Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Saint Francis Healthcare System is pleased to announce Jim Lawrence, RN, MBA, has accepted the newly created position of director of mission. Bishop Edward M. Rice, Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, supported this appointment. Lawrence officially started his new role July 31, 2017.

The mission director will support Saint Francis in fulfilling its mission: to provide a ministry of healing and wellness inspired by its Catholic philosophy and values. Lawrence will be responsible for community outreach to local parishes and area clergy. He will also be responsible for ensuring the Ethical and Religious Directives of the Church, serve as chair of the ethics committee and function as a resource for local parish nurses. The system’s Pastoral Care department will report to Lawrence. 

Lawrence has been a big part of the Saint Francis Family for more than 25 years. He most recently served as director of Business Development and the Consumer Call Center. Before that, he was one of the organization’s first two physician liaisons. He helped launch the Wound Healing Center program and served as a clinical nurse, where he witnessed firsthand the Saint Francis mission and what it means to those who need it most.  

His Medical Center, community and religious involvements are numerous. Lawrence has been involved with the mission integration team via liturgical celebrations with priests and pastoral staff, has been a key contributor on leadership development teams, had physician and provider interaction through continuing medical education and served as president of the American Association of Physician Liaisons. He is on the board of directors at Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, where he is now its president. In addition, Lawrence was president of the Men’s Association at Saint Vincent DePaul Parish, studied New Testament Greek for a year in Perryville, Mo., and is a member of Saint Mary’s Cathedral.

“Saint Francis is committed to the Healthcare System’s mission as a Catholic-based institution, which is why we created this new position,” says Steven C. Bjelich, FACHE-D, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Francis Healthcare System. “Jim’s love and passion for healthcare, helping others, his community and his faith all made him the very best candidate.”

Saint Francis Medical Center is a 308-bed facility serving more than 713,000 people throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Guided by its mission to provide a ministry of healing and wellness inspired by its Christian philosophy and values, the Medical Center has become a progressive, innovative regional tertiary care referral center. Saint Francis’ major service lines, which have received national recognition, include the Neurosciences Institute; Orthopedic Institute; Family BirthPlace, featuring the region’s first Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Heart Hospital; Emergency and Level III Trauma Center; Cancer Institute; and Fitness Plus.