Jo Ellen is the epitome of nursing. From the time she started with Sparrow in 1978 through today, Jo Ellen has been an example to every nurse that walks through the door. If you have met Jo Ellen, you know that she is one of the friendliest, bubbly, and energetic people you will ever meet. She is always on the go and has more energy than the energizer bunny. She has developed strong relationships with so many people throughout the hospital over the years. If you need something done, you can simply ask Jo to phone a friend and they magically arrive usually within minutes.

I’m not saying she has priority over everyone else, but let's face it, people love her and will bend over backward to help her. They know when they arrive that she will welcome them with a “Hey Baby!” and a smile while expressing a level of gratitude that is rarely seen.

Over the years, JoEllen has touched and saved countless lives. She has been a primary care nurse to hundreds of babies and any parent in the RNICU can tell you exactly who JoEllen is even if she was not directly caring for their child. Jo is the heart and soul of RNICU. I want to honor her for an incredible and amazing lifetime of dedicated and compassionate nursing.