BOLIVAR, MO ─ Carole Ruth Compton Eldridge, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Dean, Campus Director, Associate Professor of St. John's College of Nursing and Health Sciences-Southwest Baptist University, has been named one of Springfield Business Journal's 20 Most Influential Women for 2009.

This year's nominees were chosen by a panel of five judges from the Springfield area business community. Honorees will be recognized at a gala luncheon, September 25, at the University Plaza in Springfield.

One of Dr. Eldridge’s strongest civic contributions is through networking with health care leaders in Springfield, throughout Missouri, and in other states (particularly Texas), sharing and learning about ways to organize and lead health care that will improve our systems and strengthen our workers.

"In everything I do I want to equip, enable, and empower other people, whether staff, faculty, or students," Eldridge said. It is well known among her peers, as a teacher and natural mentor, Dr. Eldridge is impacting the health care world.

Under her servant leadership she has accomplished many great things.  She has built four profitable, high-quality health care businesses from the ground up, providing excellent care and great jobs for hundreds of people. She has written several health care books that provide training for thousands of health care workers. Dr. Eldridge has facilitated the education of hundreds of registered nurses who provide quality care to their patients. She helps aspiring nurses reach their goal of a career that will improve their lives and their families' lives.

"These things all come from my central mission and constitute my proudest ongoing accomplishment: strengthening health care workers, thereby making health care better," Eldridge said.

Each year, 20 women are honored for improving the southwest Missouri business, civic and philanthropic communities. The awards luncheon, supported by special publication, is one of Springfield Business Journal's top-attended events.