Graduate Nursing Student, Agathe

McEachern, Receives Overall Excellence

Award from the MU Sinclair School of Nursing

April 30 , 2008

COLUMBIA , Mo. – Growing up in Dunzweiler, Germany, as an only child to parents with 9th-grade educations, Agathe McEachern heard on a regular basis the importance of education. These early childhood lessons pushed her to become a registered nurse. Although she worked in many areas of the profession, her primary interest was in the management of complex and chronic illness.

“Aggie is a bright, conscientious and dependable student,” said Deidre Wipke-Tevis, associate professor of nursing at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. “She has an amazing passion about diabetes management and, as such, has a crystal clear sense of direction regarding her academic and career goals. It is my opinion that she's not only a successful graduate student, but also will be a leader in the area of diabetes management nursing after graduation.”

Moving to America threw McEachern a few professional curves – as she had to retake her high school credits, obtain English qualification as well as pass a U.S. licensure exam. But her love of learning and helping patients kept her focused. She lives in Rolla, Mo., with her husband and two children, and is a diabetes educator at the Phelps County Regional Medical Center.

“Agathe was instrumental in setting up the outpatient Diabetic Self Management Education program at our facility,” said Parrie Vio, administrative director of continuing care services at Phelps County Regional Medical Center . “This is an important community service with positive long-term consequences for public health. Agathe's self-initiative is manifested not only in her graduate studies but in the success of the program and her collaborative work with other disciplines in developing an insulin protocol at our facility.”

Her compassion and work ethic toward patients were the deciding factors in her receiving the Master's Student Award for Overall Excellence at the School's annual banquet on April 11. The award recognizes scholarly and research ability, academic excellence and professional commitment.

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