Sister Diane Bushee, Vice President of Mission Integration, retired on March 31, 2021 after more than 60 years of service to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia. Sister served in several leadership positions at SMMC, including Associate Director of Nursing. She played a key role in expansion projects and other changes that grew St. Mary’s Hospital into St. Mary’s Medical Center and helped foster the growth of the St. Mary’s Department of Spiritual Care and Mission. Since 1990, she has served as the Vice President of Mission Integration, making sure that all administrators, clinical staff and non-clinical staff understand the importance of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.
During an interview for the Herald Dispatch, the local Huntington Newspaper, Mr. Todd Campbell, Chief Operating Officer of SMMC said “We are so grateful for Sister Diane and all of her contributions to not only St. Mary’s, but our entire Huntington community.” “We wish her the very best in her well-earned retirement.”
Sister Mary Grace Barile will succeed Sr. Diane as the Vice President of Mission Integration. She previously served as the Director of Mission Integration at SMMC and, also currently serves as the Provincial of the USA Province. Sr. Mary Grace began her ministry at SMMC in 1969, working in the Business Office.
During the same newspaper interview, Sr. Mary Grace said, “I am pleased to continue fostering the mission of our founding Sisters through this position.” “Although there are only a few Sisters remaining at St. Mary’s, we are dedicated to supporting our staff as they administer care to our patients.”
Todd Campbell also said, “Sister Mary Grace Barile has been a key leader at St. Mary’s for many years and I am pleased that she will continue her important work in her new role as Vice President of Mission Integration.” “I look forward to working with her to honor and maintain our mission and values as a Catholic Medical Center.”
Rev. Greg Creasy, Director of Spiritual Care and Mission will also assume a number of Sr. Diane’s duties, including providing administrative oversight to the Ethics committee and, continuing education for employees, physicians and stakeholders regarding SMMC’s philosophy, mission and values.
A Retirement Reception was held for Sr. Diane on April 5, 2021, at the Sisters Chapel of the Medical Center, where many current and retired employees, honored Sr. Diane, wishing her well during her retirement years. Sr. Joanne Obrochta and, Sr. Mary Terence Wall, Vice Provincial also joined the well-wishers that afternoon.
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About St. Mary’s Medical Center:
St. Mary’s Medical Center is an acute care hospital with 393 licensed beds located in Huntington, West Virginia. Established in 1924 by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, it offers a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services throughout West Virginia, southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. St. Mary’s is also home to the St. Mary’s Center for Education, which houses St. Mary’s School of Nursing, St. Mary’s School of Respiratory Care and St. Mary’s School of Medical Imaging. St. Mary’s Medical Center is a member of Mountain Health Network, which includes Cabell Huntington Hospital, a 303-bed teaching hospital for Marshall University Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy and Nursing.
THE HERALD DISPATCH – Daily Newspaper (HUNTINGTON, West Virginia)
