On July 30, 2007 the practice of Case Management lost a friend and leader. Mary Gambosh passed away at her home in Charlotte, NC, with her family by her side after battling numerous complicated medical conditions for several years. She was 69 years old. As many of you read this, I know you will be surprised and saddened by this news. Those who knew Mary remember her spirit, her passion for life and her unyielding commitment to the practice of case management. Mary always had a smile and welcomed all with opened arms. Always willing to listen, offer advice and words of wisdom, she also challenged those who sought her advice to bring a solution to the problems they faced. She always asked; “What can you to do improve/change the situation?”

Mary was one of the first independent case managers in the practice to recognize the business opportunity that practice of case management could offer if it was done right. Her company, VPS, was a launching pad to many case managers who went through a rigorous orientation before being ‘let loose’ to practice in their home town, but always in close contact with Mary. She was a pioneer in the field. She set the standard that generation of case managers would be judged. Mary was one of the five visionaries who met in Chicago in 1989 because they saw the need for those practicing what was called ‘case management’ to come together in a formal manner to provide structure to the practice and form a network to share ideas on how improve the practice. She was joined by Nell Ann Peck-Wooldridge, Mindy Owen, Carrie Engen-Marion and Lynn Bowie as initial founders of the Case Management Society of America. Even after her retirement, Mary remained active in the Society and attended many of the national conferences so she could ’stay connected.’ She enjoyed seeing old friends and meeting new people in the practice. Her last conference was in 2005 when she received a Life Time Achievement Award by the Case Management Society of America.

Mary was my friend and I will miss her. As I sent out word about her passing to various people, I began to receive many emails back which articulated the impact Mary had on so many people personally. As I close this week’s edition of Across My Desk, I would like to share some of the words that people had for Mary.

Pat Bell: “She was truly a wonderful person and mentor whom I feel honored to have trained under.”

Anne Marie Marks: “Mary was a very special person in my life. I still ‘feel’ her energy.”

Paul M. Deutsch Ph.D. “Our field has been lessened by her passing and I know the people with whom she worked, professionals and patients alike, will miss her.”

Carolyn Miller, “I loved Mary. She was so kind and will really be missed”

Cathy Nearhoof: “Mary was such a mentor to all of us and an icon to Case Management. She will be missed by many”.

Connie Sunderhaus: “Mary touched the hearts of so many — with a smile and the sharing of her passion — case management. She will be missed.”

Jackie Birmingham: “How very sad. But she had her ‘boots on’ till the end.”

Peter Moran, “She always tried to see what was in the best interest of the profession and was a mentor for many a case manager. When I think of Mary, I think of her energy and her unbridled spirit. We have lost a great leader. She will truly be missed.”

Jeannie Boling: “Through the years, Mary has been a mentor in so many ways –- in business, as a nurse, as a business woman , as a leader, as a caregiver, as a patient, and as a magnificent human being. I owe Mary much and realize that as I say that, there are probably many ‘amen’s in agreement. We will miss Mary greatly. However, it is with joy that we can know she is free from the limitations of her earthly body and is at home with her Lord. I can only imagine He, Frank, Stephen and Mary must be having some reunion! And Mary will no doubt shortly be organizing and training legions of angels.”

The family is in the process of planning a memorial for Mary that will be held in Richmond, VA, in the next few months. I will share the information with all once I receive an update.

Have a good week,

Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Across My Desk, Case in Point magazine, and the Case Management Resource Guide
allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com