Executive Director, St. Francis Cabrini Clinic of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
2006
Citation:
As a medical professional and Sister of Mercy, you have been a passionate advocate for the health care needs of the poor. With compassion, dedication and energy, you have worked tirelessly to ensure that universal access to health care is available to the uninsured population of this state. Since 1995, you have served as executive director of St. Frances Cabrini Clinic of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Corktown neighborhood of southwest Detroit. This is the oldest free medical clinic in the United States and serves more than 4,000 uninsured people each year. In this capacity, you supervise a staff of volunteer medical clinicians, but also maintain a hands-on perspective as you do everything from dispensing prescriptions to counseling patients to raising funds to keep the clinic in operation. With degrees in nursing and health care management, you began your career as a nurse and rapidly moved into hospital administration. During the past 25 years, you've held leadership positions in Catholic hospitals and health services throughout Michigan, including serving as president and CEO of Mercy Hospitals in Grayling and Muskegon. Among your many accomplishments are establishing the Riverside Domestic Violence Shelter in Grayling in the mid-80s and implementing a school-based health center at Butzel Middle School in Detroit during your tenure at St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital. Admired and respected among the statewide health services community, you have received numerous awards for your commitment to providing physical and mental health care services to the economically disadvantaged and your active participation in related organizations. In 2005, Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed you to the State Planning Project for the Uninsured Advisory Council. A self-described "stubborn Irish women," you have been a vocal advocate for health care reform and have been instrumental in creating awareness of the on-going health care crisis among the uninsured. In recognition of your unwavering efforts and sincere dedication to providing accessible health care, the University of Detroit Mercy in pleased to present you with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree. Commencement, University of Detroit Mercy, May 10, 2006.