Mary Beth Voights has served a variety of leadership, support and educational roles at Carle Health for nearly 40 years – including, most notably, Trauma Program Manager for the east region.
Knowing from a very young age that she wanted to care for others, Voights started her healthcare journey at Methodist College. She says the relationships she formed and the knowledge she gained there helped set the foundation for her inspiring career.
Devoted to caregiving
Voights knew she always wanted to be a nurse. She says her great aunt – an obstetrics (OB) nurse – inspired her and she often cared for sick or injured animals while growing up on a family farm.
In high school, she began working at a nursing home, which she says played a big role in cementing a desire to devote her career to caregiving.
“It was one of the best experiences because the home was very family oriented – I was always working with someone who was caring for their family, and that really instilled those values in me early on,” Voights said.
During her sophomore year of high school, Voights attended a conference at Methodist College – then known as the Methodist School of Nursing – and, upon graduation, decided to pursue her nursing diploma there in 1976.
Voights recalls hitting the ground running – she worked more than 20 hours per week at Methodist Hospital, managed coursework and enrolled in summer classes. She says her closest friends motivated her to give it her all every day.
“They were, and still are, like family – we got up together and went to early clinicals, had supper and studied together for whatever was next,” Voights said. “We were all in the top third of our class and pushed each other. We were extremely compatible and acted as great resources for one another.”
Voights and her school friends still meet a few times per year to reminisce, enjoy each other’s company and think back on Tuesday nights at Avanti’s Restaurant on the corner of Main St & University Ave.
Growing as a leader
In 1979, Voights graduated and was named Student Nurse of the Year.
She says her time at Methodist College prepared her extremely well for life as a nurse, and with each position she held during the start of her career, she felt comfortable and confident.
Voights worked on a medical-surgical floor where she often carried caseloads for more than 20 patients at a time. After two years, she accepted a role in the Emergency Room and eventually pursued a degree in trauma nursing.
After earning a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CSN) master’s, Voights accepted a position at Carle Foundation Hospital (CFH) and helped establish its status as a Level 1 Trauma Center – which she continues to lead today.
“I love every minute of it,” Voights said. “It is not only a great opportunity to impact patients, but there is administrative work, goal setting, research and educating trauma nurse specialists.”
Crediting her own educational experience as motivation, Voights currently leads an advance trauma life support course for providers, advanced practice nurses and physician’s assistants.
Voights’ advice to aspiring caregivers
Voights holds Methodist College very close to her heart. She donates to the Carle Health Center for Philanthropy every year and helps give aspiring students the tools needed to enter their own healthcare career.
She says when it comes to nursing, the opportunities are limitless.
“You can do so many things across a broad career,” Voights said. “You can be in a fast-paced environment such as ER or ICU, or an environment where you are helping people from afar, such as telemedicine. You can be an educator and teach other nurses. It’s incredible.”
Voights adds that the hands-on experience nursing students receive is extremely important to becoming an excellent caregiver.
“Absolutely go be a nurse – and take advantage of every opportunity,” Voights said. “It is such a wonderful opportunity and career.”
This year, Methodist College celebrates 125 years of equipping students to provide the health solutions needed to best serve the Peoria community and beyond. Throughout its history, the college has created a unique and high-quality learning environment for the area’s future nurses, healthcare administrators, social workers and other clinical care providers.
For more information on Methodist College and its history, visit methodistcol.edu and look out for inspiring alumni stories like this one.