SBU Mercy College of Health Professions & Springfield Campus

We could not ask for a better partner!

It's not just the kids who are excited to be done with school for the year. SBU's nursing and radiography students also celebrated graduation recently, and we are so excited to welcome 58 of these recent grads to our team here at Mercy.

Mercy first teamed up with SBU 1986, when we were better known as St. John’s Regional Medical Center. SBU students have completed their clinical hours with us ever since.

It is an honor to be able to say we've been training our community's caregivers for 40 years.

Our Director of Admissions for the Springfield Campus, Mrs. Paula Palmer, and our Dean, Dr. Brittney Hendrickson, were out in the community yesterday connecting with current and future healthcare professionals at local college and career fairs. First stop, Republic Middle School, where they had the opportunity to engage with students alongside the Greene County Sheriff's Office throughout the event. The day continued with a visit to our valued clinical partner, Mercy Hospital Springfield, strengthening community partnerships and showcasing the many opportunities available within healthcare education.
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Investing in students early and building strong community connections helps inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals and supports the future workforce needs of our region.

We spy 2 alumni! 👀 Shout out to Shane and Dustin for doing what they do best, caring for others and making a difference every day.

School was only out for a short time for some... 😊 As we kicked off Mayfest, our DPT 2nd year students welcomed guest lecturer Ben Menary, MA, LPC, from Compass Health Network for a Motivational Interviewing workshop as part of Health Promotions.

Ben is also the spouse of our own Dr. Sarah Menary, making it even more special to have him on campus sharing his expertise and practical communication strategies with our students. Experiences like these continue to prepare our future clinicians to connect with patients through empathy, communication, and patient centered care.

Last week, 113 of our ASR, ASN, Bridge, and BSN students participated in a special pinning ceremony held on graduation day at Southwest Baptist University. This long standing healthcare tradition honors the transition from student to healthcare professional and celebrates the compassion, dedication, and commitment required to serve others in healthcare. Loved ones in attendance had the honor of pinning their graduates during the ceremony. Our three Florence Nightingale Award winners representing the BSN, Bridge, and ASN programs also led the nursing students in the Florence Nightingale Pledge.

We were honored to have Mr. Bill Hennessey, Vice President of Mission for Mercy Hospital Springfield, accept an honorary pin as he begins his next adventure in retirement. We appreciated his heartfelt commencement address, prayer, and the lasting impact he has made on healthcare and our students.

Leadership from Mercy Hospital Springfield joined us in celebrating our graduates, with students committed to working with Mercy after graduation recognized with special cords placed by .

Special thanks to our faculty and staff for making the ceremony beautiful; Jessica Atchison, Executive Director of Nursing and Operations, and Dr. Brittney Hendrickson, Dean of the College of Health Professions, for kicking off the ceremony; Aaron Tribby, Director of Academic Relations, and Erika Warner, Manager of Learning Center and PPDC Academic Relations, for placing the cords and everything they do for our students; Kim Tilley, Vice President of Operations at Mercy, for delivering the “Welcome to the Profession”; and Keith Schaefer, Vice President of Mission for Mercy Springfield Communities, for leading the Blessing of the Hands. Mr. Bill Hennessey also led us out with a prayer and his classic selfie. We will miss those!

We are so proud of these graduates and cannot wait to see the impact they make in healthcare and their communities.

Celebrating excellence in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Southwest Baptist University! 52 students were medalled for the successful completion of all academic and clinical components of DPT coursework, marking an incredible milestone as they prepare to enter the profession of physical therapy.

Special recognition was given to:
• Emerging Clinicians: Zion Fralin and Joe Miller
• Bill Carl Service Award: Elizabeth Gregory and Kaitlyn Padget
• Top Academic Awards: Ridge Smith, Laura Cook, Raegan Kelley, and Emma Pitts
• Clinical Instructor of the Year: Ryan Reid
• Clinical Site of the Year: St. Francis Health System

Additionally, students whose research was accepted for presentation and publication at national and regional conferences were recognized for their scholarly contributions and commitment to advancing the profession through evidence based practice and research.

We are incredibly proud of this group for their dedication, compassion, leadership, and commitment to improving the lives of others through healthcare. The future of physical therapy is bright!

Here are some of our LPN-Paramedic Bridge students. These students are one step closer to becoming RNs! We are so proud of your dedication to healthcare and nursing. You have already made a meaningful impact in the lives of others, and we cannot wait to see where this next chapter takes you. Thank you for all you do and for allowing us to be part of your journey! 🎉

Look at this group! We are so proud of our 2026 Associate of Science in Radiography graduates! We are praying for each of you as you take your registry exam and begin your careers in healthcare. Radiologic technologists make a difference every day through compassion, precision, and the important role they play in helping diagnose and care for patients.
Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your journey. We cannot wait to see the impact you make! 🎉