The appointment began July 1 and will end July 1, 2007.

Heath was contacted early in the year by Mary Jo Kirkpatrick, MUW Division of Nursing interim head, and was asked if she would consider being nominated for the position from this district of the Mississippi Nurses Association.

Heath said, “My reaction was one of shock, followed quickly by apprehension about what I had gotten myself into. I was, however, honored and humbled.”

The Mississippi Board of Nursing is responsible for licensing, testing and disciplinary matters in the field of nursing and decision making regarding the scope of nurses in various fields of nursing.

Currently, Heath is working about three days per week at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle where she has been employed for 20 years. She has held positions as LPN and AD nurse. She has worked in pediatrics, gynecology, gynecology surgery and most recently neurosurgery.

“I love the district patient care aspect of my field of nursing. Over the years, my first love has been pediatrics.” This love prompted her to study, take the test and receive certification in pediatric nursing. This requires yearly continuing education credits to maintain, which she has done.

Heath has received many accomplishments and been involved in various organizations. She has been a member of the Mississippi Organization of Associate Degree Nurses for many years and has been a member of the Mississippi Organization of Associate Degree Nurses for several years. Heath has been honored as one of BMH-GT’s nurses of the year and in March 2002 was awarded Outstanding Nurse in Practice by M-OADN.