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Dawn Morrell (BSN ’95) An ounce of prevention Public health policy needs a shot in the arm During her 20-year nursing career, Dawn Morrell has cared for patients who might have sidestepped severe heart disease, bypass surgery or a debilitating stroke—if only they’d been able to access affordable, quality health care early on. “Health care needs to be delivered in a way that promotes wellness and decreases chronic illness,” says Morrell, who is a critical care nurse as well as a state legislative representative from the 25th District, D-Puyallup. “Instead of spending precious health care dollars predominately on the prevention and early detection of disease, our nation puts it toward critical and uncompensated care—an entirely unhealthy approach.” Morrell is a longtime champion of accessible, affordable and quality health care in Washington. Her commitment to public service earned her UW Tacoma’s Distinguished Alumni Award last spring. Whether she is serving in the state Legislature or on the state nursing association’s Health Care and Nursing Council, Morrell has played an active role in shaping health care policy for two decades. “One of my key priorities is to ensure that, increasingly, more Washington residents have basic health care needs met,” Morrell says. “Health reform is so crucial. It’s the lack of universal insurance coverage combined with rising costs that threaten the economic health of our state and the security of its residents.” The statistics support Morrell’s point. Among the state’s uninsured, the total cost of uncompensated care reached $584 million in 2006. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 12.5 percent of Washington residents lack health coverage. For a majority of Washington’s uninsured residents, the inability to access health services boils down to the absence of employer-sponsored health plans, affordable private health plans, or both. Of the 780,000 Washingtonians who lack health insurance, 70 percent are from working families. Nearly 62 percent are from low-income families. “[Rep. Morrell] is a sharp, capable and hardworking policymaker who stays connected to the nursing community,” says Dr. Janet Primomo, Morrell’s former professor and a faculty member in the UW Tacoma Nursing program. “She knows what many of us involved in health policy know: Reform is easier to comprehend if we talk about it in terms of covering more people and easier to implement if we expand services incrementally.” “It is quite complex to deal simultaneously with the problems of the uninsured, cost controls, uneven quality of care, uneven access and lagging technology,” says Morrell. “That is why we [in the Legislature] have been laying the groundwork to move toward more comprehensive reform. “Today, we tolerate a system that compromises the health of our workforce, strains our economy and deprives many Washingtonians of a healthy and secure retirement,” says Morrell. “Health care should be delivered in a way that promotes wellness and decreases chronic illness.” A healthier health care system would provide significant revenue to the prevention and early detection of disease. In fact, public health programs represent one key to repairing a broken health system. Last year, the legislator secured passage of a long-term care measure that will improve the chances of older adults aging healthfully. The Aging in Place law will let senior citizens with chronic illnesses such as diabetes remain in their homes and receive needed care. “If providers and insurers can work together to improve the functional capacity of older adults—keeping them in their homes longer—that’s good for the individual,” says Deb Murphy of Aging Services of Washington. “These kinds of reforms are good for the state because they keep health care costs down.” As more Washington residents and Americans nationwide face obstacles to affordable and accessible health care, and as costs spiral, the political will to implement change will increase, says Morrell. “There is enough money in the health care system to do it right; we just need to provide the incentives to keep people healthy, provide health care based on evidence and pay for what works,” Morrell says. “As a nurse and a determined leader, I’ll keep working to get it right, to make medicine affordable.” —Filiz Satir
Mary Butschky (IAS ’01) Suited for success She runs a program tailor-made to help people put their best foot forward. Nothing improves one’s confidence and self-esteem more than the right clothes. For low-income people searching for financial independence through good jobs, having the right clothes for an interview or for work makes all the difference. Mary Butschky makes sure those who come to her for help look good for their big day. She’s the coordinator at Suited for Success, a non-profit organization under the aegis of Catholic Community Services that’s been providing interview and work clothes to low-income people looking for employment for 15 years.
With a room full of business attire, including everything from undergarments to overcoats for women of all sizes and a similar room for men, Butschky helps dress several hundred people every year who need a little boost and some nice clothes that fit well. Acquired mostly through private donations and grants, the clothes are available to people referred to the program from government agencies or other local organizations that assist low-income people. Butschky and volunteer helpers assist in preparing donations and choosing business clothes appropriate for the person’s age, body shape and work place, at no cost to the job seeker. And that’s not all. Every Tuesday morning, Butschky runs a workshop for up to 10 women, where she teaches them how to make a good first impression, keep a positive attitude and do well on a job interview. Tuesday afternoons, she does the same for the men. After each workshop, they get help in selecting interview clothes from the on-site clothing banks. “Most of the people are single parents trying to put a roof over their heads and food on the table and clothes on their kids. There’s nothing left over for them,” says Butschky. “The need is so great for low-income people, and they are truly grateful.” Butschky previously worked as a buyer for an international import company, but was looking for a change. She says this half-time job suits her. “It’s a dream job for me. Every day I can help somebody. There’s a valid need that I can help fill,” she says. “Every one of these people is special.” She tells about one woman who got a job as a cashier and needed black pants and tops for work. Butschky had just what she needed to get started. She’s also helped abuse victims, people starting over in life and those determined to work their way to a better situation. “They’re inspirational to me,” Butschky says. “I’m impressed by their resilience.” Butschky dresses for the part, setting a good example in modest, professional-looking attire. She sometimes speaks to groups of young adults and teenagers, giving them tips on how to dress and how to land their first job. She’s had help, not only from community members who donate clothes, but also from a men’s store that showed her how to measure for a suit, and from a department store that showed her how to measure for lingerie. “The correct bra can really improve your appearance!” she notes. Butschky was born and raised in Tacoma. She has lived all over the United States and Europe while her husband was in the military. She moved back to this area about the same time that UW Tacoma was launched in the Perkins Building. She was attracted to the opportunity to take evening and weekend classes to earn a degree in liberal arts, with emphasis in business and management. “When I got my diploma, I was so proud,” she says. “I wanted to photocopy it and use it for wallpaper.” —Beth Luce Suited for Success is located at Catholic Community Services’ Phoenix Housing Network site in South Tacoma. Anyone who wants to help is encouraged to find out more by calling 253-471-5340, or visiting the Suited for Success website: www.ccsww.org
’93 ’97 ’99 ’01 Michael Kilmer (IAS) was recently selected as network program coordinator for Veterans Transition and Care Management in the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network in San Diego. He is responsible for the transition of recently separated veterans from the U.S. armed forces to VA healthcare and the care management of the seriously ill and injured for Southern California and Nevada. Leslie Newman (IAS) is owner and managing broker of REMAX Team One, a real estate brokerage in Seattle. ’02 Berwyn Gonzalvo (IAS) is a program analyst at the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C. Previously, Berwyn had a research fellowship with the Department of Defense. Julie (Ficca) Nicol (IAS) is an elementary school teacher in Lynnwood, where she lives with her husband and children. She earned a teaching certificate from UW Bothell in 2003 and a master of education degree in 2008.
’03 Brent Cupp (MSW) is a counselor and case manager for Comprehensive Mental Health in Tacoma. ’04 Mark J. Burns (BABA) started a financial planning practice in October 2007. Sue (Kennedy) Gallaway (IAS) earned her master of library information sciences degree from UW Seattle in 2006. She began her career as a librarian and associate professor and is currently dean of Library Services and eLearning at Centralia College. Kenyacktie Hartshorn (IAS) is nearing completion of a Ph.D. in psychology. She says: “Working as a therapist has been the most fulfilling work I have ever done. I am always grateful for the endurance that UWT helped to forge in me. It proved invaluable in graduate school.” ’05 Adam Brennan (BA) works for the World Trade Group at MJB Wood Group in Beaverton, Ore. He specializes in global integration, supply chain management and global procurement. Penny Nelson-Schlegel (IAS) recently earned a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in school counseling from the University of Puget Sound. She is currently a high school guidance counselor in the Bethel School District. Teri Vogliardo (IAS) is a management and program analyst, aviation specialty, for the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General. She is also president of Humble Hearts, a Christian nonprofit organization that focuses on the holistic needs of the poor in Central America. The group goes on a mission in February to Nicaragua. ’06 Debra Fretts (IAS) recently moved to Sequim, Wash., where she is working in the lumber industry. She plans to return to school for a master’s degree. Barbara Guerrero (BASW) is a counselor at Children’s Home Society of Washington, working on international adoption. She is currently studying in the UW Tacoma master of social work program. Roxanne Nalumisa (M.Ed.) is an elementary special education teacher in the Kent School District. She says, “The job has been challenging and the hours are long, but I love working with this population of students and I am continually motivated to strive harder to improve my teaching and management strategies as I see the progress my students are making. I appreciate all the hard work and preparation I received from my professors while at UWT. Thank you!” Brandon Rowley (IAS) is an instructor at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. He teaches ethics and public speaking, works part time at the Washington State University Health Sciences Library and will graduate in 2009 from the UI environmental philosophy program. He hopes to earn a Ph.D. in geography. ’07 Matthew Herrera (US) is an associate planner with the city of Federal Way. He lives in Seattle. Matthew Hutcheson (IAS) is working toward his Ph.D. in clinical psychology. He says, “I’d like to thank my mentors, Dr. Trista Huckleberry and Scott Hunt, for their guidance as I made the decision to pursue graduate study in psychology. I love my program and enjoy the work.” Donna Larsen (IAS) recently finished her first year of law school at Seattle University and joined criminal defense attorney Robert Perez to work on a murder case involving a defendant charged with killing his molester. Their efforts were rewarded with a not-guilty verdict. Donna recently started a program called Murder 101, which allows law students to help defense attorneys who are working on murder cases. Kate van Gelder (MAIS) is a communications analyst for the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Seattle. ’08 Rodney (Chip) Roberts (BABA) is a project manager with Delta Technology Corporation. He manages projects at Sumner Elementary School in the new Cascadia development in Bonney Lake and the Highpoint Neighborhood Center in Seattle. In December he wrote, “Another big goal for our family is almost complete: We are just days away from closing on our fist home. I also had the great and memorable experience of being on (the NBC game show) Deal or No Deal, providing support and advice for my best friend of almost 18 years. He ended up winning $263,000.” Chip also ran a 5K race this past summer, finishing third in his age group.
Births—in order of arrival To Brandon Rowley (IAS ’06) and his wife, Jessica Paul, a daughter, Lola Chanel, in August 2008. To Amy (Easton) Einck (BA ’02) and her husband, Robert Einck, a son, Spencer, Sept. 18, 2008. To Bill Walters (BABA ’99) and his wife, a son, Christopher Watson Walters, Sept. 27, 2008. To Matthew Herrera (US ’07) and his wife, Jennifer, a daughter, Eloise, Nov. 20, 2008.
Marriages—in order of wedding date Mark J. Burns (BABA ’05) and Karie Lee Switzer were married in May 2008. Annie Scates (BABA ’01) married Douglas Glugover on July 19, 2008, at her parents’ home in Lake Tapps. Their wedding was featured on The Learning Channel’s reality program, Rock the Reception, where the wedding party learned a choreographed routine to surprise their guests.
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