By Cristina Janney
Newton Kansan
Jo Miller has traveled the world as an Air Force nurse.
But she said she is happy to be back in Newton, where she grew up, directing the Harvey County Health Department.
Miller, 59, went back to school at Northeast Missouri State University to become a nurse when she was 34.
After graduating, she entered the U.S. Air Force.
During her 10 years of service, she traveled the world spending time in Guantamo Bay, Haiti, Tokyo, Serbia and Egypt.
Her nursing resume is about as diverse as the stamps on her passport.
Miller treated Haitian refugees and soldiers injured in the first Gulf War.
She worked in operating rooms, as an orthopedics and neurosurgical nurse and with cardiac patients.
After the Air Force, she worked at St. Mary Hospital in Arizona, which is the first hospital in the United States north of the Mexican border.
There, she worked as a liaison between doctors and patients in the emergency room, getting help for critically ill patients.
“I have had the opportunity to do a lot of neat stuff in the nursing field and in life,” she said. ... “I can do everything from brain and heart surgery to put a Band-Aid on you.”
Miller came back to Newton with her husband to be near family. She has five grown children and nine grandchildren.
Miller was born in Emporia but grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1969.
Her last position was the director of emergency services at Newton Medical Center. She also was the disaster coordinator at NMC.
So, with all these varied experience, why go into public health?
Miller said it is a desire to serve.
“At this time in my life, I have service in my heart,” she said. “I find it interesting that I have come full circle. I am back home, and I like being here.”
She said one of her priorities for the health department will be developing a network of care for low-income pregnant women.
There is no prenatal care in Newton for women who do not have money to pay for it. The health department refers women to a clinic in Wichita. However, many of these women have no means of getting to the out-of-town clinic.
Miller said she hopes to build relationships with Prairie View, NMC, Health Ministries and local clinics to help all members of the Harvey County community receive health care.
“Like it or not, we have to a part of the solution,” she said.
The health department also is working on national accreditation.
Although accreditation is not required, Miller said she anticipates all public health centers eventually will be required to be accredited.
Miller said she also will work to get the word out about the services the health department offers.
The Web site will be revamped, Millers is working on a Facebook page and the department will be doing some advertising.
Miller said she has a strong commitment to her purpose. She said her biggest challenge may be having patience.
“I’m a doer. Sometimes I jump in when I should step back. I have to be slow and patient. That’s not easy. I want to fix it and fix it now.”
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By Cristina Janney
Newton Kansan
Jo Miller has traveled the world as an Air Force nurse.
But she said she is happy to be back in Newton, where she grew up, directing the Harvey County Health Department.
Miller, 59, went back to school at Northeast Missouri State University to become a nurse when she was 34.
After graduating, she entered the U.S. Air Force.
During her 10 years of service, she traveled the world spending time in Guantamo Bay, Haiti, Tokyo, Serbia and Egypt.
Her nursing resume is about as diverse as the stamps on her passport.
Miller treated Haitian refugees and soldiers injured in the first Gulf War.
She worked in operating rooms, as an orthopedics and neurosurgical nurse and with cardiac patients.
After the Air Force, she worked at St. Mary Hospital in Arizona, which is the first hospital in the United States north of the Mexican border.
There, she worked as a liaison between doctors and patients in the emergency room, getting help for critically ill patients.
“I have had the opportunity to do a lot of neat stuff in the nursing field and in life,” she said. ... “I can do everything from brain and heart surgery to put a Band-Aid on you.”
Miller came back to Newton with her husband to be near family. She has five grown children and nine grandchildren.
Miller was born in Emporia but grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1969.
Her last position was the director of emergency services at Newton Medical Center. She also was the disaster coordinator at NMC.
So, with all these varied experience, why go into public health?
Miller said it is a desire to serve.
“At this time in my life, I have service in my heart,” she said. “I find it interesting that I have come full circle. I am back home, and I like being here.”
She said one of her priorities for the health department will be developing a network of care for low-income pregnant women.
There is no prenatal care in Newton for women who do not have money to pay for it. The health department refers women to a clinic in Wichita. However, many of these women have no means of getting to the out-of-town clinic.
Miller said she hopes to build relationships with Prairie View, NMC, Health Ministries and local clinics to help all members of the Harvey County community receive health care.
“Like it or not, we have to a part of the solution,” she said.
The health department also is working on national accreditation.
Although accreditation is not required, Miller said she anticipates all public health centers eventually will be required to be accredited.
Miller said she also will work to get the word out about the services the health department offers.
The Web site will be revamped, Millers is working on a Facebook page and the department will be doing some advertising.
Miller said she has a strong commitment to her purpose. She said her biggest challenge may be having patience.
“I’m a doer. Sometimes I jump in when I should step back. I have to be slow and patient. That’s not easy. I want to fix it and fix it now.”
