Mount Mercy alumna Pamela Schmitz Delagardelle has been named president and CEO of Allen Health System effective January 1, 2013. Prior to her appointment at Allen Health System, she was the CEO of Grundy County Memorial Hospital (GCMH) in Grundy Center, Iowa, for nearly 10 years. Delagardelle is the first woman and first nurse to provide leadership as president and CEO of Allen Health System.
A 1984 graduate of Mount Mercy, she was named the recipient of the university's 2012 Distinguished Service Award. Delagardelle also holds a master's degree from The University of Iowa in nursing administration. With a nursing career spanning four decades, Delagardelle has achieved significant milestones in her field and motivated others to reach her level of excellence. During her tenure, GCMH has been reinvigorated – showing growth in the number of patient visits, adding 150 employees, raising the standards of patient care and accountability – thus earning state-wide accolades.
Since her arrival in Grundy Center, Delagardelle was instrumental in getting the county's residents to support two capital campaigns to improve the hospital, totaling more than $21 million dollars. Her efforts to raise the service and quality level of GCMH did not go unnoticed. In 2008 she was the one statewide hospital administrator to receive the Iowa Hospital Association Excellence in Leadership Award given for outstanding commitment, dedication and inspirational leadership.
The hospital has also reaped awards for its continued success under her tenure. GCMH was awarded the 2012 Iowa Healthcare Collaborative Patient Safety Award for Leadership and Culture of Safety. In 2011, the hospital was cited by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Best Places to Work. In 2008 and 2009, GCMH was recognized as having a Gold Standard Performing Critical Access Hospital in the state of Iowa.
"We are very proud of Pamela's accomplishments as a nurse, administrator and alumna," said Professor of Nursing and Department Chair Mary Tarbox. "Ms. Delagardelle is the recipient of the fall 2012 Mount Mercy Alumni Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding leadership in healthcare. The faculty, students and staff of Mount Mercy's Department of Nursing congratulate Pamela on this new chapter in her career and applaud her accomplishments."