Michelle Nelson Retires After Long Career Serving SLCH

Michelle Nelson, long-time manager of Medical Staff Services at St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH), retired from her position at the end of December.

“Michelle was a terrific steward for the Children’s Hospital Medical Staff,” says F. Sessions Cole, MD, SLCH chief medical officer. “All of the physicians owe her gratitude for her responsiveness, flexibility and knowledge about Medical Staff matters. She made the Medical Staff office work on behalf of the patients and the physicians.”

Nelson began her career in medical staff services in 1980 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in South St. Louis County. She joined SLCH in 1988 and, minus a couple of years when she left St. Louis to live and work in Chicago, managed the Medical Staff Services department until her retirement. During her more than 20-year tenure, she worked with three hospital presidents—Alan Brass, Ted Frey and Lee Fetter—and a new medical staff president every two years. She saw the hospital merge, reorganize, grow and change. Through it all, Nelson’s goal for her department remained consistent: to support physicians and their staff members in an efficient and helpful way so they could accomplish the work they needed to do for children.

“I was always pleased to hear people say they consistently received the help they needed from our department, either directly from us or by us heading them in the right direction,” says Nelson. “We worked hard to gain that confidence and trust and to provide the services and resources that promoted physicians’ success.”

Nelson received certification from the National Association of Medical Staff Services in 1994. She currently serves as chairman of the Membership and Marketing Committee of the National Association Medical Staff Services, a group with the mission of enhancing the professional development and recognition of individuals responsible for medical staff and credentialing services in the diverse healthcare industry. She was a founding member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Missouri Association Medical Staff Services and served as an officer for both that organization and the Illinois Association of Medical Staff Services. She attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

“Throughout her years at Children’s Hospital, Michelle was a vital member of our team. She will be remembered as a wonderful colleague by the hospital’s management team, our physician leadership and her own staff,” says Rick Majzun, SLCH vice president for strategic operations and planning. “Michelle was adept at navigating even the most complex situations to bring about satisfactory outcomes. Through her hard work she built a world-class Medical Staff Office at Children’s Hospital.”

Although Nelson will miss Children’s Hospital and its people, she felt the time was right for her to retire. “I would like more time for myself to do the things I enjoy, like gardening and reading for pleasure,” says Nelson. “My husband, Bill McMath, isn’t retired, so we will be staying close to home—for now.”

Nelson does not, however, rule out participating in the more adventurous activities she’s enjoyed in the past—flying (she’s a licensed pilot), whitewater rafting, hiking on glaciers and bungee jumping. But even as she looks forward to a new future, Nelson remains grateful for her time at Children’s Hospital and her work with its physicians.

“It was an honor and privilege for me to work with the Medical Staff of St. Louis Children’s Hospital. I sincerely enjoyed assisting and supporting the dedicated faculty and community pediatricians over the many years,” she says. “I also want to thank the hospital administration and great staff of the Medical Staff Services department. I will always think of Children’s Hospital with joy.”