Dempsey, Sister Mary Joseph (1856–1939)

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Dempsey, Sister Mary Joseph (1856–1939)

American hospital administrator. Born Julia Dempsey, May 14, 1856, in Salamanca, NY; died Mar 29, 1939, in Rochester, NY; dau. of Patrick and Mary (Sullivan) Dempsey.

Took vows as a Franciscan nun (1878); became head nurse at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, NY (c. 1889), then served as surgical assistant to Dr. William J. Mayo (1890–1915) and superintendent (1892–1939); founded St. Mary's Hospital School for Nurses (1906); was instrumental in developing relationship between Mayo Clinic and St. Mary's Hospital.

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