The School of Health Sciences and Center for Ethical Leadership welcome Sister Patricia Cruise for annual Quality of Life Forum at the Mount
Mount St. Joseph University recently welcomed students, faculty, staff and community members to the 2026 Greater Cincinnati Quality of Life Forum, hosted by the School of Health Sciences in partnership with the Center for Ethical Leadership. This year’s forum focused on an important regional issue: “The State of Maternal Health in Greater Cincinnati.”
The annual event challenged participants to explore the social, medical, and systemic factors that influence maternal health outcomes across the region while emphasizing the importance of collaboration among healthcare professionals, educators, policymakers, and community organizations.
The evening featured keynote speaker Sister Patricia Cruise, a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati whose lifelong work in healthcare equity and community outreach brought valuable perspective to the discussion. Retired President/CEO of Healthy Moms & Babes, Sister Tricia has dedicated her career to addressing health and social inequities through service to underserved communities, while also leading Covenant House International, working alongside the Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and currently serving as a Mount board member and nonprofit volunteer.
Nearly 200 students from MSJ health sciences programs—including physical therapy, physician assistant studies, nursing, speech-language pathology, exercise science and social work—participated in collaborative case discussions and large-group conversations designed to deepen understanding of maternal health challenges and inspire interdisciplinary problem-solving.
By bringing together future healthcare professionals from across disciplines, the Quality of Life Forum reflects the Mount’s commitment to serving as a steward of the community and preparing students to lead with compassion, collaboration, and purpose in addressing today’s most pressing health concerns.
