Mary Patnode, of Maple Grove, Minnesota, joined the Oley board this fall. She is a home parenteral nutrition (HPN) consumer, and has been on HPN since 1982. Patnode has Crohn’s disease and short bowel syndrome, and has served as an Oley RC for several years. Some of you may remember her from her presentations at some of the early Oley conferences.
Patnode recently retired from a full-time position as a psychologist in special education. “With retirement,” she says, “I have more time to give and choices to make about where to place my efforts during this next phase of my life. Serving on the Oley board will be an opportunity for me to contribute to the supportive network that is so important to HPN consumers.” With twenty-eight years of HPN experience, Patnode will contribute the much valued consumer perspective to the board.