Methodist College continues its mission to lead the region in developing local clinical expertise and remains committed to meeting the needs of Greater Peoria and its surrounding communities.
Robert Ernest is the college’s first ever male graduate – enrolling in 1958 and earning his nursing degree in 1961.
Ernest then went on to complete a career in healthcare that spanned more than 50 years, crediting his friends and family for inspiring him, and his instructors at Methodist College for setting him up for success.
Devoted to helping others
Ernest was the first in his family to attend high school. After he graduated, he wasn’t sure which career path to take, and felt additional education was out of reach.
His mother worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and helped him secure his first job as a patient assistant at what is now Carle Health Proctor Hospital.
“The Director of Nursing thought I was too young, but agreed to interview me and accepted me,” Ernest said. “That was my introduction into the medical field.”
Ernest remembers Nancy Koelbel, RN, a Methodist College graduate (then known as the Methodist School of Nursing) who took him under her wing and encouraged him to enroll and consider a career in anesthesia.
“I remember my first day – it was like having 150 sisters,” Ernest said. “Some of my instructors weren’t sure of me at first, but we grew closer over time and continued to be friends long after.”
Ernest remembers his experience at Methodist College was strongly focused on hands-on experience and best practices.
He recalls, seemingly from the very beginning, he worked on the hospital floors and was taught to prioritize exceptional, compassionate care for patients.
“It was excellent – we really learned the ins and outs of patient care,” Ernest said. “By the end of the first year, we were doing charge duty on the night shift.”
Ernest adds he appreciates that Methodist College continues to provide numerous hands-on experiences for its students through state-of-the-art simulation lab and modernized
classrooms, as well as its variety of clinical opportunities at Carle Health Methodist Hospital.
A comprehensive career
After he finished his nursing degree, Ernest enrolled at the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia and joined the United States Air Force.
In 1963, he was assigned to a two-year position at an Air Force base in Anchorage, Alaska. He says he loved that experience and it is where he met his wife, Donna – a public health nurse. They will celebrate 61 years of marriage in 2025.
Ernest also worked on an Air Force base in Maine, held a directorial role at a hospital in Wisconsin, and obtained a Master of Public Health degree in California.
He and his wife’s passion for caregiving eventually led them to perform missionary work in Nigeria, West Africa, where Ernest continued his role in anesthesia, worked as a nursing director and taught students.
“It was a really good experience, and it meant a lot to us,” Ernest said. “It also helped me decide to further my education in the field.”
When he returned home, Ernest completed a Doctor of Public Health degree, taught at Loma Linda University in California, and eventually returned to anesthesiology full-time.
He retired in 2001 but continued to volunteer in healthcare and work on-and-off until early 2024 – wrapping up his lifelong commitment to serving patients at the age of 84.
“I miss that work and often dream of still doing it,” Ernest said. “I still stay in touch with my former classmates, and they are still like sisters to me.”
Ernest’s advice to aspiring nurses
Ernest currently resides in Alabama, where he can stay close to his family – many of whom work in or studied healthcare.
He looks back on his career with pride and says for anyone thinking about a career devoted to caring for others, nursing is a no-brainer.
“Nursing is an excellent field – I recommend anybody to go into it. Everything has evolved tremendously, and caring for others, you can’t beat it. I recommend it to all the young men and women thinking about it – it’s just a great field.”
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 keep an eye out for more inspiring alumni stories like this one.