MCCN to welcome new president in early May

Todd F. Ambrosia, DNP, MSN, MBA, FNP-BC, FNAP, will begin his tenure as MCCN president on May 7.

Dr. Ambrosia is a recognized nurse leader bringing nearly 25 years of experience. His years of leadership include advancing interdisciplinary programs in research, education and practice, launching new academic programs, increasing enrollment and student retention and growing revenue.

He comes to MCCN from the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, where he served as vice president of Nursing Academic Affairs and dean of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing since August 2015. Previously, he was associate dean for Graduate Programs and associate professor at the University of Miami School of Nursing and a program director and assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.

Dr. Ambrosia received his Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Miami and his Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University. He is a distinguished fellow of the Academy of Nursing of the National Academies of Practice and is active in several other professional organizations, including the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Assembly of Men in Nursing, and the Advanced Practice Network of the International Council of Nurses.

A board-certified family nurse practitioner, Dr. Ambrosia is active clinically in adolescent and young adult primary care and has established research and academic collaborations with universities in Italy, Taiwan, Colombia, Belgium, India, and Malaysia. As a staunch advocate for global health promotion, he regularly provides volunteer clinical services to underserved adolescents and young adults in high-need areas across the country and around the world.

Save the date…
Homecoming to be held on September 30, 2023

The Alumni Association looks forward to hosting the 2023 Homecoming Celebration on September 30, 2023, at the Grand Event Center, once again in Grandview 820 Goodale Blvd, Grandview Heights, Ohio 43212. Look for more details soon in the next issue of the LAMP, on our Facebook page, and on the College website.

Cindy (Schiele) Anderson shares thoughts about her mother, Dr. Ann Schiele

During Women’s History Month, we’d like to share a personal message from Dr. Schiele’s eldest child, Cindy, as she reminisces about the life and career of her mother, who truly embodied the heart and soul of MCCN.

“My mother began her working career during the height of the women’s lib movement. She once told me that she knew that she was not well-suited to be a full-time mom or housewife, but that career opportunities for women were limited. She felt that her choices were between a secretary, teacher or nurse. She chose the one that she felt most suited her, and vowed to become the best nurse that she could be. By any measure, she certainly achieved her goal.

During a time in history where women felt tremendous pressure to prove that they could succeed in the workplace without neglecting the household, she was a master juggler and a trailblazer for the working women that followed. She derived so much joy from her work, and that happiness spilled over into her role as a mother. She was not home as much as the other neighborhood moms, and the house wasn’t always spotless - but she was somehow always there for all of the important things and made it all seem easy.

Without a doubt, some of her success and fulfillment in life came from the sense of family that was fostered among the Mount Carmel faculty that she worked with. They were all there together as a team, supporting each other in good times and bad. They were always an extension of family to my mother, and one of the reasons that she derived so much joy from her work…. My mother’s ability to make everyone around her feel included, important and loved is her greatest legacy. She has taught me to treasure family and friends, and to make the absolute most out of every day that we are given. I am so incredibly grateful for the 56 years that I had with her, and for the memories that will remain with me always.”

A tribute to the life and work of Dr. Ann Schiele was published in the most recent edition of the LAMP.

MCHS breaks ground for new hospital

On Monday, March 13, MCHS held a ground blessing ceremony, led by Earl Fernandes, bishop of the Diocese of Columbus, for its new hospital to be built in Dublin, Ohio. The new hospital will be located near I-270, Sawmill Road, and Emerald Parkway, and is expected to be completed in 2025.

“‘Mount Carmel has always been committed to growing along with the communities we serve, and Dublin is one of the fastest-growing areas in central Ohio, said Lorraine Lutton, President and CEO of MCHS. We look forward to offering this convenient location to our patients and expanding the offerings we can provide to all in this vibrant and growing community."

"For many years, the City of Dublin has been proud to offer our residents the best in healthcare with providers and services that administer a continuum of care," says Dublin Mayor and MCCN alumna Jane Vannicelli Fox ’72, RN. "The addition of a Mount Carmel hospital, ambulatory center and medical offices on our eastern border will skillfully complement the health care services in Dublin and beyond."

The new hospital will include a full range of services, with the latest technology and equipment, including:

• Emergency department with 14 bays
• Hospital with 30 inpatient beds and 10 additional observation beds
• Operating and procedure rooms
• Full imaging suite
• Diagnostic cardiology and neurology
• Primary and specialty medical care
• Outpatient lab
• Community health and well-being space
• Flexibly designed to accommodate future growth and the addition of new services as the market demands.

Meet Bill Calhoon ’79, BSN, RN, CRNA

Professional Highlights

After graduating from Mount Carmel in 1979, I started working as an RN at Mount Carmel West, on the cardiac step-down unit and over time, I floated onto every critical care unit at the hospital.

From there, following graduation from The Ohio State University Nurse Anesthesia program in 1983, I started working as a CRNA in hospitals around Columbus, doing all variety of cases, including general surgery, orthopedic, trauma, cardiac, neurologic and labor & delivery.

I took a year off from clinical work in 1986 to teach at The Ohio State University’s Nurse Anesthesia program as a clinical instructor.

In 2016, after more than 30 years of working in hospitals, I formed my own company and started doing freelance anesthesia for several surgery centers around Columbus.

Currently I’m the sole anesthesia provider at Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery of Columbus where I work about four days a week with two awesome plastic surgeons and a fantastic staff. It’s a great place to ease into retirement.

Original Hometown

Columbus, Ohio

Current Hometown

Worthington, Ohio

When did you first feel the call to be a nurse?

After graduating from high school, I was involved in a bad car accident on my way to Florida for spring break and was hospitalized for a week in Virginia. It was there - as a patient - that I had my first exposure to nurses and nursing students, and I found them to be significant part of a team devoted to my care and recovery.

That Fall I began working at Lazarus (now Macy’s), and a fellow associate was studying to be a nurse anesthetist. After talking with him about the profession and coupled with my previous hospitalization experience, I began to think that’s what I’d like to do.

What television show do you have to DVR every week?

I’m not really into any particular TV shows right now. With the current state of the world, I mostly watch NETFLIX comedy specials or YouTube. I’d much rather be outdoors in the woods or fishing, walking my dogs, working on my farm, or playing my banjo.

What is your favorite memory of Mount Carmel?

Hanging out and studying with my fellow nursing students. We formed a study group which proved beneficial to all and we were very supportive of each other. Many of them even jumped at the chance to babysit my baby daughter while I did my pre-clinical patient visits. I still keep in touch with some of those students and my friends from my Mount Carmel days.

What book is currently on your nightstand or at the top of your Kindle favorites?

My autographed copy of The Storyteller by Dave Grohl.

How has your Mount Carmel network helped you in your life, personally or professionally or both?

Looking back, Mount Carmel College of Nursing gave me such a great foundation that set me up to succeed in any area of nursing. While I was a student there, I thought the curriculum was rigorous and very challenging. It took a lot of hard work to get through but it was well worth the effort. Once I graduated, I was prepared to work in critical care, and that experience gave me the background knowledge and skills to pursue a CRNA career.

What advice would you like to share with other nurses as they move from student to alumni of Mount Carmel?

First, aways strive to be a good and kind person. That attribute will get you farther ahead in the real world than being smart or skilled. People want to work with other people that they enjoy being around.

Secondly, have a good work ethic. As a new graduate, work hard, get as much hands-on experience as you can, especially in a hospital setting where you can hone not only your nursing skills, but also your management and people skills.

Lastly, be the person who, when asked to do something new, always steps up and says, “yes.” Learning by doing in this field is one of the best ways to grow.

Meet Angela M. Snider ’10, ’14, MSN, RN

Professional Highlights

Since graduating with my BSN in 2010, I have held a variety of roles in nursing. I began my career as a new grad nurse in the Emergency Department at Mount Carmel East where I had been an ED tech since 2004. I remained in the staff nurse/charge nurse role until 2014. During this time, I began teaching clinicals for MCCN for acute, mental health, and leadership. I was also enrolled in my master’s program from 2010 until graduating in 2014.

I began working at Fairfield Medical Center in December 2012 as a contingent staff nurse in the ED. During the next couple of years, I started picking up as a contingent house supervisor, where I realized I loved leadership roles. I was the night shift house supervisor and truly enjoyed the problem solving and making a difference for the staff who were caring for patients. I sat for my boards for AGCNS (adult gerontology clinical nurse specialist) certification in February and was truly torn about going into clinical practice or leadership.

I saw a position available for the nurse manager of the ED open right as I was taking my boards and applied for the leadership position. I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to lead an amazing department of staff. The very first week I was manager, the botulism outbreak occurred in our community. I learned very quickly how to work in a command center and be part of incident command. The entire experience was a learning opportunity that I am eternally grateful to have experienced. I served as manager of this department from April 2015-July 2020. Truly a great group of staff - I am honored to have known them and worked with them.

During this time, I began working contingent as an advanced practice provider for the local urgent care. I would do this a couple times per month on the weekend. It was a great way to keep myself clinically intact and start to develop my clinical skills as a provider.

In September of 2020, I accepted a position at Fairfield Medical Center to start a pre-admission testing clinic as the provider. I had a wonderful year and a half of working as a provider and learning so much. However, during this time, I found myself missing the leadership component.

In February 2022, I began working for an interim leadership company, B.E. Smith. My first assignment was to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. I have been at this facility for the last year. I am currently the interim manager of their level one peds/adult trauma center. I am responsible for the day-to-day operations and the leadership of the 200 FTEs in the department. I truly enjoy leading this team and truly feel that leadership is my place in nursing. It is my absolute joy to take care of the people taking care of the patients. By leading with a transformational and servant leadership model, I have found great joy in building relationships with the team and leading them to a better place. I will be at Hennepin until they no longer need an interim leader, then I will be assigned somewhere else.

Original Hometown

Bremen, Ohio

Current Hometown

Lancaster, Ohio

When did you first feel the call to be a nurse?

My dad was a pastor while I was growing up and I saw the example of servant leadership and the commitment to care for others. I truly wanted to replicate this in my life and nursing felt like the right avenue.

What television show do you have to DVR every week?

Yellowstone and Chopped on Food Network

What is your favorite memory of Mount Carmel?

I loved the small classroom size, the familiarity with the professors, seeing Dr. Ann Schiele in the hall and speaking to her.

What book is currently on your nightstand or at the top of your Kindle favorites?

The New Jim Crow

How has your Mount Carmel network helped you in your life, personally or professionally or both?

I love being able to say I am a Mount Carmel graduate. There is a sense of pride because of the mission, vision, and values that the College represents.

What advice would you like to share with other nurses as they move from student to alumni of Mount Carmel?

Stay in touch with your peers - the experiences that we all have are valuable to each other. I still call some of my former classmates to ask questions and I receive calls from some of them.

Mount Carmel Alumni Association Board

• President: Pat Skunda ’72, ’10, ’14, MS, RN
• Vice President: Open
• Secretary: Jami Nininger ’87, DNP, RN
• Treasurer: Suzanne Martin ’66, JD, RN
• Members at Large:
  • Frieda Gill ’91,’97, ’09, MS, RN
  • Jody Gill Rocha ’08, ’10, MS, RN
  • Celeste Schmelzer ’79, MSN, RN
  • Ginny Shaffer ’93, ’09, ’20, MS, LSN, RN, IBCLC
  • Angela Snider ’10, ’14, MS, RN, APRN-BC
• Ex-Officio: Alyssa LaTorre, senior development officer, Mount Carmel Foundation