At its core, a philanthropic gift is an act of kindness. For many, a charitable donation is also a deeply personal expression of their values and beliefs, sometimes sparked by a profound life experience.
Such is the case for Reverend Cathleen Morris, PhD, who experienced the unexpected and tragic loss of a close family member. This significant loss not only influenced Cathleen’s education and career paths but also ignited within her a passion for helping others, especially young people and those impacted by mental health challenges.
With a goal of contributing to lasting change, Cathleen recently made a significant gift to Gundersen Medical Foundation to support an EmPATH Unit at Emplify Health by Gundersen La Crosse Hospital. EmPATH stands for Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment and Healing, and could be compared to Urgent Care specifically for individuals experiencing mental health crises.
“Cathleen’s gift is both personal and powerful,” says Mandy Richardson, CFRE, MPH, director of Philanthropy at Gundersen Medical Foundation. “The choice to invest in behavioral healthcare honors her loved one, while offering hope to those who may feel that all hope is lost. Simply put, this gift will save lives.”
INSPIRED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Cathleen and her brothers—Leslie, Robert and Richard—grew up in Waukesha, Wis., with their parents, John and Eloise, who modeled the importance of faith, lifelong learning and connecting with community. After high school, Cathleen enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL), where she earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a minor in music. As a college student, she enjoyed living near her aunt and uncle, Sacia and David Morris, MD, ABAI, ABFM, who founded Allergy Associates of La Crosse in 1970.
By 1980, Cathleen had graduated from college and was teaching (grades 1-8) at a school in Beloit, Wis., when the unthinkable happened. Richard, her younger brother by about 16 months, died by suicide shortly before his 21st birthday. The loss was devastating to the entire family, along with their close-knit community in Waukesha.
Shortly thereafter, Cathleen, who had been thinking about continuing her education, enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. By 1983, she had earned a second bachelor’s degree, which would allow her to be a fully-licensed music teacher. “Looking back, I realize that focusing on schoolwork gave me the time to process the loss of my brother and cope with the grief,” says Cathleen.
During the grieving process, Cathleen recognized a growing desire to work with young adults who, like her brother, were at a transitional time in their lives. Subsequently, Cathleen returned to UWL where, in 1984, she completed a master’s degree in College Student Personnel. With this degree, Cathleen went on to find work as a residence hall director at Buena Vista College in Iowa and then as assistant director of student activities/leadership at Ashland College in Ohio.
“The empathy I felt for my brother’s condition led me to want to work with and support young people transitioning into adulthood, which can be a vulnerable time,” shares Cathleen. “I wanted to help ensure other families would not have to suffer the kind of loss that my family experienced.”
Cathleen went on to earn a PhD in Higher Education from Kent State University in Ohio before returning to Waukesha to complete a doctoral internship at Carroll University. Subsequently, Cathleen served in various leadership roles at Carroll and Marquette University in the offices of student development/student life. In her final role at Carroll, Cathleen served as the director of community outreach programs from 1999-2013.
GUIDED BY FAITH AND FAMILY
Altogether, Cathleen spent more than 30 years supporting students and communities through a variety of roles in higher education. Her career in education might have been even longer, but Cathleen received a call to ministry and started seminary in 2013.
As part of what she calls her “second career,” Cathleen received a Master of Divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, a Certificate of Lutheran Learning and Formation from Wartburg Theological Seminary and was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), where she subsequently served as a rostered minister before retiring in 2024. Cathleen continues to serve in the La Crosse Area Synod, even in retirement.
Though Cathleen is from Waukesha, she has an affinity for the La Crosse area because of her time as a student at UWL. Additionally, she has always been close to extended family from the area, including her cousin, Mary Morris, MD, ABIM, and Mary’s husband, Jim Killoran. In fact, Cathleen first learned about the EmPATH project from Mary and Jim, who have a longstanding commitment to the local community.
In 2013, Mary’s parents, Dr. David and Sacia Morris, made a $1 million gift to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation’s Campus Renewal Campaign in support of the Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit that still bears their name. At the time, this gift helped expand the hospital’s capacity for treating teenagers in the Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit.
Today, gifts from Cathleen and others will support the EmPATH initiative, offering an important level of behavioral healthcare that did not previously exist. According to Behavioral Health clinical operations director Josh Court, MSW, MBA, 75% or more of severe psychiatric emergencies can be stabilized within 24 hours, meaning an inpatient admission is not always needed.
With this new model, Behavioral Health patients who are medically cleared in the Emergency Department can be transitioned to the EmPATH Unit where they will be evaluated and treated by psychiatrists in a calmer, more comfortable setting. Each patient will have their own recliner in which to relax while they remain under constant observation and are continually re-evaluated for up to 23 hours. At that point, many patients will be prepared to leave with a clearly-defined care plan that includes follow-up resources and outpatient programs.
“Mental illness impacts many families, including ours,” says Cathleen. “I believe that everyone has worth and deserves compassionate care, particularly when they are at their most vulnerable. EmPATH will allow those in crisis to receive the right level of care close to home—in an environment that preserves dignity and offers hope.”
To learn how you can support mental and behavioral health initiatives at Emplify Health by Gundersen, email gmf@gundersenhealth.org.