On Jan. 6, 2020, Dr. Jane Gerety, RSM, will fill the role of chief mission officer for Saint Joseph’s Health System and Mercy Care, reporting to CEO Tom Andrews.

In March 2019, Sister Angela Ebberwein, RSM, retired as vice president of mission after 26 years of service and graciously continued to lead the mission activities for the system through 2019. Sr. Angela will continue to serve on the boards of Saint Joseph’s Health System, Mercy Care and Mercy Care Rome.

Sister Jane retired in 2019 from Salve Regina University located in Newport, Rhode Island, where she served as president for 10 years. “But,” she says, “Sisters of Mercy never completely retire. When there is a need, we think long and hard about it and always say, ‘yes.’ What drew me to Mercy Care and makes me want to give my best is the opportunity to work close to people who have so much need and beside those who want to help.”

Before Salve Regina, she was immersed in healthcare at Saint Joseph’s Health System from 1992 to 2009. During her time at the health system, Sister Jane served as senior vice president of sponsorship, corporate compliance officer and executive board officer. Since 1995, she also had been serving as a member of the Salve Regina board of trustees when, in 2009, the board selected her as the seventh president of the institution in existence since 1947.

Sister Jane has a master’s in French and a doctorate in English. Along the way, she picked up Spanish too.

Prior to her first move to Atlanta in 1992, Sister Jane was the academic dean at Carlow College in Pittsburgh, where she also served as an associate professor of English, and director of the Public Leadership Program. She has also taught at the junior high and high school levels.

Sister Jane has served on a number of not-for-profit boards including Saint John’s Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Housing Southeast.

During a recent conversation, Sister Jane answered a few questions.

When did you know you wanted to join the Sisters of Mercy?

I was introduced to the Sisters of Mercy at age 17 while attending Holy Trinity High School in Georgetown. The Sisters operated the school, and I was drawn to their strength, independence, and intellect. They valued individuality and celebrated diversity.

How do you explain the feel you get when you walk into a mission-oriented organization like Mercy Care.

This is a place where God would feel at home. The mission comes to life through the people who work here, the community that surrounds us, and the variety of needs that come with it. What drew me to Mercy Care and makes me want to give my best is the opportunity to work close to people who have so much need and beside those who want to help. I was struck when I saw “unidentified” in the program at the candlelight memorial. No one even knew his name. At Mercy Care, we not only know your name, we want to know your situation. We want to walk with you through your struggles and your accomplishments.

Do you feel like you have come home?

Yes, because home for me is being with people with whom I have become friends; people at Mercy Care and Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital. I do not know that I have been in a place like Mercy Care that is so joyful. I love being with people who appreciate unique personalities, talents and backgrounds. People who do not patronize and are kind. People who treat not only their patients and clients with dignity, but also each other with respect.

 What are the first things you are going to do?

I will go through an extended orientation, getting to know our people, our patients, and our programs. I will take the time to immerse myself in the culture of Mercy Care. I also carry with me the fact that the Sisters of Mercy are fewer. Keeping the flame alive and passing the torch to lay people will be extremely important to me as time goes on.