Peggy Kortz Gebhardt, RN, is a master of science in nursing student at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing and will graduate in May 2009.

She is a 1980 graduate of Albert Lea High School. She works in the marketing department as a home care coordinator at OSF SFMC (Saint Francis Medical Center) in Peoria, Ill. She serves as a liaison between the medical center and home care. It is her responsibility, to procure patient referrals for home care. She is now interviewing for a new role, patient care facilitator on a medical/surgical floor at SFMC.

Her background includes cardiac, respiratory, general surgery, management, private home care and home health nursing.

Because of her success and dedication to nursing, the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International invited her to become a member. Gebhardt has a 4.0 grade-point average in the master’s program.

In 2008, she was asked to be the student representative for the Illinois State Advance Practice Nursing Association. Local APNs have nominated her to run as student representative for the state of Illinois.

Gebhardt is the daughter of Jerry and Bennie Kortz of Albert Lea.