Associate Professor of Nursing, McAuley School of Nursing, College of Health Professions
2025
Bio:
Dean Ahmed Radwan, College of Health Professions, McAuley School of Nursing in his Mercy Professor Emerita nomination letter provided an overview of Sr. Judith Mouch’s academic career and community engagement by writing: “Sister Judy made a lasting impact through her dedication to teaching, service, and above all, her deep commitment to the Mercy/Jesuit values that define our university. She was a mentor, and leader to faculty, staff, and students here and across the world.”
Professor Janet M. Baiardi, College of Health Professions, McAuley School of Nursing (MSON) in her nomination letter wrote: “Sister Judy began her teaching career at Mercy College of Detroit in 1984, leaving in 1988 to pursue her ministry in parish nursing and community health serving the poor and vulnerable inner-city community. She returned to the University of Detroit Mercy in 1994 teaching community health nursing and actualizing the Mercy/Jesuit mission across the curriculum engaging students in opportunities to work with vulnerable communities in multiple settings. With the support of MSON dean, she developed a parish nurse curriculum that was delivered in multiple settings preparing parish nurses for the Archdiocese of Detroit and countless other church communities.”
Sr. Judy’s professional experience included hospitals, health departments, parish work, and academia. She began as Assistant Director of In-service Education, St. Charles Hospital, Toledo, Ohio (1972-76); served as a Field Nurse in the Home Care Division, New Orleans Heath Department (1976-1977); was Nursing Supervisor of Orthopedic, Oncology, and Self-Care for St. Mary’s Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee (1977-79); served as Field Nurse with responsibility for schools, maternal child clinic and home visits Lucas County Health Department, Toledo, Ohio (1981-83); and Administrator of federally funded migrant health research and program development agency serving DHHS Region V (1983-86). While serving Mercy College of Detroit as an Assistant Professor of Nursing (1984-88), Sr. Judy also was Pastoral Associate/Parish Nurse, St. Luke Parish, Detroit, Michigan (1984-97). Upon returning to the University of Detroit Mercy as an Adjunct Instructor of Nursing (1992-95), she was promoted to Associate Professor of Nursing (1995-2018) which she served in until her retirement.
Many of Sr. Judy’s publications, presentations, and scholarly activities evolved around her parish nurse ministry and care for vulnerable populations. Recorded in her vitae, Sr. Judy authored a new education module for International Faith Community Resource Center titled “Accessing Resources” published in 2014. She authored “Prayer Really Does Impact Health” in Bigger Than Ourselves (2009); was the developing author for Parish Nurse as Health Advocate teaching module, International Parish Nurse Resource Center, St. Louis, MO; authored “The Winds of Change: A New Direction? In Bigger Then Ourselves, Detroit Parish Nurse Network Quarterly Newsletter; was a contributing author to Community Health Nursing: Caring for Populations advocacy vignette titled “Connie’s Dilemma” published by Prentice Hall; was a developing author for The Process of Theological Reflection in Parish Nursing teaching module for International parish Nurse Resource Center, St. Louis, MO; and authored a quarterly column in Detroit Parish Nurse Network, Bigger Than Ourselves from 2003 to present [2025].
Presentations in the metropolitan Detroit area and to other university communities are numerous. Some of the presentation titles include: Faith Community Nursing and It’s Relations to the New Evangelization and Affordable Care Act; Promoting Health for the Disenfranchised Globally; Healing Body, Mind and Spirit: Interventions for Healthcare Providers; Connecting the Body, Mind and Spirit: An Integrated Approach to Health & Wellness; Stretching Toward the Light: A Parish Nurse Retreat; Is Your Parish a Place of Faith, Health, Healing and Hope?; Reflective Practice as Agent of Change in Person-Centered Care; Exploring the New Scope and Standards for Faith Community Nursing; Theological Reflection in Health and Healing Ministry; Spirituality and Creativity; Clinical Education in Community; Assessment of Congregation Health Needs Using Community Health Nursing Techniques; Storytelling and Methods of documentation in Parish Nursing; and Parish Nursing in an Inner-City Parish.
Sister Judy had a history of professional service. She served on multiple boards as trustee or director, including Mercy College of Ohio (2017 to present [2025]), Migrant Health Promotion, Board of Director (2011-15), Mercy High School, Farmington Hills Board of Trustees (2006-15), St. Joseph Mercy Macomb Hospital Board of Trustees (2003-06), Archdiocese of Detroit Leadership Team for Faith Community Nursing (1997-present [2025]), Midwest Migrant Health Information Office, Board of Trustees (1992-99), and Mercy Home Health Care, Detroit, MI., Board of Trustees (1985-87).
In addition to the professional service activities noted immediately above, Sr. Judy served as the Mercy Liaison to CHP/MSON, was a member of Detroit’s Gesu Parish Planning Committee (2009-11), Southeastern Michigan Community Health Faculty Agency Planning Committee (2008-16), member of Detroit’s Gesu Parish Health Ministry Team (2005-present [2025]), Sisters of Mercy, Detroit Regional Community Chapter Steering Committee (2004-08), Sisters of Mercy, Cincinnati, OH, Mercy Education Walking Forward Together grant committee (2001-02), Detroit’s Gesu Parish Homeless Shelter, Coordinator Of Health Services (2000-15), Migrant Health Promotion Program Committee (1999-2015), Cabrini Clinic, Detroit, MI (1998-present [2025]), Parish Nurse, St. Luke Parish, Detroit, MI (1985-99), Greater Detroit Interfaith Roundtable, Health Connections Task Force (1993-98), and Justice Committee for Sisters of mercy, Regional Community of Cincinnati, OH (1990-97).
In recognition of her many contributions to community health nursing, Professor Baiardi wrote: “Sister Judy Mouch was honored with the prestigious Nightingale Award for clinical practice in 1995 from Oakland University and its Board of Visitors. This award recognizes someone in clinical practice who is a clinical expert and advances the practice of nursing, mentors and inspires others, and has excellent community skills. This award exemplifies so much of what Sister Judy provided to the many students, faculty, and staff at Detroit Mercy.”
Sr. Judy was further honored with a Jesuit Summer Stipend (2014) for Faculty to develop a new nursing course: Professional Practice from the Mercy and Jesuit Perspective; received Certification as Nurse Specialist, Advance Practice Nurse, in Community Health Nursing, from the American Nurse Association (2001, 2006-2011, 2011-2016); was awarded the Catholic Youth Organization Volunteer Award (1996); honored by Sigma Theta Tau, National Honor Society in Nursing (1981); and was a member of the U.S. Federal Traineeships program, Wayne State University (1979 & 1980).
Professor Baiardi’s nomination letter addressed Sr. Judy’s engagement in “activities across the University – Celebrate Spirit, Christmas parties, OMI mass, international dinners, University sponsored talks whether it was CLASSA or Love Stories from the Underground Railroad. She was a spiritual director for “Busy Person’s Retreat,” gave countless invocations, provided support to those who were suffering, and celebrated our joys. Sister Judy was a Servant Leader of the Mercy/Jesuit mission and forged a path that will never be forgotten.”
In her academic preparation, Sr. Judy undergraduate work was at Edgecliff College, Cincinnati, Ohio (1965-68) majoring in Sociology and minoring in Philosophy and English. She earned a B.S. in Nursing (1972), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio; a M.S. in Nursing (1981), Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan majoring in Community Health Nursing and minoring in Administration; and a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry (1992), Marygrove College, Detroit, Michigan. Sr. Judy also participated in an Internship in Spiritual Direction, Manresa Jesuit Retreat Center, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Citation:
Sr. Judith Mouch’s, RSM nomination for Mercy Professor Emerita status was approved and conferred posthumously by Dr. Donald B. Taylor, President of University of Detroit on May 13, 2025. When Sr. Mouch passed into eternal life on December 14, 2024 the university lost one of its most beloved Sister of Mercy.