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Ruth Purvinskas Lewis (November 7, 1922 – February 28, 2022) born in Worcester, Massachusetts, registered psychiatric nurse, consultant, and nursing administrator.

Personal life and education
Ruth was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on November 7, 1922 to parents Victoria Eva Alisauskas and Stanley Joseph Purvinskas. She was first generation American and and took several trips to Lithuania as a young girl to visit the family's farming operation in Kalvarija. Her father Stanley was both a founder and served as a President of the Worcester Lithuanian Credit Union (https://archives.lib.state.ma.us/bitstream/handle/2452/804122/ocm12561944-1927part4.pdf). He was a strong proponent of women’s education and encouraged her academic pursuits, supporting her desire to attend college.



Ruth graduated from Simmons College (1946) in Boston as a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in affiliation with the US Cadet Nurse Corps Program. She later received a Master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.



She was married to Jerry Lewis, whom she met while he was stationed as a Marine on Prudence Island after his combat service in WWII. They returned to his hometown of Kansas City, Missouri, raising their 3 children in Raytown and then later retiring to Raymore. Ruth became part of Jerry’s family of 7 siblings and their spouses and children. Her mother Victoria Purvinskas later resided with the family when she became a widow.



Career
Ruth was a registered nurse for over 50 years. Her nursing career began at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital in Boston and later included Denver Children's Hospital, Western Missouri Mental Health Center in Kansas City, the American Nurses Association and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. She specialized in psychiatric mental health, serving as an instructor, director of nursing and consultant. Ruth was a consultant and surveyor for the Health Care Financing Administration.

She was a consultant to the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Hospitals and to the American Medical Association. When St. Joseph State Hospital lost their accreditation, Ruth was selected to be superintendent; the first woman to be superintendent of a major mental health hospital in Missouri. In 3 years, she brought about significant reforms in patient treatment resulting in re-accreditation of the hospital. Ruth travelled widely in her professional RN role as part of surveying teams and as an invited speaker, both in the U.S. and internationally. She wrote journal articles and contributed chapters to books in her field.

Consultant:
 * Panel of Experts,  Department of Health, Education and Welfare - now known as the United States Department of Health and Human Services, from 1981: state surveys of psychiatric hospitals to assist them in upgrading quality to and meet conditions for participating in Medicare.
 * Consultant, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1970s-1980s
 * Consultant, National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, United States Department of Health and Human Services, 1974

Leadership:
 * Director of Nurses, Psychiatric Receiving Center.1954-1972.
 * Nurse Consultant, Western Missouri Mental Health Center.
 * Coordinator of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice, American Nurses Association
 * Chairperson, American Public Health Association, 1976.

Faculty:
 * Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Nursing, University of Kansas Medical Center, 1973,1974
 * Adjunct Assistant Professor for the School of Nursing, 1975
 * Founding Fellow, American College of Mental Health Administrators, 1981.

Reviewer:
 * Reviewer, research, Mental Health Services Research review committee, 1968-1972. United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health
 * Reviewer, editorial, Highlights of Evolving Mental Health Services, Innovations Magazine

Speaker:
 * Nursing in the Community Health Program, National League for Nursing1965 Convention
 * President’s Commission on Mental Health, 1977

Awards and accolades
Most notably, Ruth served on The President’s Commission on Mental Health in 1977/1978 under Jimmy Carter and received a White House letter of commendation for her contributions.

Awards:
 * Mental Health Commission Recognition Award, Appreciation of Outstanding Efforts, Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 1988
 * First Distinguished Honoree, Outstanding Leadership, Department of Nursing, Western Missouri Mental Health, 1988.
 * APHA (American Public Health Association), Mental Health Section Award,1981
 * Dedication and Outstanding Service, Governing Body, Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, Department of Mental Health, State of Missouri, 1991
 * Outstanding Contributions and Leadership in the Field of Mental Health, Greater Kansas City Mental Health Foundation, 1972
 * 50 years (2006), Registered Nurse, State of Missouri.
 * Appreciation of Services, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Mental Health Research Review Committee.
 * Recognition (Nursing Consultant), Western Missouri Mental Health Center,” 10 years of invaluable guidance to our staff and patients,” 1981-1991
 * Recognition, Western Missouri Mental Health Center service (Director of Nursing, 15 years, 1971)
 * Appreciation of Services, St. Joseph State Hospital staff,1984, “Honored to have you…thank you for the encouragement and leadership you provided.”
 * Appreciation of Service on Board of Directors, Hillhaven Foundation, 1990.
 * Appreciation for contributions as Liaison staff to National Joint Practice Commission, from American Medical Association and American Nurses Association, 1979-1980

Resources
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/kansas-city-mo/ruth-lewis-10605539

Category:1922 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Simmons College alumni Category:University of Missouri alumni Category:American nursing administrators Category:American nurses Category:American women nurses Category:American women in politics Category:Advanced practice registered nurses Category:American people of Lithuanian descent Category:American People of Lithuanian Descent