Listening, learning and lifting others

On September 25, 2025, the Radisson Blu in Minneapolis became a stage for excellence as 150 licensed clinicians from across UnitedHealth Group were honored with the  Sages of Clinical Service Award.

Among them, two of ProHealth’s own stood out: Mara Fowler, RN, of Goldstar Pediatrics; and Joanne Foss, MSN, RN, CMC, CDP, of Care Coordination.

Their stories offer a glimpse into their journeys, their deep commitment to patient care and their drive to elevate those around them.

When Mara Fowler, RN, from ProHealth Physicians’ Goldstar Pediatrics, walked into this year’s Sages of Clinical Service Award ceremony, she wasn’t alone. Her husband, recently retired from the Navy as a Master Chief, was by her side. "After so many years of going to formal events for him," she laughs, "it was weird to have him come to something for me."

Nursing wasn’t Mara’s first career. She spent years as a stay-at-home mom, managing her husband’s deployments — which could stretch from four weeks to six months — and raising two children. "I always thought I’d be a schoolteacher," she says. But life had other plans.

As a military spouse, Mara needed a career that could move with the family. Nursing offered that flexibility — and turned out to be the perfect fit. "Nursing is a lot of teaching too," she says. "And I get to work with kids. It’s awesome to watch them grow up and build trust with their parents."

Mara began nursing school in 2016, balancing coursework with bartending at the Submarine Veterans Club, Groton Base. "My kids weren’t exactly helpful during nursing school," she jokes. "But my husband was amazing. If he wasn’t at sea, he was home with them so I could focus."

Mara and her husband, both from Ohio, share a sweet twist of fate: They grew up seeing the same pediatrician. "One Christmas, we were back home and had to take our baby in. The same nurse who saw us as kids met our little one. That’s a memory I’ll always carry."

Now Mara is the one handing out stickers and lollipops, comforting nervous little ones who still run into the office excited to see her. "Even when I have to give them shots, they still want to sit on my lap. That’s the most rewarding part."

Although Mara and her family have lived in Connecticut for 12 years, one of the most formative chapters of her journey began much earlier — back in Hawaii, before nursing was even on her radar.  

"When my kids were little, we had no family nearby. It was scary," she recalls. "But I had someone at the pediatric office I could call and trust. I want to be that person for the families I care for now."

She understands that parents often call not just for medical advice but for reassurance. "I’ve been there. I have kids. I know what you’re going through," she says. "It helps to see things from the parents’ perspective. I just want to be helpful."

For Mara, pediatric nursing is about more than caring for children — it’s about supporting families. “Two parents might call at the same time with the same concern — say, a rash. But one has a fourth child, and the other has a first. You don’t approach those calls the same way.”

“You meet each parent where they are,” she continues, “and give them what they need to feel confident caring for their child." 

That’s exactly what Mara does — meet families where they are, with compassion, experience and a whole lot of heart.

From a young age, Joanne Foss, MSN, RN, CMC, CDP, who currently leads ProHealth Physicians’ care management team, knew she was meant to care for others. At age 13, she began volunteering at her local hospital and quickly fell in love with the hum of patient care — a love that ultimately earned her the Sages of Clinical Service recognition. 

"By the time I finished high school,” Joanne says, “I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. As soon as I graduated, I got a job at that very same hospital and entered Saint Joseph College — now Saint Joseph University — to pursue a bachelor’s in nursing."

One of five children, Joanne shared a special bond with her dad. "He had his own scrap metal recycling business. He did not finish high school, but he liked to say that he had a PhD in life. He was very good with people. He taught me to listen. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason."

That wisdom shaped Joanne’s nursing career, which spanned sub-acute, acute, rehab and long-term care. After years of seeing patients and families struggle to find their way through the health care system, she earned her care management certification and opened her own business in 2007.  

When Joanne sold her business in 2019, she joined ProHealth as a case manager — a role where her compassion and determination help patients break through barriers to care.

One of those patients is 76-year-old James E. McDuffie. He grew up in the rural south at a time when life meant labor and education wasn’t a priority. "I started when I was six or seven — working in the fields or bringing water for the family. That’s just what men did back then. My sisters learned to read and write. I did first grade, and that was it."

At 18, James moved to Connecticut. "In South Carolina, they didn’t give jobs to illiterate folks like me. When I came here, they sent me back to school to learn machinery. I worked for over 50 years."

Despite his efforts to build a good life for himself, undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension took a toll. Limited insurance — and the challenge of not being able to read — made navigating care nearly impossible. "My old doctor tried to help me. But they could only help me when I was in the office.” 

“Joanne is better,” James says. “I can call her any time. She knows my medicines and stuff. She talks to you in a way that you can understand. I don’t know where I’d be if I couldn’t talk to her. She gives good advice, and she’s helped me stay healthier, really."

Joanne, in turn, finds inspiration in James’s resilience. "I see a little bit of my dad in him — how polite he is, how he gets around barriers. I’m inspired by watching patients overcome obstacles and live healthier lives. James inspires me."