Northland High School Alumni Foundation
NHSAF Valhalla Newsletter
Spotlight Questions – Connie (Woodruff) Isler
1. Who was your favorite teacher, class, friend and hang out?
– Teacher – I was in the band and orchestra so I spent a lot of time with Mr. Weimer. I also
enjoyed Mr. Davis, Miss Mitchell and Mr. Kull
– My favorite class – math, music
– Friends – Jan (Lowman) O’Brien, Laura (Wilson), Kathy (Bailey) Strawn, Kathi (Dorsch)
Palmer, Gary Lightfoot, Judy Stone
– Hangouts – each others houses, The Pizza House
2. Tell about your most memorable moment at Northland High School. My most memorable
moments were participating in individual and group music competitions. There were yearly
opportunities to perform with the band and as an individual clarinet player. I was fortunate to win
several awards. I also had many close friends. I am still in touch with some of them today. They
mean everything to me.
3. What was your family expectation
of you? My family expected me to
do my best. They were very
supportive of the things I wanted
to do. My parents were also
involved during my high school
years, such as being band parents
and serving as chaperones on the
band bus to away football games.
They came to every football game.
They recalled these times as some
of the best times of their lives!
4. How did your Northland experience help in your life/job? In the marching band, I was a “Row”
leader and in the orchestra, I sat “first chair”. I think that was the beginning of the development of
my leadership skills. By sitting in the orchestra’s “first chair”, I was expected to be the best. I have
carried that with me over the years. After high school graduation, I was not sure what I wanted to
do. I started college at OSU but only lasted 6 months. I worked for an insurance company for
about 6 months then was fortunate to be hired by Riverside Methodist Hospital as a file clerk in
the Radiology Department. After a year of working there, I knew I wanted to do something to help
people so I went to Columbus State to nursing school (Columbus Technical Institute back then)
and received my Associate Degree in Nursing. I also continued working full time! Twenty plus
years later, two kids and a divorce, I went back to school (still working full time) and received my
Bachelor’s degree from Capital University. One year after I received my Bachelor’s Degree, I went
back to graduate school and graduated Magna Cum Laude with my Master’s Degree in Nursing
from Capital – still working full time! I also hold two nursing certifications. The leadership skills I
learned at Northland and the expectation that came with sitting in the orchestra’s first chair (to be
the best), provided the framework for my career – starting as a file clerk, worked as an LPN, then
RN, then Assistant Nurse Manager to Nurse Manager and then Director of Women’s Health all at
Riverside. Five years ago I remarried and 2 years ago retired after 40 plus years at Riverside. I did
some consulting work for a year after retirement, ironically with my previous employer! I have
been very blessed!
5. Working in the medical field over your career. What did you find most satisfying? And, your
thoughts on what others should do as they consider and/or currently work in the health care
arena? I have spent over 41 years working in healthcare. It has been so rewarding! Taking care of
patients and families when they are at one of the most vulnerable times in their life, is what kept
me in health care. While many of my years were in administration, I enjoyed the challenge of
developing teams, providing services to the community that no one else had to offer and working
on projects that would make our program the leader in Women’s Health. I was very driven to look
for opportunities that would set Riverside’s Women’s Health program apart from all others.
For those considering work in health care, know it will be a rewarding career with many
opportunities but there are sacrifices, such as working holidays, 12 hour shifts and night shifts.
You must have a servant-heart, as you will be there to take care of others. Just don’t forget to take
care of yourself in the process. You won’t regret it!
