LIMA — The 2017 Rhodes State College Outstanding Alumni Award recipient is Mary L. Marker. She is a 1980 graduate, a member of the first class of the Respiratory Care Program, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. She is a Certified Respiratory Therapist and Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist.

Marker is a long-time employee of St. Rita’s Medical Center, starting as a Respiratory Therapist and currently serving as the Director of Cardiopulmonary Ancillary Services. She oversees the areas of Respiratory Care, Pulmonary Function, EKG Lab, Sleep Center, Audiology and EEG Lab. She successfully completed the certification process through The Joint Commission for St. Rita’s as a Primary Stroke Center (2014) and as an AMI (Acute Myocardial Infarction) Center (2015). She is an alumna of the Catholic Healthcare Partners Leadership Academy and Allen Lima Leadership. She has also served as the Northwest District representative, secretary, and president of the Ohio Society for Respiratory Care.

Marker remains an invaluable volunteer for the College, as well as a board member for the Veterans Memorial Civic Center Foundation. Marker has served consistently on the Rhodes State College Respiratory Care Advisory Committee, thirteen years as chair and was instrumental in the establishment of the Respiratory Care Alumni Scholarship.

Pam Halfhill, her nominator, reflected that “Mary has consistently and constantly moved herself into positions which have benefited many people in need of health care. She has worked tirelessly to bring new and state-of-the-art medical treatment to St. Rita’s Medical Center and the Lima area community. She lives the Rhodes State College mission by becoming a life-long learner herself and bettering her community.”

The 2017 Outstanding Alumni award presentation took place during the 47th Rhodes State College Commencement in Crouse Hall of the Veterans’ Memorial Civic and Convention Center in Lima.