Kathleen became interested in Parish Nursing and volunteered for SJMO in October 2000 and very soon became a SJMO Parish Nurse Outreach Coordinator. In 2005, the name changed from Parish Nursing to Faith Community Nursing. With an extensive community health background, Kathleen found it exciting to have the spiritual aspects and health education merge together. Consequently, in 2010, Kathleen became the Manager of the Faith Community Nursing program. She has worked hard to initiate the importance of blood pressure screening and stroke prevention education has presented in the 40 churches that have covenants with SJMO in the community. In addition, Kathleen is the Faith Community Nurse in her own church. She provides health education teachings to the congregants as needed in BP screening, stroke assessments, falls, nutrition, diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer, and other health concerns. She follows up with visits to those in need. Her clinical skills are very much needed and used in the community and in her church.

As manager of the Faith Community Nursing, Kathleen's leadership has involved Trinity Health in the development, planning, and changes regarding the Faith Community Nursing Documentation website. Kathleen has worked very closely with the Director of Faith Community Nursing at Henry Ford Hospital and Catholic Health East. With thorough documentation to demonstrate we are saving cost to the community by saving ER visits, teaching programs that prevent frequent hospitalizations, nursing home and assisted living visits, and other health promoting programs. FCN activities affect the health of people in the community and contribute to benefit cost savings by providing health promotion and disease prevention programs and screenings.

Kathleen's compassionate care for people shines through in her daily encounters with those in need. She has touched so many with her kind, caring words throughout her nursing career. Kathleen cares for the whole person, body, spirit and mind. She takes the time to listen and is quick to give a comforting word or prayer.

Compassionate care, excellent clinical skills, and love of God equate to Kathleen. She planted the beginning seeds of these skills long before Faith Community Nursing and continued to nourish and spread them throughout her 14 years here at SJMO. She has provided these seeds of care, clinical skills, and love of God throughout these years not only with her peers in FCN but with her family, church, and individual clients, just to name a few. Her garden has grown and flourished for 14 years here and will continue to do so in her new venture.