Sister Mary Roch Rocklage, RSM, was the modern-day foundress of Mercy’s health care system. She was known for her humble but tenacious leadership style—a blend of compassion, bold innovation and considering others before herself.
Rocklage helped lay the groundwork for a decades-long relationship between Maryville University and Mercy. In the 1970s, Maryville took on Mercy Junior College to create a college-based nursing program. Rocklage helped shepherd the partnership through its formative years.
In 2013, a generous grant from Mercy created the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing in the College of Health Professions. Today, the longtime partnership provides educational opportunities for Mercy employees, clinical rotations for Maryville students and more.