After more than five decades as a nurse and mentor, Patti Depree, RN, is retiring from University of Michigan Health-West.
Patti’s journey in medicine began in 1973 when she was still in high school in Jenison, working as a nurse’s aide in mornings before heading to class in the afternoon. That early experience ignited a passion for nursing that carried her through an extraordinary 52-year career at the organization.
She earned her licensed practical nurse (LPN) degree from Grand Rapids Community College in 1976, working in that role until 1982, when she became a registered nurse. Since then, she has dedicated herself to caring for critically ill patients in the ICU.
Throughout her career at the organization—spanning Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital, Metro Health, and now UM Health-West, Patti has witnessed medicine transform. “There’s been so much change in medicine all these years, it’s kept the work fresh,” she said.
She has always had a passion for critical care, drawn to the challenges and the opportunity to support patients and families during life’s most difficult moments. “There’s so much teaching to be done in the ICU and so much learning. I’ve enjoyed working with families, helping them get through crises.”
Patti has also seen the profession evolve in ways she never imagined when she started. “I remember a time when all doctors were men, and nearly all nurses were women,” she recalled.
For future nurses, she says the field is broad and opportunities abound. “There are so many things you can do in nursing—home care, bedside care at a hospital, working in obstetrics, hospice.” And for those considering ICU work? “Critical care is demanding. You learn a lot, and the doctors have a lot of respect for you because you are managing a lot.”
Above all, Patti treasures the relationships she’s built at UM Health-West. “You get to know doctors and the staff—it’s like a family. This is like my second family here.”
As she steps into retirement, Patti looks forward to traveling and spending more time reading. “I won’t have any trouble staying busy,” she said with a smile.
We salute Patti for her commitment to patients and colleagues at UM Health-West!
