Current nurse promoted to director position
Eileen Bevilacqua was hired as the new Student Health Center director on Oct. 29 after having served as a registered nurse in the Health Center for the last 12 years.
The university will now continue a search for two other positions, a physician and a registered nurse to take Bevilacqua’s place, according to Kiersten White, assistant vice president of Student Life.
The Health Center’s current physician, Dr. Edward P. Gorrie, is retiring, White said.
Both new hires will have women’s health care experience, White said, but the university will not be hiring a full-time OB/GYN.
St. Joe’s University Student Senate created a petition for the university to hire a full-time OB/GYN on Oct. 16. The petition had over 1,000 signatures when Senate leaders sent it to University President Mark C. Reed, Ed.D., on Oct. 25.
“Our usage statistics did not suggest a full-time position is warranted,” White said.
Last year, the part-time women’s health practitioner, who is no longer at the university, had an average of 7.75 gynecological visits per week, White said.
White said Bevilacqua does not have specific women’s health care experience but will work alongside the new hires in offering medical attention to students, in addition to her role as director.
Bevilacqua also said an OB/GYN would not be a valuable position for the university to fill. According to Bevilacqua, on many occasions only one or two students were seen a week.
“I think it is great that the students saw a need and organized a petition for change,” Bevilacqua said. “However, as a part-time employee, the GYN nurse practitioner did not have the patient volume to support the claim that a full-time OB/GYN is needed.”
According to University Student Senate Speaker Elaine Estes ’19, while Senate is pleased to see the director position filled, they are disappointed an OB/GYN hire will not be made.
“The petition underscored the student body’s need and desire for an OB/GYN, and we are committed to ensuring this is implemented to the best of our ability,” Estes said in an email to The Hawk. “It’s important for administrators to hear our concerns, and hopefully they will work with us to greater access for healthcare on campus.”
Estes said Student Senate will hold a meeting with student stakeholders and key administrators for the continued dialogue and awareness of healthcare on campus.
“When that occurs, we look forward to establishing an appropriate outcome in accordance with the desires and demands that were expressed by over a thousand SJU community members through the petition,” Estes said.