NEW STAFF JOIN VMH HEALTH CARE TEAM

Three new staff members have recently joined the health care team at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. They are Mary "Muggs" Berns, Anna Gearhart and Heather Martin.

Mary "Muggs" Berns
Muggs Berns is the new Surgical/Central Sterilizing Technician at Veterans Memorial Hospital. Muggs re-joins the hospital's Surgery Department after working the last 10 years as a sales clerk at Center Stage in Waukon. Muggs has over 25 years of prior experience with surgery and patient care at Veterans Memorial Hospital. She has completed numerous inservices while on staff at the hospital as well as passed the National Exam for Certified Technicians.
Muggs is the wife of Francis Berns of rural Waukon. They have seven grown children including Jerry, Reggie, Greg and Doug Berns, Shelly Grangaard, Tracy Schlitter and the late Jeff Berns. Muggs and Francis also enjoy their ten grandchildren.

Anna Gearhart
Anna Gearhart is the newest member of the Healthy Lifestyles Center Staff at Veterans Memorial Hospital. She joins the staff as a Rehab Clerk assisting the Healthy Lifestyles Center members and serving as the center's receptionist.
Anna has many years of experience in education, including two years teaching 2nd grade at Boone Public Schools, two years as the Title One Reading Program teacher and six years as a pre-school handicap teacher in Lamar, CO. Anna also served as the Director of the Head Start Program and Iowa Child Development Program for Northeast Iowa Community Action in Decorah for over 25 years.
Anna and her husband reside in Waukon. They have four grown children - Debra Roe, Kim Griffin, Mary Campbell, and Steve Gearhart, and a total of eight grandchildren.

Heather Martin
Heather Martin is the newest Registered Nurse to join the hospital's nursing department. Heather recently received her associate's degree in Nursing from Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar in May. She has worked at the Waukon Good Samaritan Center as a certified nurse assistant for the past four years, and has been a certified medication aid for the past year.
Heather and Jason Johnson reside in Postville with their two children; Haley, age 3 and a half and Jadon, 6 months.