Deaconess Foundation: "Promoting Healthy and Hope-Filled Lives"

The Rev. Jerry W. Paul, President and CEO
The Rev. Jerry W. Paul is President and Chief Executive Officer of Deaconess Foundation, a faith-based foundation in the St. Louis metropolitan area focusing on the improvement of health in the region, especially for children in low income neighborhoods. An ordained clergy in the United Church of Christ, Rev. Paul, was an undergraduate at Elmhurst College and received his Master of Divinity degree at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. After earning his Master of Healthcare Administration from the Washington University School of Medicine in 1983, he worked as Executive Vice President at Deaconess Hospital. Rev. Paul became President and CEO of Deaconess Health System in 1991 and guided the growth of that organization to become a multi-hospital system with services throughout the community. 

A strategic decision was made in July 1997 to sell the assets of the health system. Deaconess then focused its mission on public and community health needs in the St. Louis area, at which time Rev. Paul assumed his current position at the Foundation. 

Over the years, Rev. Paul has assisted a wide range of charitable organizations in planning, mission and vision development, board training and consultation on various aspects of organizational leadership. He is a frequent speaker on topics related to human service management and a preacher in various settings of the church.  For several years, he served as an adjunct faculty Washington University School of Medicine Health Administration Program in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Dr. Nesa Joseph, Vice President
Dr. Joseph currently serves as Vice President of Deaconess Foundation. A native of India, Dr. Joseph grew up on the campus of the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India. He was exposed to the field of Health from childhood in a multi-denominational, multicultural mission environment. During his high school and college days, Mr. Joseph served in a variety of volunteer roles at a Leprosy Clinic, Village Health Clinics, the Operating Rooms and the Clinical Laboratory of the Vellore Hospital. These early experiences influenced his decision for a career in the field of Hospital and Health Administration.

During the past twenty five years, Mr. Joseph has held top management positions in India and in the U.S. including at Deaconess Health Systems, St. Louis, from 1992 to 1997.

Dr. Joseph holds a Masters in Personnel Management, a Masters in Health Administration and a Doctorate in Education. 

Elizabeth M. George, Vice President 
Ms. George joined Deaconess Foundation as Vice President in April 2004 from The Rensselaerville Institute (TRI) where she provided consulting and training services to not-for-profits and their funding bodies. Prior to TRI she spent 9 years at Washington University, first as Assistant Dean of Admissions at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work (GWB) followed by 2 years as Director of the Arts & Sciences Career Center.
 
Elizabeth is active in the St. Louis community, currently volunteering at Flynn Park Elementary School, contributing to the GWB Alumni Board and belonging to St. Francis Xavier (College) Church. Elizabeth’s educational background includes an MBA from Harvard University and an MSW from GWB.

Jane M. Donahue, Vice President
Ms. Donahue joined Deaconess Foundation as Vice President in December 2004. She has over fifteen years of experience in youth development and nonprofit management including managing programs for Henry Street Settlement and Prep for Prep in New York City, and serving as a consultant for organizations such as The Riverside Church, Public/Private Ventures and Bank Street College of Education.  In St. Louis, she was a founder of College Summit-St. Louis.  Jane currently co-chairs the St. Louis Regional College Access Pipeline Project; serves as Program Committee Chair for the Gateway Center for Giving; and served on the Afterschool for All by 2010 Taskforce. Jane holds a B.A. in American Studies from Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) and did her Masters work at Harvard Divinity School.

Pamela L. Heeb, Office Manager
Ms. Heeb is currently the Deaconess Foundation’s Office Manager, a position she has held since 1997. Previously, Ms. Heeb worked at The St. Louis Medical Group of Deaconess Incarnate Word Health System. Ms. Heeb also has over fourteen years of experience in the insurance industry and over twenty-five years of experience in office support.