My name is Sharon Thomas and I  serve as the Clinical Nurse Liaison for both Northwoods and MapleCrest Care Centre’s in Belvidere, Il, where I have been a life-long resident.  This position enables me to utilize all of my clinical skills in evaluating and assisting patients with placement for both rehab and long term skilled care. I have been a nurse for 28 years, graduating from OSF/Saint Anthony School of Nursing.  My nursing career has kept me focused primarily in the Belvidere and *Rockford areas.  My background includes:

• Trauma Nurse Specialist
• Critical Care
• Pediatric Intermediate Care
• GI nursing
• Home Health Care  

I have worked as a Pain Resource Nurse for both OSF/Saint Anthony and Swedish American Hospitals.  I have had the opportunity to speak at several nursing conferences nationally, as well as small groups, sharing my Medical Mission Work and presenting on several health related topics.  My strong family roots in the Belvidere community have kept me happily tied here.  I enjoy golf, writing, amateur photography and I passionately  serve as a Volunteer Medical Missionary with LCMS World Relief and Human Care where I have volunteered with 9 trips in the past 3 years.  I have had the opportunity to serve in  Banda Aceh, Indonesia (devastated by the tsunami in 2005) Kenya three times, Madagascar twice and Haiti three times.  I was team leader on a mission to Haiti, where we worked to set up a level one trauma center 5 days post quake in the border town of Jimani, DR., helping to coordinate the care of over 1000 patients in one week. 

I have been married to Fred Thomas for almost 28 years.  We have a son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Katie Thomas, of Rockford, as well as a grown foster daughter and granddaughter, Candy and Stephanie Farel of Melrose Park, IL.  I am an active participator in our local Boone County Relay for Life and a member of my 10 year old niece’s survivor team, The Talie Cats.  I am also an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere.  I already enjoy working with the residents of Northwoods and MapleCrest, as well as the professional staff and look forward to what the position will bring.