(Greenfield) Adair County Health System hosted a small gathering this week to recognize Jane Ernst, director of Public Health, upon her retirement after serving ACHS more than three decades.
Stephanie Claussen was selected to succeed Ernst in the position of director effective September 16.
“In the last 12 years that I have worked with Jane, we have seen numerous changes and adaptions with homecare, public health and healthcare overall. She has shown great leadership and resiliency, working tireless hours and always putting patients first,” said Claussen. “It has been a pleasure to work with Jane. We hope she can enjoy the retirement she thoroughly deserves, knowing we will continue our important mission.”
Ernst joined ACHS in 1980 after graduating from Mercy School of Nursing in Des Moines. Throughout a total of 36 years at ACHS, Ernst has filled several roles, including staff nurse in the emergency room, operating room, obstetrics and med surgery floor, director of homecare, and director of public health at ACHS since 2002.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, senior leadership team and staff at ACHS, we would like to thank Jane for her steadfast leadership and the significant impact she has made to the health of the people who live in our community,” said Catherine Hillestad, Adair County Health System CEO.
According to Hillestad, Jane and her team’s hard work and dedication contributed to the county’s high immunization rates for children. Adair County has regularly ranked in the top five counties across the state for adolescent immunization rates in the past few decades.
“Thank you to Jane for the numerous and valuable contributions she has made to ACHS and the community. Under Jane’s leadership, our public health program has continued to grow and serve more people year after year,” said Willard Olesen, Chair, Board of Trustees.
Another of Jane’s goals has been to make public health a trusted resource for people in the community.
“Our team has worked very hard to be knowledgeable about resources, programs and contacts in Adair County and the state, and also to be accessible to the community,” said Ernst. “We want people to know who we are, come to us for information and trust us. I’m so happy people in our community know public health is here to help and will provide them with the correct, research-based information.”
“I have been so fortunate to have worked at a job that I love with some of the greatest people for all of these years. I feel blessed to have been able to serve my community – the place I grew up and the people I love.”
(Photo: Left to right: Lisa Hamilton, Public Health Nurse; Stephanie Claussen, Public Health Director; Jane Ernst, Retired Public Health Director; Kim Eddy, LPN (PRN); Lori Schwartz, RN (PRN); and Sherri Warrior, Public Health Specialist.)
