After 34 years with Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center, La Rae Schelling is no longer working at the hospital.
Schelling, 56, the chief operating officer and chief nursing officer since 2001, said she decided to go on medical leave from the hospital last week and does not expect to return.
"My doctor thought I should go on disability," Schelling said.
Schelling served as interim CEO of the hospital from December 2009 until last April, when Brian Burnside started as CEO. She applied last year to be the next CEO to replace Rob Cooper and said now the hospital board went in the right direction with Burnside.
"Brian's going to be a great CEO," she said.
Schelling said she was planning to work through a chronic illness but then changed her mind about her future.
"If you love what you do you try to work through it but I realized I shouldn't let it go on," she said.
Schelling started at MMSC as an intensive care nurse in 1976 and worked her way up through the years.
"It's hard to leave," Schelling said. "I truly love that organization."
Liz Zuercher, public relations manager with MMSC, said Schelling will be missed.
"She's given almost 35 years of great service to us and we wish her the best," Zuercher said. "She's a wonderful human being."
Zuercher said currently Schelling's duties have been picked up by other staff members and there has yet to be a discussion on how the hospital will proceed to find a replacement for Schelling.
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Contact Andrew Potter at 641-753-6611 or apotter@timesrepublican.com
