2006 Inspired Comfort Award Grand Prize Winner — Advanced Practice Nurse Category

Nomination Letter

Recipient:	Jacki S. Witt, JD, MSN, RNC, WHNP, CNM 2006 Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award Grand Prize Winner APN Category
Job Title:	Clinical Associate Professor
Employer:	University of Missouri - Kansas City— UMKC Kansas City, MO
Nominated by:	Kit Smith
Employer:	University of Missouri - Kansas City— UMKC
Title:	Associate Dean

Despite the initials behind her name— JD, MSN, RNC WHNP, CNM , Jacki Witt is as unassuming as they come. Jacki teaches nursing full time at the University of Missouri - Kansas City— UMKC . While she’s a fantastic teacher and mentor, that is not the focus of this nomination; rather, this Cherokee Award nomination is based on the countless hours Jacki spends providing nursing care to underserved populations in Kansas City. Jacki uses her nurse practitioner— NP skills in the Clay County Health Center Women’s Health Program in Liberty— Missouri , in the Obstetrics and Gynecology unit at Truman Medical Center, the safety net hospital in the urban core of Kansas City, at the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, and in the Helen Gragg Clinic at Operation Breakthrough. It is this exceptional service, as well as the sacrifice of starting a new clinic at Operation Breakthrough, which illustrate the selfless dedication with which Jacki provides health care to those who otherwise would receive none.

Operation Breakthrough is Missouri’s largest single-site childcare and early education center. Two hundred fifty— 250 children participate in the early childhood education programs and an additional 200 children attend the before/after school and summer enrichment programs. Nearly 25% of the total 450 children are homeless, 25% are in foster care, and the rest are from families earning less than $12,000 per year— well below the federal poverty level of $16,090 for a family of three . While health care services for these children are provided by two pediatric nurse practitioners, their families have none.

Jacki and Sr. Berta Sailor— Operation Breakthrough Co-Director worked for years, literally, to establish a nurse run adult clinic located at Operation Breakthrough. The clinic was to provide free, “one stop” health care for parents— generally single women when they stopped by to pick up their children. The concept proposed to eliminate barriers of money, time, transportation, and childcare that often interfered with the women seeking and receiving health care services. Finally in September 2004, the right partners fell into place— Operation Breakthrough, UMKC School of Nursing, and St. Luke’s Hospital and Family Care Clinic and the Helen Gragg Adult Clinic opened its doors at Operation Breakthrough. The overarching goals of the clinic are to offer convenient and accessible health care services to working poor parents, to encourage women to seek regular preventive care and treatment of health problems, and to educate the women about health issues.

Without the vision, dedication, and downright tenacity of Jacki and Sr. Berta, there would be no Helen Gragg Adult Clinic today. The sacrifice and strength of commitment needed to see this project to fruition could only come from the heart, and was all the more inspiring with Jacki as its source— Jacki, that is, who has trouble sitting through one meeting, much less countless meetings over several years marred by setbacks and delays time and again . With that pivotal role behind her, Jacki now volunteers in the clinic on a regular basis and it is here that she shines brightest. She connects with patients, engaging them with her frank openness and acceptance. Once patients realize they are safe from judgment, Jacki’s exceptional clinical skills and natural compassion coalesce into appropriate and respectful health care for the adults at Operation Breakthrough. Please recognize Jacki Witt’s sacrifice and exceptional service in providing health care to the underserved of Kansas City by honoring her with the Cherokee Award!

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