Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/76514
SHE STARTED AS A STUDENT NURSE HERE… When she entered St. Mary's School of Nursing in the 1950s, she had career aspirations. But even Sister Mary Jean Ryan never dreamed she would go on to impact health care delivery around the world. In fact, it was her congregation (now known as the Franciscan Sisters of St. Mary) that moved her into the spotlight, selecting her to become the fi rst CEO of SSM Health Care, a network of hospitals spanning four states including Wisconsin. In this role, she convinced health care leaders everywhere to fully embrace the idea of continuous quality improvement. Her personal philosophy that achieving excellence is a never-ending process drove accomplishments that earned her a place on Modern Healthcare magazine's list of The 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare for eight consecutive years. Today, she has an international reputation as a pioneer in the use of quality measures to improve care—her work touches the lives of millions of patients each year—yet she still refl ects fondly on her humble beginnings in Madison. stmarysmadison.com/100years CHANGE LIVES FOR THE BETTER. 100 YEARS... AND COUNTING LIVES TOUCHED HERE © 2012 St. Mary's Hospital A MEMBER OF SSM HEALTH CARE August 2009 bravamagazine.com 1