Jacksonville Memorial Foundation Executive Director Pam Martin has seen many changes
By Ben Cox
Photo/Ben Cox
Pam Martin, executive director of the Jacksonville Memorial Foundation, has retired from her position after 13 years. Her final day in the position was June 20.
Martin says she has seen some major changes to her job over that time as well as some added responsibilities: “For me personally, the volunteers and the auxiliary were added to the scope of my job and I’ve really enjoyed that aspect, getting to see and witness firsthand their passion for our hospital. I think over time I’ve been impressed with how technology has improved services and the commitment of this hospital to always push forward to get the best for our staff, the tools to work with the training. Then, I’ve also been impressed with the teamwork that really centers on patient care. That’s the reason why we exist.”
Through the foundation, several gifts have been made to Jacksonville Memorial Hospital and to the hospital’s partners. Martin says the foundation recently donated the innovative virtual dissection table for the Illinois College Nursing Program, which partners with the hospital.
Martin credits the foundation’s donors for the educational support, “Our board of trustees see it as a real opportunity to support the Illinois College program through education grants to students, which then in turn allows us to hire those new graduates. It is a nice partnership, but it’s through donors, through donor gifts that we’re able to give that tuition support for students.”
She says the foundation also focuses on supporting the hospital’s ancillary services. Additionally, Martin helped with the management of the hospital’s farmlands that provides financial support.
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital President and CEO Trevor Huffman says someone like Martin will be hard to replace because of all the knowledge she brings to the hospital, “I don’t know if you can ever replace somebody when they leave, especially somebody like Pam. If you look at all the hats that she wears, the roles, we need somebody with hospital knowledge, we need somebody with fund development knowledge, somebody with farm knowledge. I mean, there’s academic knowledge between all of that. And how I would love for somebody that has all that experience to fall in our lap.”
Huffman shares that additionally, Martin was a part of the hospital affiliation change, which brought its own challenges. He says she was instrumental in figuring out the pathway forward for the foundation in the Memorial Health System.
Regardless of retirement, Martin won’t be too far away from the hospital, as she plans on becoming a JMH volunteer and staying close to her own farm in rural Alexander. Of note, Martin is also a two-time Illinois State Fair Miniature Butter Cow sculpting champion, having taken home the honors in 2020 and 2021.
