NMH Nursing School Alumni Spotlight

Nursing School Alumni Spotlight

Rose Ulis Boushek, RN

Rose Ulis Boushek, RN, MEd is an alumna of the Wesley-Passavant School of Nursing's final graduating class of 1981. Upon graduation, she began nursing in the operating room at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. With the help of the hospital's tuition reimbursement program, Boushek worked full time while pursuing a bachelor's degree in health arts and a master's degree in education. While here, she also worked as an operating room instructor, a schedule coordinator, a systems manager and a nurse manager charged with opening the Medical/Surgical Unit on 10 Southwest Feinberg. In 2004, Boushek became the nurse manager for the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. In November of 2007, after 27 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rose Boushek accepted a position as director of Perioperative Services at Glenbrook Hospital.

Marcia Jones Laker, RN

Marcia Jones Laker, an alumna of the James Ward Thorne School of Nursing's class of 1957, was recently named "Sustainer of the Year" by the Junior League of Fort Wayne (Indiana) in recognition of her many years of community service and leadership in the Fort Wayne community. Marcia's career has included roles in pediatric nursing, health research, teaching, program development and medical practice management. She was the first Immunization Action Chair for the state of Indiana and twice served as president of the Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance. In addition to her nursing degree, Marcia holds a B.A. in general studies and a M.S. in education from Indiana University/Purdue University-Fort Wayne.

While working and raising her family, Marcia began writing poetry. After her husband, Gene Laker, MD, retired, Marcia's writing life took off in a new direction. She established her own publishing company, which has already released four volumes of her poetry. In addition to writing and spending time with her grandchildren, Marcia partnered with Northwestern Memorial Foundation to plan the 50-year reunion for the James Ward Thorne School of Nursing's class of 1957. Reunion activities were held in the fall of 2007 at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital campus in Chicago and included a look at the new Prentice Women's Hospital.

Janet Cahill, RN, BSN, MBA

Janet Cahill, RN, BSN, MBA, director of Professional Practice and Development, is an alumna of the Wesley-Passavant School of Nursing's class of 1976. Cahill left Northwestern Memorial Hospital in 1980, but returned to the hospital in 1997. She helped to lead the hospital's effort to attain national Magnet designation. "Pursuing the Magnet designation has been so fulfilling because our team of nurses is extremely talented and they deserve this award," Cahill says. "I feel privileged to lead the organization in this effort."

Jean Selep Pryzbylek, RN, MS

An alumna of the Wesley-Passavant School of Nursing's class of 1973, Jean Selep Przybylek, RN, MS, began her career as a nurse and worked her way up to vice president of Operations, a position she has held for nine years. In February 2006, Przybylek became vice president of Women's Health with responsibility for daily operations of Prentice Women's Hospital. "With the new Prentice Hospital scheduled to open in the fall of 2007, I am very excited about the opportunity to play a vital role in ensuring that all women have access to the best healthcare," Przybylek said.