Her job and her heart work closely together at the Wausau Community Health Care Center. Sister Francine Kosednar came to this northern Wisconsin town in 1963. Sister Francine's ministries have changed dynamically even as health care needs have changed. . When Sister  first came to Wausau, she was director of the occupational therapy department at Saint Mary's Hospital, sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior. Later Saint Mary's and Memorial Hospitals merged in order to meet the heightened medical, technical, and financial challenges of the ever changing healthcare profession. The result was Wausau Hospital.

"Our healing mission continues. Our goals and objectives are good care of our patients - concern for our staff and our community. Our leadership is forward looking, the staff is dedicated and we continue to grow and offer so much to this community and the area. Our heart program has a national reputation," Sister Francine said.

Sister Francine received her degree in occupational therapy at Mount Mary College, Milwaukee. She was drawn to this profession because of her love of art and the connection between the two areas. She was the first director of the occupational therapy department at Saint Mary's Hospital. She remembers designing her own hand splints for patients. She was instrumental in founding and directing a new Neurodevelopmental Clinic concentrating on pediatric therapy.

Today Sister is a patient advocate. Each day she visits and surveys patients on how the hospital can improve its care. Sister has the opportunity to make immediate changes in the hospital experience if patients are having a particular difficulty. "We want to know how to make this the best experience for the patient and the family while he or she is here, not after they go home. Our staff appreciates knowing as well."

"I am very much a 'people person'. I love walking these halls, saying hello to friends just as I do on the streets of our downtown. People here are friendly and concerned. This job offers me interaction, stimulation, and I try to bring a certain active listening."

Her coworkers feel the same way about her. "I love Sister Francine. She is friendly, warm, and cares about the patients," says Patty Eckers, medical secretary for the cardiac intensive care and medical surgical care units. 

Sister Francine is a gifted artist. When she arrives home, she puts on a huge apron and begins her woodcarving. As she relaxes she listens to public television music and begins work that ranges from crosses, angels,  and ornaments, to old world chip carvings. She works in bass  wood and butternut woods and continues to attend art workshops.

"I no longer work the 65 hour weeks we all used to do, but working with our patient satisfaction surveys keeps me connected to our healing ministry and this hospital community. I love this ministry because it is mission based," she concluded.