MKHC Board Member Spotlight: Jackie Lobien

This month, we’re featuring MKHC Board Member Jackie Lobien. Jackie’s career has centered around health and wellness. A retired registered nurse and healthcare leader, Jackie previously served as director of Capital Region Research (CAPRES) at Johns Hopkins University, where she played an instrumental role in expanding research opportunities throughout the Johns Hopkins Community Hospitals. With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Valparaiso University and certification as a Research Professional, she has dedicated her professional life to improving healthcare access and outcomes for others.

That lifelong commitment to service is what drew Jackie to join the MKHC Board of Directors. "As a nurse, I have always believed that quality healthcare should be available to everyone, regardless of their financial circumstances," she says. "I wanted to serve on a board that will impact the health of everyone living in the community where I live."

For Jackie, MKHC represents the power of collaboration. "MKHC offers a wide range of services utilizing a dedicated staff of clinicians, volunteers, and community partners," she says. "It is an example of what can happen when they all come together to ensure that everyone has access to compassionate, high-quality healthcare."

Serving on the board is a natural extension of the values that have guided Jackie throughout her nursing career. Having witnessed firsthand how access to healthcare can transform lives, she hopes to help strengthen the clinic's connection to the community, increase awareness of its services, and build relationships that will sustain the organization's mission for years to come.

One cause especially close to Jackie's heart is improving access to mental health services. Her advocacy work with organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reflects her belief that mental and physical health are deeply connected. "I am passionate about improving access to mental health services," she says. "Supporting organizations like MKHC that recognize the connection between physical and mental well-being is something I care deeply about."

Originally from a small town in Ohio, Jackie moved to Montgomery County in 1985 and has proudly called it home ever since. Outside of her volunteer and advocacy work, she remains active at The Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, serving on the Global Mission Team, Parish Nursing Team, and Mental Health Committee.

When she's not serving her community, Jackie enjoys reading, traveling, spending time with family, and embracing one of her favorite roles: Grandma.

And speaking of travel, Jackie shares a fun fact that perfectly captures her spirit of adventure: the first time she ever flew on an airplane was at 21 years old. Today, she reflects on how fortunate she has been to travel to destinations around the world, a journey she never could have imagined when she boarded that first flight.

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