Mary O’Connell
Adjunct Instructor
oconnelm@augsburg.edu

Mary has been practicing in the field of nursing for the past 21 years. Her love and focus in nursing has primarily centered around care to both pediatric and maternal-child health clients. Mary initiated her nursing career in pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and moved from the hospital setting into the community by providing home visits to women and children requiring teaching and support. She served as both a case manager and program manager of the maternal-child health team at Integrated Home Care in St. Paul for nearly eight years. After leaving home care in 1998, Mary accepted her present position as clinic director for West Side Community Health Services in St. Paul. West Side Community Health Services is the largest community clinic system in our state, serving a wide variety of populations including a large base of Latinos, Hmong, and Africans. Her role there includes directorship responsibility over McDonough Homes Clinic (located in a public housing development), and oversight of East Side Family Clinic, both located in St. Paul. In addition to these responsibilities, Mary is heavily involved in securing grants for those populations facing various health disparities.

“I feel fortunate to have a career that places me in close contact with people of cultures different than my own. I have learned so much from the people we provide care to. It is truly a privilege for me to provide leadership in my role as a clinical director and to serve those in need of receiving culturally congruent health-care.”

Education
A.D.N., Minneapolis Community College
B.S.N., Bethel College PACE Program
M.A. in Nursing, Augsburg College

Research and Scholarly Interests
Thesis research with Hmong women experiencing clinical depression, using fitness, therapy, support group variables, and Dr. Madeline Leininger’s culture theory
Diabetes as a health disparity in the Hmong and Latino Communities
Pediatric asthma and clinical pathways
Guardian Ad Litem, Ramsey County District Courts

Presentations
Thesis presentations at local work and community settings
National presentations concerning providing primary care within public housing developments
Local and national presentations concerning culturally congruent primary care for the Hmong community
Local presentations concerning diabetes as a health disparity in the Hmong and Latino communities