The Community Health Nurse Who Never Stopped Caring
When Sally Loprinzi decided to become a nurse, women had very few career options.
“You could be a teacher, a secretary, or a nurse,” she says simply.
That was more than 58 years ago.
Since then, Sally has spent nearly six decades caring for people across the country—from small mining towns in California and tribal villages in Alaska to family homes in Montana, and finally to Neighborhood Health Center (NHC), where she has served patients for the past 15 years. Her career has taken her to some of the most remote places and underserved communities, but the heart of her work has always been the same: show up, listen, and care deeply.
At NHC, Sally became a familiar and comforting presence for patients and staff alike. Known to many as “Miss Sally,” she brought experience, kindness, and a steady calm to every interaction. Whether she was helping a nervous parent, checking in on a longtime patient, or supporting a teammate, Sally always made time for people.
A Career Built on Learning by Doing
Sally began her nursing career in the 1960s through a hospital-based diploma program, where learning happened at the bedside. Within months, she was caring for patients directly.
“That hands-on training mattered,” she says. “You learned by doing.”
Over the years, Sally worked in hospitals, rural clinics, public health programs, and community settings across the country. She cared for children, families, workers, and entire communities—always focused on the person in front of her.
Her favorite role was public health nursing.
In Montana, Sally spent years visiting families in their homes, supporting high-risk parents and children, and helping people learn skills they may not have had the chance to learn before.
“Most parents wanted to do well,” Sally explains. “They just needed support, patience, and someone who believed in them.”
That belief shaped her entire career.
Related: Sally's Story
Finding a Home at Neighborhood Health Center
After decades of nursing, Sally could have fully retired. Instead, she found her way to NHC, joining the organization just six months after it opened.
“I wanted to keep working,” she says. “And I wanted to work with underserved communities. That’s where the need is.”
At NHC, Sally did a little of everything. She roomed patients, gave vaccines, made follow-up calls, answered MyChart messages, checked blood pressure, removed stitches, and supported providers however she could.
As healthcare changed, so did her role. More phone calls. More electronic messages. More documentation. But the heart of the work stayed the same.
“I still love patient care,” she says. “People just want to be heard.”
Patients came to know her as someone who listened, followed through, and cared deeply. Some have been seeing her for years. Many greet her with hugs.
A Steady Presence for Patients and Staff
Ask anyone who works with Sally, and they’ll tell you the same thing: she shows up fully, every day.
“She always puts patients first,” says Angela Hall, NHC’s Director of Nursing and Clinical Services. “She gives everything she has to her patients and her coworkers. Sally has more energy than people half her age.”
Sally is known for her kindness, her calm presence, and her willingness to help wherever she’s needed. She welcomes everyone—patients, coworkers, and leaders—with a smile and a kind word.
CEO Jeri Weeks shared this reflection:
“You show up every day with a smile and love in your heart for our patients and our staff. You’ve touched so many lives, including my own. Neighborhood Health Center will never be the same without you.”
What Sally Believes In
After nearly six decades in nursing, Sally’s values are simple:
Be patient.
Be open.
Look for the good in people.
“There’s something good in everyone,” she says. “Even when it’s hard to see at first.”
She believes community health matters more than ever, especially as families face rising costs, fewer resources, and more stress.
“When people don’t have support, it’s harder to stay healthy,” Sally explains. “Community matters. Public health matters.”
A Legacy of Care
As Sally steps into retirement, she leaves behind more than years of service. She leaves a legacy of compassion, teamwork, and commitment to community.
She hopes her coworkers remember her as a good team member—someone they could count on.
And for the patients she’s served, she hopes they remember that someone cared enough to listen.
At NHC, we know this: Sally’s story reflects the very heart of community health. It’s about showing up. It’s about caring deeply. And it’s about standing with people, especially when they need it most.
Thank you, Sally, for 58 years of nursing, 15 years at NHC, and a lifetime of care.