notes

26 | VitalSigns 26 | VitalSigns

Kathleen Tilton ‘80 is a nursing professor at Bethel University. She had her husband, Mark live in Bloomington, Minnesota. They have one child. She enjoys bicycling and gardening.

1985Linda (Tieran) Johnson ‘85 is a nurse at Iowa Health Home Care in Urbandale, Iowa. She has two children and two grandchildren. She enjoys life and having fun and loves to dance.

1990Renee (Hoffman) Brincks ‘90 is a nurse at St. Anthony Regional Hospital. She and her husband, Gerald, live in Carroll, Iowa. They have three children. She enjoys gardening, quilting, and attend-ing her children’s activities.

SympathyYour prayers are requested for the family and friends of these graduates who have died recently.

Rita (Wells) Andruska ‘71 of Dallas, TX

Marie (Sullivan) Echemendia ‘42 of Atlanta, GA

Aimee (Higgins) Krug ‘96 of Urbandale, IA

Rae Leto ‘59 of Greenfield, IA

JoBetty (Stemmerman) Tyler ‘58 of Des Moines, IA

news&notes

Share a personal reflection or submit a project reflecting health care to publish in VitalSigns, the College alumni magazine, or the College website.

Everyone enjoys reading short stories written with inspiration and heartfelt emotion. Share with readers your experiences you have encountered in your role in health care/education.

Take this opportunity as Mercy alumni, students, or College employees to be recognized for artistic and literary achievements inspired by health care. Works are accepted in the following genres: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Art and Photography. Reflections from a past experience, class or community service project are also accepted.

Submission GuidelinesYou must be a current Mercy College student, alum or College employee to submit to Mercy College. You may submit multiple works to multiple genres.

Categories Literary ExpressionsSubject Matter: Health CareGenres include: fiction or nonfiction, poetry, prose, essay, and short stories.

• Length Limitation: 1000 words• Preferred file types: .doc, .txt, .pdf

Art and PhotographySubject Matter: Open (not limited to health care)Genres include: Acrylic or oil paintings, charcoal drawings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, etc.

• Submit a photograph of artwork with 300dpi resolution at 7” x 10”.

• Photographs must be submitted in digital format

• Preferred file formats: .tif or .jpg• If artwork is chosen and you do not have a

digital file available, a photograph may be taken by the Marketing Department

ReflectionsSubject Matter: Health CareProvide a reflection from your personal, professional, class or community service experience. This should reflect what you have gained from your experience and how it impacted your role as a healthcare provider. For students, the reflection can come from the graduation requirement. An electronic file must be submitted.

• Preferred file formats: .doc, .txt, .pdf

If your submission is selected for publication, you may choose to be listed as anonymous. However, submissions may not be made anonymously. Any submissions which are not chosen for print may be posted on the website.

Online SubmissionsWorks may be submit online at www.mchs.edu/publish.

Mail or Drop Off SubmissionsIf mailing or dropping off your submission, please include the following information with your submission(s):

• Your name• Your program of study• The title and description of your work• Category/Genre (Medium/media for art

submissions)• Email address• Your phone number• Class Year (Alumni only)

Mailing AddressMercy College of Health SciencesAttn: Graphic Designer928 6th AvenueDes Moines, Iowa 50309

Drop-Off SiteMercy College of Health SciencesSullivan Center Receptionist DeskAttn: Graphic Designer928 6th AvenueDes Moines, Iowa 50309

Get Published!

www.mchs.edu | 27

a reflection of health care

www.mchs.edu | 27

a reflection of health care

The Loving ArmsI first felt the loving arms of the House

of Mercy, a residence for single

mothers, in June 1997. I had been released

from prison three weeks earlier and had a two-

month-old baby girl in my arms. I was forced

to accept that I had lost my home, my friends

and myself to drug and alcohol addiction. I

had been in numerous treatment centers and

had yet to find the help that would turn my life

around. The House of Mercy was truly my last

hope.

Wanting desperately to take advantage of this

last chance, I began to work with the House

of Mercy staff to rebuild my life with my new

baby. The staff helped me to remember that I

had once had dreams, things that I passionately

wanted to achieve. I had forgotten all about

them. After we had established that I had

ambitions, the staff helped to break down the

barriers that stood in my way. They encouraged

my positive decisions and tried to help me

see the consequences of negative ones. They

patted me on the back and kept me humble a

time or two. They helped me create and look

forward to a respectable future.

I enrolled in a local college. My degree program

in accounting required an internship. Again,

Mercy open its loving arms and I interned in

Mercy’s corporate accounting office. That was

when I realized that Mercy employees are a

rare breed. They know where I came from

but were more concerned with where I was

going. I was a felon with a mess-up life, but

I was treated with the same respect as the

executives. You can imagine how that helped

my self-esteem.

When I finished my internship, Mercy hired

me. After I graduated, they promoted me to

general accountant.

It’s been said that the House of Mercy is

the best-kept secret in Des Moines. I want

to change that. I spread the word about the

House of Mercy and what it has done to help

me recover. Telling people about this sanctuary

for women like me is a dream come true. It

helps me remember where I came from and

where I still could be had I not found their love.

Mercy to me is far more than a name. It’s an

ingredient in a person’s heart. Many who work

at the House of Mercy will tell you that the

residents do all the work but behind all of our

success stories is a loving, caring, “Mercy-ful”

staff.

Connie DanielPermission obtained from Catholic Health Initiatives, Denver, Colorado, for use of Sacred Stories.

of the House of Mercy

928 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309-1239

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDDes Moines, Iowa

Permit 3283

Patricia Clare Sullivan Center2005 - 2010

Mercy College of Health Sciences Celebrates the Fifth Anniversary of the Building