Nurses - Class Notes
The KUMC Alumni Association welcomes the chance to inform your fellow graduates of the events and activities in your life. Publications, awards, marriages, retirements, moves, promotions, birth announcements—you're sure to come across news from someone you remember. Browse here by class to find news of your former classmates and take a moment to submit a note of your own.
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NURSES
1930's
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1940 – Lillian Marie Heenan
Ms. Heenan passed away on November 16, 2011. She enlisted in the U.S. Army immediately after Pearl Harbor, serving in the North African and the Italian campaigns. She married Peter Heenan in 1946 and raised four children, Caroline, Bill, Mary Jane, and Marsia. She was an honored veteran, a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother and a great grandmother. (updated March 2011)
1945 – Virginia Ogren Anderson
Virginia lives in assisted living now. She spends time reading, talking, visiting and plays bridge, crossword puzzles, goes to church, fun stuff.
1946 – Carol Baringer Hutchins Marr
Ms. Marr sent a letter sharing what she has done in her career. She was in teaching and supervision at the University of Washington-Seattle for a year. She was a Staff Nurse for a year in Swedish Seattle. In 1967, she was hired to do the functional programming for a new hospital to be built in Kirkland, WA. She became the DNS until 1987 when she retired. In September 1986, she presented a paper at International Hospital Federation Regional Conference in Taiwan, titled "Health Care Facility Design.
She states she has had a delightful career with only one disappointment which is the slowness the nursing leaders review and use the 7-70 staffing that she implemented and maintained until her retirement in 1978.
Her retirement has consisted of RV'ing to 30+ states, Canada, China (the Great Wall) Japan, and Hong-Kong.
Her days now are spent reading, embroidering, riding a stationary bike 10 miles or more daily and other exercises.
She has one suggestion for the nursing leaders - pass a law that every Dean & DNS after 8-10 years at the job they take a sabbatical of 3 months and work 1 month on each shift in their general duty specialty. She did it more and says what a revelation! (updated February 2012)
1953 – Mary Anne Eisenbise
Mary Anne recently was recognized for her long-time commitment and dedication to the University of Kansas School of Nursing and the Continuing Education Program. The reception marked their gratitude for her remarkable years of service and generosity to the School. She has served 20 years as director of nursing services at The University of Kansas Hospital and was the first KU graduate to lead nursing services at the Hospital, where she managed a staff of 1,200. While assistant professor of medical-surgical nursing at KU, Mary Anne worked on a narrative history of the School, and for 12 years served as assistant director of in-service education for the department of nursing services. In 1982 she received the Distinguished Nurse Alumnus Award.
1953 – Jo Ann Lewis Glasco
Jo Ann is traveling and enjoying their 3 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters.
1953 – Jeannine Prichard Dahl
Dr. Jeannine Dahl, Military & Armed Service Leader LTC. USAR (Ret) is being honored March 10th by YWCA at the 2012 Tribute to Leadership Centennial Celebration and Awards at the Arizona Biltmore & Spa Frank Lloyd Wright Ballroom. It is a tribute to women who have made significant contributions to eliminating discrimination and empowering women. She has also been voted into AZ Veterans Hall of Fame. She is currently working with American Red Cross with families of deployed military. (updated January 2012)
1955 – Donna Schmid Phillips
Donna is retired. She is very active in church and neighborhood activities. She is enjoying reading, quilting and family gatherings. (updated January 2012)
1957 – Martha Morgan Sanders, PhD
Dr. Sanders started doing something new – SANE/SART nurse. She only takes calls but does not work on a Unit/Floor. She is completing her 2nd term as President of Kansas Nurses Foundation (KNF).
1957 – Patricia Bowen
"Tricia" (Muson) Bowen passed away February 17, 2012 in Manhattan, Kansas. She taught nursing at many different colleges in her lifetime. She also wrote articles for the Clay Center Dispatch. She was an American Red Cross volunteer, member of Habitat for Humanity, Nature conservancy and First Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by one son, Douglas Bowen. She is survived by her husband, Montie Bowen, a son, John Bowen, two daughters, Sarah Allred and Jennifer Schmitendorf , three grandchildren and numerous other family members. (updated March 2012)
1957 – Donna Hallewell
Donna has retired, has two children and two grandchildren. (updated March 2012)
1959 – Joanne Francisco
Joanne is enjoying her time at Waihi Beach, New Zealand. She will be there from 6 months to a year.
1960's
1960 – Martha Saunders Skeet
Martha continues to work as a substitute school nurse in Lawrence, Kansas. She wrote, "Looking forward to 50-year celebration in 2010."
1961 – Dixie Broadhurst
Ms. Broadhurst has retired as a community health nurse. (updated February 2012)
1962 – Barbara Wade Frazier
Barbara moved to Oregon in May 2007 to be close to her daughter, son-in-law and 3 grandchildren. She continues to work full time with a history of hospice care for 20 plus years. Hospice is her love in nursing. She has a history of setting up hospice care in 5 rural counties, along with management and direct patient care.
1962 – Sally Barhydt
Sally continues to enjoy her KUMC "retirement job", providing publication support to faculty and staff in the School of Nursing and Allied Health. This fall she begins the 4th year of this opportunity.
1963 - Sherryl Duckworth Thorne
Sherryl Duckworth Thorne, son Stanford Lyle Thorne, Sr. Account Executive for Summit Marketing, Overland Park KS. Son Chad Damon Thorne, VP or Sales, Marketing, and Engineering for Zero Manufacturing, Salt Lake City, UT.
1965 – Barbara A. Bridges, ARNP EDDE
Barbara and her husband, Ken, will bicycle with VBT in March 2011. She works as an ARNP part-time at an Integrative Medicine Clinic. Her children are all KU graduates. Her son, Kyle Latinis, has a PhD and is an archeologist in Cambodia. Carie Latinis–Yeo is a Special Ed teacher at Olathe South High School. Kevin has an MD and PhD and is a Rheumatologist in Kansas City.
1965 – Vesta Margaret Baehr
Ms. Baehr, 92, passed away February 19, 2012. She graduated from Trinity Lutheran School of Nursing in 1940, then from the University of Kansas in 1965 with a BS in nursing. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul in 1983. Survivors include her son, John Baehr, daughter, Linda Baehr and granddaughter, Melinda Baehr, Esq. (updated March, 2012)
1966 – Beverley Tjart Freberg
Beverley has retired after 34 years of school nursing with the Shawnee Mission School District in Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
1967 – Ruth Griffith Cebik
Ruth has been retired a year and is keeping busy with Healthcare volunteerism, quilting and terrific kids. She has four children and five grandchildren.
1967- Carla Bouska
Dr. Lee is serving as Adjunct Professor, Research, for the Newman University Nurse Anesthesia Program since 2004 and School of Nursing since 2002. She completed elected term of office on the ANA, Congress on Practice & Economics from 2006-2010, followed by an appointment to the ANA Committee on Standers of Practice and elected to the NAN Credentialing Center on the Committee on Bylaws. She is serving as District 6 President, Kansas State Nurses Association, assisting with the 100th Centennial Celebration scheduled for Marriott Corporate Hotel for November 13, 2012. (updated February 2012)
1968 – Cheryl Kuhn Simonsen
Cheryl was appointed the Associate Director of the Harrington Library of the Health Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, Texas on June 22, 2009.
1968 - Linda Keller Fornelli
Linda has retired following 15 years as school nurse in California. She continues to reside in California.
1970's
1970 – Nancy Martin
Nancy is a dental coordinator at the Mid-Kansas Community Action Program in Newton, Kan.
1971 – Barbara Werner Johns
Barbara had her first grandchild born in April 2011, a boy. She enjoys traveling and frequent visits in the NE Alabama area near Scottsboro. Her husband likes to fish at Lake Guntersville. She hopes to see lots of 1971 grads at the 40th reunion this October!
1972- Rebecca Schmidt Cram
Ms. Cram works in neonatal & pediatric staff development and with a simulation lab that is utilized for orientation, competencies and certifications. It is very rewarding and a great way to develop clinical skills. (updated February 2012)
1973 – Holly Winston
Holly is enjoying retirement. She has a spectacular 21-year-old daughter who is currently working toward her M.S.W. She feels privileged to be able to spend more time with her 89 year old mother.
1974 – Margaret Strutz Clark
Margaret Clark has moved to San Antonio, Texas area. She now works in a private OB/Gyn practice as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner.
1977 – Mignon Muirhead
Mignon and her husband, Todd, keep busy with their restaurant on Cape Cod (Mass.), gift shop and their on-line store. She also has four English Springer spaniels to keep us active.
1978 – Martha Hutchison Crockett
Martha is President of Hutchison Healthcare in Houston, Texas.
1980's
1980 – Susan Swartz Andersen
Susan, graduate of nursing school in 1980 and graduate school in 2007, along with her team at Internal Medicine Group, PA has been selected as one of 8 practices to participate in the Kansas Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Initiative Pilot.
The 24 month pilot will kick off July 1, 2011. Susan and her team will be responsible for rolling together all of the quality initiatives they have successfully undertaken around chronic disease management and wrap it into a patient-centered model of care.
1981 - Kathy Lubetich
Ms. Lubetich attended her 30 year class reunion which was very fun to see all and hear about others from our class. Her daughters Kelsey and Shannon are in college in California. She just started back to work at Peninsula Pain Clinic working with chronic pain patients. She continues volunteering, exercising and traveling. (updated February 2012)
1985 – Tina M. Cassella
Ms. Cassella is employed as a Nurse Practitioner in Leavenworth, KS. She is married to Dough Cassella. She has one son and four step children. (updated March 2012)
1987 – Barbara Blancarte Hinman, RNt
Barbara's husband, CAPT Tim Hinman, USN (M87) is now the Commanding Officer of the USNS Mercy, one of the Navy's hospital ships, based in San Diego, CA. Harry and I have accompanied him to CA for this 2 year assignment while our older boys, Sam and Albert, are continuing their college educations in Virginia. (updated September 2011)
1990's
1992 – Donald Elkins
Donald has 'hung up his critical care hat' for a car and home care. He says, "Great change for my nursing career."
1992 – Jennifer J. West
Ms. West passed away March 22, 2012 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. She received her BS in Nursing from KU. She found her career in nursing to be very rewarding and something she really enjoyed. In her words "It was the highlight of my life."
She married Charles West in 1970. He survives along with a son, Michael, daughter, Sandra, three granddaughters and two great-granddaughters. (updated March 2012)
1993 – Kristin Stegenga
Kristin has received the ONS Foundation Research Fellowship, which supports short-term oncology research training. She is a nurse researcher at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. "This award is so exciting to me because it allows me to use my background in transplant and oncology and continue to grow as a budding qualitative methodologist while exploring a topic of importance to nurses," said Kristin.
1993 – Wayne Deines
Wayne is an Associate Professor at Johnson County Community College – Nursing Program. He also works for Sait Lukes South Hospital.
1994 – Steve Wooden
Steve Wooden received the Outstanding Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone Project Award for "Exploration of Specialty Certification for Nurse Anesthetists: Nonsurgical Pain Management as a Test Case." The award is given to the graduating DNP student whose project best describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a practice change that addresses a significant health care problem in an organization and holds potential for adoption by other agencies.
2000's
2008 – Jenna Timken
Jenna is working as a Clinical Liver Transplant Coordinator at Porter Adventist Hospital's Center for Liver care in Denver, CO.
2009 – Nicole Johnson
Ms. Johnson is working in OB labor and delivery for about 2.5 years at Southwest Medical Center, Liberal KS. (updated February 2012)
2010's
2010 – Christina Alexopoulos
Christina has moved to Colorado Springs in May 2011 and is working full-time on the pulmonary/stroke unit at Memorial Health Systems. (updated September 2011)
2010 – Meredith Hughey
Ms. Hughey is working at Saint Lukes as Lead Nurse in the Endocrinology – Diabetes Clinic. She is engaged to Christina Waggoner. (update February 2012)
2010 – Christina Waggoner
Ms. Waggoner works at KU Medical Hospital. She is planning a fall wedding to a former KU SON classmate Meredith Hughey. (updated February 2012)
2011- Micia Amos
Micia Amos passed away at the University of Kansas Medical Center after a long fight with cancer. Micia had been enrolled previously as a BSN student. She was born September 4, 1983 in Emporia, KS, daughter of John Michael Amos and Marcia Kay Fields.
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