26 Jun
Beth Strub has offered compassionate care to patients as a nurse practitioner at Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center for nearly 10 years.
She started on a part-time basis at Promise in August 2008 – just a month after Promise opened its doors – to provide women’s health services and to give the original full-time provider a day off every week. A few months later, she went full time and now is the longest-tenured provider at the health center.
Therefore, it is with great sadness that Promise staff and patients are bidding farewell to Strub as she moves on to provide women’s health and gynecology services for the Iowa City VA Health Care System. Her last day is this Friday, June 29.
Strub always will have fond memories of her years at Promise.
“I already look back and see what a difference Promise has made in so many people’s lives, by getting them the care they could not afford elsewhere,” Strub said. “This is very rewarding, and I can honestly say that every day when I go home I know that we have made a positive difference in many lives. I will miss the people and patients that I have gotten to know, and have developed relationships with, over the last 10 years.”
Strub entire career has been dedicated to health care.
After graduating from Le Mars High School in 1981, she received her degree as a registered nurse from St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City in 1984. She served as a nurse for nearly a decade before earning her degree as a women’s health nurse practitioner in 1994 from a program sponsored by the Family Planning Council of Iowa and Drake University. She then served as a nurse practitioner at Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa in Des Moines, 1994-2006, and at Curaquick Clinic in a Hy-Vee grocery store in Sioux City, 2006-08, prior to coming to Promise.
She now looks forward to returning to a primary focus on women’s health at the VA clinic.
“I get to provide this for the women who have worked to make our country a safe and great place to live,” she said.
Before taking her next step in her career journey, Strub took time to reflect on her years at Promise.
Q. What has serving at Promise CHC for the past 10 years been like for you?
A. The greatest rewards are the people that I work with and the clients that I serve. I work with people who are very passionate about doing whatever it takes to meet our clients needs. I have the fortune of having had many of these clients for nearly 10 years now, and I care for many generations of the same family. The biggest challenges we face are related to finding ways to help people with no insurance and limited resources. This can be very difficult.
Q. What did you appreciate about serving Promise’s patient population?
A. I appreciate when clients work hard to do what they can do to feel better and take care of themselves.
Q. What will you remember most about your time at Promise?
A. My favorite memories will always be the friendships with coworkers and the times when we have had time to reminisce together.
Q. As you reflect on Promise’s history, what are your thoughts about where Promise is today compared to when you started 2008?
A. My goodness have we grown! When I think back to my first days here to now, it is really shocking. We are now consuming almost the entire building. And I really love when I see someone who has an immediate dental issue that we can walk them down the hall to see the dentist. Same goes with someone who needs an eye doctor, or a therapist for emotional needs. This really is a place where holistic health care happens!
Q. What do you hope for Promise’s future?
A. I hope that Promise continues to grow and more providers are employed to meet the increasing need for people needing this type of health care.
MORE ABOUT BETH:
Beth Strub and her husband, Mark, have four children and three grandsons. In her spare time, she loves to read, garden and cook. She also loves playing with her grandchildren and spending time with family.
