For Immediate Release: March 19, 2008

Contact: Kimberly Luz (217) 544-6464, ext. 50343

St. John’s announces appointments for health education and outreach

SPRINGFIELD- St. John’s Hospital is pleased to announce the newly appointed regional facilitators for the Saints In Touch program. Saints In Touch has community-based nurses connect with patients, health care organizations, physicians, business and community organizations with the goal of providing ongoing communication and health education.    

Susan Cody: Facilitator for Sangamon, Menard, Logan, Morgan and Christian counties
Cody was born and raised in St. Elmo, IL. She graduated from Kaskaskia College School of Nursing, and from the College of St. Francis with a BS in the health arts. Cody began her nursing career in labor and delivery at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Effingham, IL. She has been an employee of St. John’s Hospital since 1985, working in many areas of nursing including NICU, pre-admissions testing, adult home care and managed care. Susan lives in New Berlin with her husband and two children, and looks forward to sharing health education within the community.

Karen Cheatum: Facilitator for Fayette and Effingham counties
Cheatum attended the University of Illinois, and graduated from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing. Cheatum has been an RN for 29 years, and has worked in areas including critical care and cardiothoracic and transplant specialties. Cheatum previously worked for Stanford as a pediatric specialist and patient educator in the open heart unit, St. Louis University Medical Center, University of North Carolina, and most recently as a heart transplant coordinator at Evanston Northwestern Health Care. Cheatum also enjoys freelance graphic design and volunteering for various organizations in Effingham.

Wendy White: Facilitator for Montgomery, Macoupin and Bond counties
White graduated from Lincoln Land Community college with a degree in registered rursing. She attended special training in bone marrow transplantation through Washington University in St. Louis. She previously worked at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis as a transplant specialist, and as director of hospice for Fayette County in Vandalia, IL. White currently works for St. John’s Hospital Hospice Unit. She lives in Hillsboro with her two daughters, and enjoys being active in her church and community activities.