and Announces First-Ever Recipient of its Endowed Family Birthing Center Position
NMC Health is proud to announce the appointment of Taylor Sechrist, RN, IBCLC as the inaugural recipient of the Eleanor B. Ewert Endowed Nursing Educator Position. This prestigious award celebrates both Ewert’s and Sechrist’s dedication and contributions to maternal and child health in our community.
About the Endowment Fund
The Eleanor B. Ewert Nursing Educator Endowment Fund will provide long-term support for nursing educators at NMC Health’s Family Birthing Center in Newton, Kansas. This endowment honors the legacy of Eleanor B. Ewert, a passionate nurse and educator, whose life was dedicated to advancing healthcare and nurturing the next generation of healthcare providers.
“We are honored to once again oversee the Eleanor B. Ewert Memorial Fund at NMC Health,” said Patty Meier, NMC Health’s executive director of development and outreach. We appreciate the Central Kansas Community Foundation’s stewardship of this fund while NMC Health was without an active development department. “This new endowed position not only fulfills the family’s wishes that the funds reside within the hospital, but also allows the Medical Center to uphold Ewert’s legacy of excellence and compassion in maternal and child health.”
“Eleanor Ewert was a remarkable woman whose dedication to nursing and education touched many lives,” said Vallerie Gleason, President & CEO of NMC Health. “Through this fund, we honor her legacy and commitment to healthcare by empowering our nurses to continue providing exceptional care to families in our community.”
Warren Ewert, Eleanor’s son, expressed his gratitude for the fund: “Our family is deeply moved by this tribute to my mother’s life and work. She was passionate about education and deeply committed to her role as a nurse. We are honored that her legacy will continue to inspire and support nurses in such a meaningful way.”
For more information about the Eleanor B. Ewert Nursing Educator Endowment Fund, to learn about supporting the fund and nursing education services at NMC Health, or to find out how to create your own endowment at NMC, visit www.mynmchealth.org/donate or contact Meier at patricia.meier@mynmchealth.org and 316.804.6219.
About Eleanor B. Ewert
Eleanor B. Ewert was born in 1926 in India, where her parents served as missionaries. She attended the British Boarding School, Woodstock, nestled in the Himalayan foothills. After completing high school, Ewert traveled to the United States for further education, graduating from Bethel College and the Bethel Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing.
Ewert pursued her midwifery training at Columbia University in New York City, with plans to return to India. However, life took a different turn, and she married Marvin Ewert in 1953. Eleanor Ewert’s career flourished as she worked as a clinical instructor at Chicago Lying-In Hospital and later as an obstetrical staff nurse at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton. Her contributions included teaching classes for expectant parents, reflecting her lifelong commitment to education and maternal health.
The Eleanor B. Ewert Nursing Educator Endowment Fund ensures that her legacy of care, education, and dedication continues to impact the lives of nurses and the families they serve.
About Taylor Sechrist
Taylor Sechrist brings a wealth of experience and passion to the Family Birthing Center at NMC Health. With a career spanning more than nine years in labor and delivery, she has been instrumental in providing expert care and education to new mothers and families. Her commitment to advancing nursing education is evident through her former roles as a Child Birth Educator and Maternal Child Education Coordinator, and her current work as a Lactation Consultant and Baby Talk Educator.
After earning her Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences from Hesston College in 2015, Sechrist became a registered nurse in the State of Kansas. Her dedication to lifelong learning continues with her recent certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in March 2023. Currently, she serves as a Lactation Consultant and RN at NMC Health, where she addresses a variety of lactation challenges and supports breastfeeding mothers.
Sechrist’s professional journey is marked by her commitment to enhancing the birthing experience and supporting families through education and compassionate care. Her role as a BabyTalk Educator since June 2024 further highlights her dedication to community education and support.
In addition to her professional achievements, Sechrist has been recognized with several awards, including the 2017 Nursing Daisy Award and the 2015 Nursing Achievement Award. Her years of dedicated service and continued professional growth underscore her comprehensive skills and commitment to providing the highest standard of care.
NMC Health congratulates Sechrist on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to her continued contributions to the Family Birthing Center and the field of nursing education.
