Inspired to be a nurse—and inspiring future nurses

A future in nursing was always part of the plan for Dr. Elizabeth Schlenk ’75, who then later went down a career path where she got to impact future nurses.

For the past four years, Dr. Schlenk, a Mount Mercy nursing graduate, has served as Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

“As an academic researcher who has taught across all levels of students, I am most proud of launching the next generation of nurses as clinicians, advanced practice providers, and nurse scientists,” she said.

With her dedication to nursing and patient welfare, Dr. Schlenk is the honored 2025 recipient of Mount Mercy’s Distinguished Service alumni award, presented annually to a graduate who has, among other things, established and promoted services to others.

“Mount Mercy provided me with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for a long and rewarding professional career in nursing,” she said.

A Cedar Rapids native, Dr. Schlenk was in high school when the possibility of launching a nursing career at Mount Mercy first came into focus.

“As a high school senior, I toured Mount Mercy and believed it was a particularly good fit for me since it had an excellent nursing program,” Dr. Schlenk recalled. “Mount Mercy had a Catholic foundation, which was important to me. Also, I could commute and live at home, which was more affordable.

“I always enjoyed the sciences, and I wanted to have an impact on people’s health and wellbeing,” she continued. “I also had four registered nurses in my family, so I knew first-hand that nursing was science-based and a caring profession.”

She arrived at Mount Mercy to study nursing and made friends that have lasted her entire lifetime. Fifty years since graduating, her lab courses and walking through the tunnels during cold Iowa winters are among the memories that have remained strong. She names Sr. James Marie Donahue, who was director of the nursing program, and Sr. Mary Rebecca Fidler, who was her advisor and anatomy instructor, as mentors who impacted her time on the Hill.

“They were outstanding educators,” she said.

When it came time to take the National Council Licensure Examination, Dr. Schlenk said Mount Mercy had her well prepared and she passed on her first attempt. She then took a registered nurse position at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

“Mount Mercy fostered a love of learning in me, and after five years of practice, I decided to return to school for a master’s degree at the University of Iowa College of Nursing.”

She earned her master’s degree and returned to the Hill to teach nursing at Mount Mercy for five years. She next decided to continue her academic journey and enrolled at the University of Michigan School of Nursing to obtain her PhD.

“My dissertation was on adherence to chronic disorder regimens to improve patient outcomes,” she said, essentially, finding ways to improve the quality of life for patients self-managing a chronic disorder.

Older adults have been the focus in several of Dr. Schlenk’s studies. Through lifestyle changes and adherence to treatment regimens, her research has contributed to enhancing the health of older people as well as leading to additional research conducted by other scientists in clinical trials.

“Upon graduation from the University of Michigan, I was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and then moved into an assistant professor position,” she explained of her professional progression. “Owing to my research, teaching, and service, I was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.”

Dr. Schlenk has made extensive contributions to nursing education, as evidenced in 2017 when she was awarded the Faculty Leadership Award at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Now Associate Dean, Dr. Schlenk has been at the University of Pittsburgh for 30 years. She is retiring in the summer of 2025 to become an emeritus faculty.

“Mount Mercy is a jewel, and the merger of Mount Mercy University and St. Ambrose University will continue to provide future students with the educational background they need for success.” —Dr. Elizabeth Schlenk ’75

“I will continue working on a part-time basis until June 2026 to complete an educational project,” she said. “As an emeritus faculty, I will continue to mentor graduate students, collaborate with colleagues on scholarly papers, and do more traveling.”

Dr. Schlenk lives in Pittsburgh with her husband, James O’Leary. As she mentors today’s students, she encourages them to take full advantage of what’s in front of them.

“Be open to the multiple opportunities that you will encounter during your education,” she said. “Identify the topic about which you are passionate and find mentors to guide you and resources to support you to achieve your professional goals.”

Mount Mercy helped Dr. Schlenk achieve her professional goals, and she believes it’s positioned to help students for years to come.

“Mount Mercy is a jewel,” she said, “and the merger of Mount Mercy University and St. Ambrose University will continue to provide future students with the educational background they need for success.”