For 24 years, Ann Keeley has been a clinical associate professor in Mercer University’s nursing program. Her focus on mental health has often enabled her to bring the real world and students together, and sometimes it’s more than a learning experience.
Early in her teaching career, Keeley heard about the Friendship Center at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in southeast Atlanta. Twice a week, the outreach program brings together 50 to 100 residents of nearby personal care homes who suffer with mental illness. The concept intrigued Keeley, who trekked from her Brookhaven home to check it out.
“There are no goals, nothing related to treatment; it’s about having a place where people can be together,” she said. “It’s a really neat place where people can have a good time doing arts and crafts, weaving, pottery or gardening. I’ve been going there every since that first time, and even bring my students there.”
Though she’s not Episcopalian, Keeley signed on to become the parish nurse and started a basic health program. She’s set up screenings for hypertension and high blood sugar and talks on nutrition. She launched a manicure program, using “wild and crazy nail polish” that she brings in. She’s also instigated a regime to take care of the participants’ feet. The program has expanded to include some meals as well.
A few years ago, when the Episcopalian diocese considered closing the church, Keeley and others rallied to save it. “These people all live in personal care homes in the neighborhood; why not provide a church for them?” argued Keeley, who three years ago took a seat on the ministry’s advisory board.
“For people who have no voice, no choice and very little say in how their healthcare - or their lives - are conducted, Ann has been a steadfast friend, advocate and cheerleader,” wrote nominator Elizabeth Mitchell of Holy Comforter. “The amazing thing is that all this is volunteer work, done in addition to her full time job at Mercer and her family obligations. Ann’s belief in social justice, in holding up ‘the least of these’ and in healthcare being a right for all, no matter how un-empowered, is in evidence every Tuesday and Thursday at the Friendship Center. Even when she isn’t onsite, her vision holds strong.”
Though Keeley doesn’t put much faith in the concept of “callings,” she thinks her work at the Friendship Center might be a rare example of being tapped to meet a need.
“I did not ever feel that before, but I have felt pulled to be there and be a parish nurse,” said Keeley, who plans to retire from teaching this year. “I cannot tell you how much I love this place. And the best thing about retiring is that I can be there even more.”
