Joan’s Story: A Legacy of Servant Leadership
Joan and David Wurtenberger
Joan Wurtenberger’s relationship with St. Elizabeth Healthcare dates back to the early 1990s when she first collaborated with the healthcare system on behalf of her employer, Champlin Architecture. Since then, she has served St. Elizabeth in numerous capacities, from board trustee to foundation volunteer.
For Joan, service to the healthcare needs of the community is a family legacy. Her mother-in-law, a pediatric nurse, gave thousands of hours to her Northern Kentucky neighbors. And the difference she made inspired Joan to follow her lead.
“It was through volunteering that I came to understand St. Elizabeth’s mission,” explained Joan. “And what started as a business decision became a sort of passion.” Passion indeed, as her commitment has remained steadfast for nearly 30 years.
In 2017, she was honored with the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Henrietta Cleveland Inspiring Women Award for her history of volunteerism. And most recently, she and her husband, David, made a substantial financial contribution to the St. Elizabeth Cancer Center.
“We consider our philanthropy with St. Elizabeth an investment—an investment in our health, our children’s health and the health of this community,” said Joan. “That’s a really important piece of staying strong in this area. Our hope is that, with the new Cancer Center, we can get even more proactive with research, treatment and early detection—and take Kentucky out of the lead when it comes to cancer incidence.”
“Joan’s leadership and generosity have been instrumental in advancing the health of our region,” said Troy Fedders, St. Elizabeth Foundation development director. “Her enthusiasm and dedication continue to impact everyone around her while inspiring the next generation of service-minded leaders.”
Wondering how you can help support St. Elizabeth’s mission with a gift of time or resources? Contact St. Elizabeth Foundation at (859) 301-3920 or stefoundation@stelizabeth.com to learn more.
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