Wanda Elizabeth McDowell

On Sunday, September 8th, 2013, the world lost a very special woman and humanitarian. Ahead of her time, Dr. Wanda Elizabeth McDowell, 91, was at the forefront of modern nursing research and studies in pain management. Her long career in education started at Bluffton College, followed by St. Luke’s School of Nursing, and Ohio State U. where she garnered Bachelor degrees in Science and Nursing, Master Degrees in Guidance and Counseling, and a Ph.D. in Psychology.

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Her professional career began as head nurse at the U. of Michigan. She then went to Ohio State and became Instructor of Nursing at the OSU School of Nursing, Research Assistant, and Associate Professor of Nursing. In 1964 she became director of Research and Statistics for the American Nurses Foundation in NYC, then was promoted to Executive Director until 1968. In 1969 she went back to the U. of Michigan as Associate Dean of the School of Nursing and a full Professor.

In 1974 she moved back to Ohio to care for her parents but continued as a Curriculum Consultant in Nursing for OSU Lima Branch, coming full circle to Bluffton College to develop their 4-year Nursing Program. In 1981 she went to China as part of the People-to-People Program. She fell so in love with China, she returned as a visiting faculty member at the Chongqing Medical University, Sichuan Province, as part of an educational exchange.

In 1988 she “retired” to Texas and volunteered as an English teacher at San Antonio’s Health and Science Center for international visiting scholars and scientists, sponsored by the International Visitors Alliance Inc. She became a member of their board and a Nurse Assessor for the Texas Dept. of Health, Bureau of Long Term Care.

In 2000 she moved back to Columbus, Ohio and the Westminster Thurber Retirement Village to be closer to family and her OSU friends. Her publications and research continue to impact the healthcare industry. She spoke at the World Congress of Nursing with the United Nations in Germany after WWII, was a consultant to President Johnson as the first woman in the Dept. of Health Education and Welfare where she helped him enact the Nurses Training Act of 1964, and was on the Johns Hopkins Advisory Board for “Health Manpower for Long-Term Care” and many other advisory boards. She also developed college courses on "In Death and Dying "and "The People's Republic of China: A Framework for Understanding".

Wanda was born August 3rd, 1922 to Byron and Neva (McKanna) McDowell in Columbus Grove, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her brother Milton and is survived by her sister-in-law Mary Jane (Roberts) McDowell and three nephews: Michael McDowell (Robin) of Bluffton, Ohio, Dean McDowell (Bob) of Palm Springs California and Shawn McDowell, Baltimore, Maryland. A Celebration of Life service is planned for Sunday, October 27th at 3:00 at the King Ave. United Methodist Church in Columbus, Ohio, followed by a graveside service at Truro Cemetery in Columbus Grove on Monday October 28th. For more information about the services you can call 760-702-7973

In lieu of flowers, tributes may be made to Senior Independence Hospice (1001 Kingsmill Pkwy. Columbus, OH 43229); The Mennonite Home, (410 W. Elm St., Bluffton, Ohio 45817); The Desert Winds Freedom Band (PO Box 4732, Palm Springs, CA 92263-4732); or St. Mark’s Lutheran Church (1900 St. Paul Street, Baltimore Maryland 21212 ).

Wanda’s entire life was dedicated to patient care, pain management and how people of different cultures and religions could live in peace and harmony. She will always be in the hearts and minds of every life she touched!