MAY 2026
Commencement 2026: Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Mount Carmel College of Nursing held its 122nd commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 8, at the Naz Church in Grove City. Surrounded by family, friends, and faculty, graduates marked the culmination of years of dedication and hard work.
Dr. Joyce Zurmehly, Dean of Nursing and Allied Health, delivered the commencement address, reminding graduates of the friendships they’ve built, the knowledge and clinical judgment they’ve gained, and the support systems that carried them to this moment.
She acknowledged the challenges of the nursing profession but emphasized its profound purpose.
“It will give you something extraordinary—the privilege of making a difference in the lives of others every single day,” she said.
And in moments of doubt, she encouraged graduates to remember the confidence instilled in them throughout their journey: “You’ve got this.”
The ceremony marked not only the culmination of years of hard work, but the beginning of a meaningful and impactful career in nursing for every graduate.
Mount Carmel CEO Tauana McDonald earns regional and national honors
Tauana McDonald, president and CEO of Mount Carmel Health System, continues to be recognized as a transformative leader in health care—advancing health equity, strengthening community partnerships, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. In recent weeks, her impact has been celebrated both locally and nationally through several prestigious honors.
In central Ohio, Tauana was named one of the YMCA 2026 Women of Achievement, a recognition reserved for women who demonstrate exceptional leadership and service. She was also selected by Columbus Business First as a 2026 Executive of the Year Honoree and included on the publication’s Power 125, a list highlighting the region’s most influential business leaders.
Nationally, Modern Healthcare named Tauana one of the Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare, recognizing her strategic vision, commitment to equity, and ability to drive meaningful, lasting change across the communities Mount Carmel serves.
Together, these honors reflect Tauana’s unwavering dedication to improving health outcomes, expanding access to care and leading with purpose—both within Mount Carmel and across the broader healthcare landscape.
Mount Carmel nurses and their families at the Columbus Clipper’s game celebrating nurses.
Celebrating Mount Carmel nurses during National Nurses Month
Mount Carmel nurses are the steady, compassionate backbone of our health system—bringing clinical expertise, critical thinking, and human connection to the moments when patients need it most. They translate complex care into comfort, notice the subtle changes that save lives, and support families through uncertainty with empathy and skill.
May is National Nurses Month, and throughout the month we’ve had countless opportunities to honor and celebrate the nurses who make exceptional care possible every day. From Director of Patient Care Services Angie Garcia, DNP, MSN–HCLA, RN, NE BC, throwing out the first pitch at a Columbus Clippers game, to the 345 new graduates of the Mount Carmel College of Nursing stepping into their calling, we’ve spent the month cheering, applauding, and recognizing the extraordinary individuals who define nursing excellence at Mount Carmel.
Happy National Nurses Month to every nurse across our system. Your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our patients and community inspire us all.
Community Health & Well-Being colleagues, including Community Health Workers, showcased their services in a recent event at the von Zychlin Healthy Living Center in Franklinton.
Cardinal Health Foundation invests to build a stronger, healthier community
Cardinal Health Foundation’s support of the Mount Carmel Foundation is rooted in a shared commitment to advancing health equity and strengthening the healthcare workforce. “Mount Carmel’s focus on Community Health Workers and nursing education closely aligns with the Cardinal Health Foundation’s community investment priorities, offering a meaningful opportunity to improve access to care, expand pathways into healthcare careers and create measurable impact for years to come,” says Jessie Cannon, president, Cardinal Health Foundation.
“This partnership reflects Cardinal Health’s broader community relations strategy, which centers on expanding access—to care, resources and opportunity,” she adds. “Supporting the Mount Carmel Foundation is a natural extension of that mission, addressing both immediate needs and the underlying factors that shape long term health outcomes.”
Through its investment, the Cardinal Health Foundation aims to remove barriers that prevent individuals and families from achieving better health while strengthening Central Ohio’s healthcare ecosystem. The Cardinal Health Foundation helps support Mount Carmel’s Community Health Workers, who help patients navigate complex systems and connect to essential resources. In addition, they provide nursing student scholarships and help make emergency funds available to student to reduce financial obstacles to pursuing healthcare careers.
National Mental Health Awareness Month: CTAP brings hope and help to victims of crime and trauma
For more than 25 years, Mount Carmel has provided evidence-based, outpatient mental health counseling for people impacted by trauma, helping survivors take steps toward healing through CTAP, its Crime and Trauma Assistance Program.
“We have a team of independently-licensed, clinical social workers who provide trauma counseling and treatment at no cost to the client,” says Stacey Conrad, MPH, who manages the CTAP program as well as Mount Carmel’s von Zychlin Healthy Living Center. “The five therapists are complemented by a clinical case manager who can help with referrals to other agencies when needed.”
CTAP counseling services are in high demand and Stacey notes “I can’t remember a time when this program was without a wait list of people requesting our help.”
“Our therapists are trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, which helps clients with Posttraumatic Stress symptoms to let go of the parts of upsetting experiences that they no longer need,” Stacey says. “It’s highly effective and has helped many in our care significantly reduce their PTSD symptoms and no longer be defined by their trauma.”
From the client’s perspective:
“Had it not been for the help from the victim assistance program, I would not have had access to the quality of care I received.”
“The EMDR has been life-changing and enabled me to build hope and confidence. My outlook has greatly improved.”
CTAP is able to provide services at no cost due to continued financial support from local and federal grants, as well as generous donation to the Mount Carmel Foundation. Visit the donation page to contribute to the program and choose Crime and Trauma Assistance Program from the drop-down menu.