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  • Ruth Gingerich, BSN ’71, MA ’72

    On Jan. 26, 2013, Ruth Gingerich wrote:

    I always appreciate your newsletters, and always mean to respond telling about what I am doing.  I am keeping very busy and have a rather unique practice.

    Twenty- eight years ago we moved to Carmel, California.  I taught MCH Nursing at our local Community College for 3 semesters.  That was all I could take because I really did not believe in 2 yr. programs (which abound in California) and I went from teaching MCH at UI where they had a 9% C-Birth rate to Monterey County where the  C-Birth rate was 33%.  Currently it is 30-40%.  Immediately on arriving  here I met the  local Midwives who wondered whether I could do the newborn exams and newborn screening tests.  I could, and have been doing it ever since.  That also started my CPNP independent practice.  For a few years I contracted 2-3 deals per week at th e County Health Dept. for their Well Child Clinics and then at the Ft. Ord Well Child Clinic.  After a few years my independent practice grew to be full time.  My main focus has been Preventive Health Care and common illnesses for the Pediatric years.  I refer patients who need more complicated diagnosis and treatment to any of the pediatricians in the area.  Through the years my interests have expanded to allergy, ADD-ADHD, Autism, herbal and nutritional medicine.  Recently I became an Affiliate with  the Amen Affiliated Education Center, part of the Amen Clinics.  Daniel Amen, MD, Psychiatrist is director.   Currently, I also do travel vaccines and counseling.

    My practice is unique in that I am independent with an office in my home.  I have a good reputation among local physicians, several of whom have referred patients to me because the patients were too "alternative in their thinking for their medical practice.  Many of my colleagues are retired, but I am  having too much fun with  my practice to retire any time soon.

    I am glad that I continue to see some familiar names in the College of Nursing Newsletters.  I wish there were more BSN programs out here, but California seems to be devoted to their Community College programs.  For a few years, I taught some classes in the Dominguez Hills RN to BSN Program.  That takes at least 3 years after their 2 yr. program.

  • Katie Jo Rankin (Burgett), BSN, 2010

    On Nov. 27, 2012, Katie Jo Rankin wrote:

    Being graduated for two years I have realized the AMAZING reputation the University of Iowa's Nursing Program has.

    My quick little story to pass onto those nursing students who "aren't sure if they can keep going..." or "are so worried about finding a job after they graduate...."

    I graduated in December of 2010 (3.4 student, nothing special - haha) and landed an ICU job at Loyola University Medical Center. The week after I started my manager called me in the office and said to me "do you know why I interviewed a new grad for an ICU position?" of course I said "no?" And she said "because you are a University of Iowa grad, and I have been a manager for many, many years and never been let down by a University of Iowa Nursing grad!" So I worked there until about a month ago (I got married and moved to CT for his job). When I left my manager said "Again, those University of Iowa - I will continue to seek out and hire those grads!"

    And then recently I got news that I was accepted into Fairfield University's CRNA Program starting in May 2013. I had interviewed in October and they went ON and ON about midwest nursing programs, specifically University of Iowa's. And furthermore, I had applied to five CRNA programs because I didn't know where I was going to be and got an interview with ALL of them with 1.5 years of ICU experience. I believe it's because I had that UNIVERSITY OF IOWA BSN on the resume! This isn't an email to boast but to give a BIG thank you to you for helping get us through school because it sure has paid off! Pass on tons of optimism to the CON students from a former grad :)

    Katie Jo Rankin (Burgett)

  • Jeanie Sullivan, BSN, 1991

    On Dec. 10, 2012, Jeanie Sullivan wrote:

    I graduated from the College of Nursing in 12/91. I have never left Iowa City! My first position as a Staff Nurse was in the Burn Unit. I transferred to the Pediatric Division once an opening was available. At the time, I worked in General Pediatrics. Other services on our floor included Genetics, Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology, and Neurology. With changes in the division, our 2JCE Unit was restructured. With that change, I then worked with pediatric surgery patients including: Orthopedics, Urology, Neurosurgery, ENT, and General Pediatric Surgery. 

    At this time I was married and raising children. After our fourth child was born, I decided to stay home. She is now 10 and I have been back with the University of Iowa nearly four years. Currently, I work with the Fomon Infant Nutrition Unit at the Oakdale campus. I am in the Pediatric Nutrition Division, working on research studies for both breastfed and formula fed infants. I love working with mothers and young children!

    Jeanie Sullivan, R.N., B.S.N.
    University of Iowa
    Fomon Infant Nutrition Unit

  • Julie Novak, BSN ’72, MA ’76

    On Sept. 20, 2012, Julie Novak wrote:

    Julie Novak, DNSc, RN, CPNP, FAANP, was recently named Vice Dean for Practice and Engagement at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio (UTHSCSA) School of Nursing. 

    Dr. Novak (University of Iowa BSN ’72 and MA ’76) holds the Thelma and Joseph Crow Endowed Professorship and serves as the Executive Director of the UTHSCSA Student Health Center, the Employee Health and Wellness Clinic and the UT Nursing Clinical Enterprise. 

  • Lindsey Wood, BSN, 2011

    On Aug. 20, 2012, Lindsey Wood wrote:

    When I first started my nursing job in Erie, none of the staff in my new grad program had ever heard about the nursing programs at Iowa and we're not familiar with its stats or excellence. Most of the students were from local nursing schools and a couple were from Ohio State and Penn State. Then one day, Maureen Chadwick, the Chief Nursing Officer of the hospital I worked at came and talked to us and asked where we were all from. Well, the second she heard I was from U of Iowa CON, she couldn't stop talking about how great of a school it was and all of the evidence based practice and protocols coming out of Iowa (and she was a Penn State graduate!). Her lecture turned into an Iowa lecture and how she was trying to integrate a lot of the research into St. Vincent. It made me proud to be an Iowa grad!

  • Pat Kenney, BSN, 1973

    On May 13, 2012, Pat Kenney wrote:

    Last month I started a new job.  I am the Executive Assistant to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.  Long title - but I am happy to be back in Nursing. 

  • Christine Somberg, BSN, 1985

    On April 19, 2012, Christine Somberg wrote:

    Christine (maiden name, Hirsch) Somberg received a MSN degree from Purdue University in August 2011. She is employed as an APRN at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, Lake Forest, Illinois.

  • Sally Mathis Hartwig, MA,1977

    Congratulations to Sally Mathis Hartwig as she will be serving the Service to Mankind Award from The Old Capitol Sertoma Club on the May 18, 2012.

  • Kathy Pheteplace Leblanc, BSN, 1981

    On April 10, 2012, Kathy Pheteplace Leblanc wrote:         

    I live in Victoria, British Columbia where I work as an evening home care nurse for the Vancouver Island Health Authority. I do lots of wound care in a clinic setting and also see a wide range of clients in the community. I especially love the palliative care component of my nursing. Victoria is fortunate in having a wonderful Hospice program and in being a leader in palliative care in Canada.

    My family no longer resides in Iowa and so I have not been back for a few years, but I always remember my time in Iowa City with great fondness.

  • Donna Krapf, BSN, 1987

    On April 10, 2012, Donna Krapf wrote:

    Donna Krapf is the Director of Quality & Compliance at Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois (HPNI). I have been doing health care quality since 1996, and I became a Certified Professional of Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) in 2003. I started this position February 20, 2012. After working the past 11 years at CNS Home Health & Hospice as Quality Manager, my position was eliminated due to restructuring. I have two beautiful adopted girls – Megan (8) and Katelyn (4).