On Sept. 6, Debbie Kaufman celebrated a milestone few people ever reach: 50 years of service to one organization and one community.

Through five decades of healthcare transformation, one thing has remained constant, Debbie’s love of helping people.

“I love my job. I’ve always loved helping others and knowing that the work I do can make a difference in my patients’ lives and their health,” Debbie said. “I am truly blessed.”

Debbie began her career after graduating from the LPN program at Hart Career Center. She joined Audrain Medical Center, working first on the medical-surgical unit and later in pediatrics as a charge nurse. She continued her education at Moberly Area Community College, graduating at the top of her class with her ADN in 1988.

In 1990, Debbie was asked to join the hospital’s new adolescent psychiatric unit, beginning decades of service in behavioral healthcare. She later became a case manager and Qualified Mental Health Professional and worked with the Fulton 55 Project, helping individuals with significant psychiatric needs transition from Fulton State Hospital into the community.

When Arthur Center separated from Audrain Medical Center in 2003, Debbie was there. During an uncertain time, board members, employees and community members rallied together, even making personal contributions, to ensure behavioral health services remained available in the community.

Her dedication to Arthur Center and the people it serves was recognized in 2007 when Debbie was named Arthur Center’s Employee of the Year.

Another defining chapter began in 2012 when Debbie became director of Arthur Center’s new HealthCare Home program, designed to integrate physical healthcare and chronic disease management into services for individuals receiving behavioral healthcare. She helped build the program from the ground up as Arthur Center expanded into an FQHC and moved into its new clinic in 2013.

Under Debbie’s leadership, Healthcare Home became one of Missouri’s top-performing programs. Arthur Center received statewide recognition for metabolic screening performance and disease-management health outcomes for five consecutive years and was again recognized during Missouri Behavioral HealthCare Home’s 10-year anniversary. The program continues to achieve some of the state’s highest metabolic screening completion rates.

Today, Arthur Center has grown from approximately 80 employees at the time of its separation from the hospital to over 230. Debbie has watched healthcare and nursing change tremendously. Gone are the white uniforms, nursing caps and rules requiring her hair to always be worn up.

One lesson has stayed with her: change is key to success. Organizations must be willing to adapt, grow and respond to what their communities need.

Debbie is especially grateful for the employees, nurses, care managers and care coordinators she has had the privilege of supervising and says the people she works alongside are what makes Arthur Center such a special place.

Outside of Arthur Center, Debbie stays just as busy. She and her husband, Tony, have two children and four grandchildren. They are also raising two of their grandchildren, eight-year-old twins, who keep them on their toes. Debbie and Tony own the 581 Restaurant in Mexico, where Debbie enjoys working on the weekends, visiting with regulars and staying connected to the community.

After 50 years, retirement isn’t in her plans.

As long as she remains healthy and loves what she does, Debbie plans to keep doing what she has done for five decades, helping people live healthier lives.