July 16, 2021

Jennifer Salzer, Director, Care Management

Central, Life@Work

Since I was a teenager, I knew I wanted to be in the “helping” field. So I pursued a career in social work and now lead a great team in care management. We get to work with all areas of the organization and support the more complex patients at St. Cloud Hospital. For me, it’s always about helping – whether it’s a patient, a team member, or a community partner. That’s where I can make a difference.

The person who really shaped who I am today was our neighbor, Francis “Grandma” Stueve. We called her grandma even though she wasn’t our blood grandmother. My parents both worked full time so she helped take care of me and my siblings from the time I was a baby. She taught me about life – how to work hard, take care of yourself and be happy. She always looked for the positive in everything and she instilled that in me.

When I was 17, she became ill. I remember the day her son came to take her to the hospital. I went to see her right away and sat with her on her hospital bed. I knew that would be the last time I saw her and she died shortly after that. She is my angel. When good things happen, I feel like she’s protecting me. And when it’s a tough day, I look for a sign from her. It may not come in that moment, but lo and behold, she always comes through.