Charlene Vollmer, RN, BSN, BC

Memorial Medical Center

After graduation from nursing school in 1972, I traveled to Memphis, TN. and worked at Baptist Memorial Hospital with renal patients. Dialysis was at the Lamar Crump Blvd. site, so I was responsible transporting patients. Soon, I was transferred to help open St. Joseph/St. Francis East in Germantown, TN. In 1977, I returned home to central Illinois and began working at Memorial Medical Center with renal, urology, and transplant patients. I worked with many physicians, social workers, nurses, and ancillary staff. Cultivating those relationships became extremely supportive. One of the outcomes of our strong relationship has been linking our Western Illinois groups in Quincy and Hannibal, IL. Currently, I focus on the transplant program and I am chair of the 7 County Dialysis Support group. I am a member of the AAKP, DPC and The Renal Network 10. I also motivate and empower patients and families as a Patient Ambassador for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. Furthermore, I assist the NKFI with bringing their Kidney Mobile program to communities in central and southern Illinois.