Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation - Excellence in Nursing Initiative

Passion in Compassion

Lynne Ryerson Baumgartner, Registered Nurse at the Adventist Hospital Mendocino Coast, speaks with love as she describes her "call" to nursing at a young age. She had watched her father as an anesthesiologist and grew up entranced by the mechanism of hospitals. At sixteen, Lynne walked into a nursing home and asked for a job. She started as a nurse's aide, where she learned from mentors and, in her words, put "passion in compassion." Thus began a life-long nursing career, taking her from refugee camps in Cambodia to Oakland's Children's Hospital and over 30 years stationed at the Mendocino Coast Hospital.

Gabrielle Vickers, a recent Fort Bragg High School graduate, has a strikingly similar story. Gabrielle grew up in the backroom of the Emergency Department, watching her mom work. At the age of five, she knew she wanted to be a nurse. Since her freshman year, Gabrielle has been collecting scrubs. She periodically tries one on and feels a sense of pride and purpose as she looks at her reflection. In just a few weeks, she will be starting a job at Sherwood Oaks, a coastal nursing home, and begin the CNA training while taking classes at the local junior college.

Lynne Ryerson Baumgartner has been a nurse for over 50 years, feeling grateful for a career defined by daily reminders of the job's importance and impact. Gabrielle Vickers is on the cusp of her nursing journey.

With the Excellence in Nursing Initiative, Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation, (MCHFoundation) is actively working to recruit and retain skilled nurses on the Mendocino coast. The initiative includes a suite of scholarships to support healthcare careers for students and continuing education and skill expansion scholarships for practicing nurses. The initiative will also raise funds to help address life factors that may otherwise remove nurses from the force, develop housing strategies and solutions with community leaders, and honor the nurses who show up every day and deliver lifesaving care.

MCHFoundation recently awarded four Excellence in Nursing INSPIRE Scholarships to coastal high school students pursuing a career in healthcare. Gabrielle is one of these incredible students. Each of our award winners has in common a shared sense of purpose and a mentor who inspired them to choose their path in healthcare.

Julissa Perez, INSPIRE winner, was touched by caring adults and support services available to her as a youth. She is pursuing a career in clinical psychology and looks forward to bringing this skill set back to the community. Julissa's family is tremendously proud of her plan to start school in Sacramento State as a first-generation college student.

Elizabeth Flores-Diaz, INSPIRE Winner, looks forward to opening her own optometry business in Fort Bragg. She is starting the journey with virtual classes at UC Davis while she works at the local optometrist. Elizabeth gives credit to the leadership skills she developed during swim team and from her school advisors, that have helped her in other areas of life. She is ready to fulfill her educational goals and return home to care for others.

After a sports injury during his freshman year, Finnian Schaner-INSPIRE winner-decided to pursue medicine. He was motivated by the expert work of the surgeon and the entire medical team at the hospital. Finnian will be starting college at UC San Diego and reflects that sometimes an injury can help changes the lives of others in unexpected ways. Finnian plans on paying forward the care he received.

With our local, state, and national medical systems deeply burdened by COVID-19, those who fulfill and pursue this work deserve our gratitude. From the healthcare workers who care for us every day to the young students who choose to pursue this essential work, thank you!

MCHFoundation looks forward to partnering with our entire community in support of our shared healthy future.

The Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation supports organizations that care for the health and wellness of the Mendocino coastal communities. To learn more about MCHFoundation and its mission, visit their website at www.MCHFoundation.org. To support the Excellence in Nursing Initiative with a donation, reach out directly to MCHFoundation at (707) 961-4671 or use their online donation form on their website.

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Lia Holbrook is the Programs Manager with the Mendocino Coast Healthcare Foundation. As a new team member with MCHFoundation, Lia is excited to implement innovative solutions and supports for our local healthcare heroes. Lia brings over 16 years of experience working with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, implementing prevention and direct service programming, and collaborating with trusted community partners.