THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501040107
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
AT THE AGE OF 27, William M. Jolly became the administrator of St. Mary's Infant Home in Norfolk.
Fifteen years later, Jolly is still at the helm, steering a straight course and leading the long-term care facility for handicapped children into the 21st century as its chief executive officer.
St. Mary's, located at 317 Chapel St., recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Originally an orphanage, the home is now a non-denominational, immediate-care facility that provides intensive, long-term residential care for severely multihandicapped children from birth to age 18.
As chief executive officer, Jolly said he is responsible for ``making sure that everybody here has the qualifications, materials and environment to take care of the children properly.
``I thought (St. Mary's) would be a steppingstone in my career,'' said Jolly, a Petersburg native. ``I have a classmate who runs Maryview Hospital and another who runs a major medical center. I could have gone that path, but I find the work here very rewarding, and I'm not sure I'd get that anywhere else.
``And my job has constantly provided me with challenges and allowed me to grow.''
Jolly's job has grown because of the facility's growth.
``When I first came here, we had just 50 beds - now we have 88,'' he said.
St. Mary's has not just grown in terms of beds - it also has grown in its level of care.
``The type of child we have has changed tremendously,'' he said. ``Our lowest functioning child then would be our highest functioning child now. And they have much more complex medical needs.''
Jolly holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in hospital administration from the Medical College of Virginia.
``I've always had an interest in the health-care field,'' Jolly said, adding that he decided to earn a master's in hospital administration because he felt that it would not only give him secure employment but that he also could ``actually make a difference in somebody's life.''
Before coming to St. Mary's in 1979, he served as an assistant director of Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill, Va.
``But rural living was not for me,'' he said. He also served as an administrative resident at McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital in Richmond in 1977 and 1978.
Jolly, a resident of Willoughby Spit who loves to sail and fish, said he was attracted to Norfolk because of its proximity to the water.
As CEO, Jolly reports to a 22-person board of trustees. In effect, he said, he has 22 bosses. He works closely with the board president, which changes every two years. Currently, he said, his most challenging job is ``trying to create community awareness. It's really frustrating that Norfolk residents don't know a thing about what we do here.''
This may be because of that fact that in the past, he said, ``these were the kinds of kids that people didn't like to talk about. They were just quietly taken care of. Now, however, with the passage of the American Disabilities Act, people have become much more aware of people with handicaps, and the stigma has lessened.''
With community awareness comes political clout, he said.
``With knowledge comes community support, and if we needed, we could mobilize the community, if you will,'' Jolly said.
This is especially important during this period of political upheaval.
``We have a new governor and health-care reform,'' he said, adding, ``we take care of kids for Virginia. And a lot of our kids depend on Medicaid. So what the state does affects us.''
Because of this, one of Jolly's roles is to work with the General Assembly and the state.
``I have to keep them informed of what we're doing and constantly remind them that we are a valuable community resource,'' he said. ``These are some of the most needy Virginians that we have.''
During this anniversary year, Jolly said, the board is looking at what the role of St. Mary's ``is going to be in the year 2000. Not just in the areas of expansion, but what the needs are going to be and what we can do to meet them.'' MEMO: If you know someone whom you feel is deserving of a Thumbs Up! feature,
call Vicki Lewis at 446-2286.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI
William M. Jolly is the chief executive officer of the St. Mary's
Infant Home, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
by CNB