Lifelong Detroiter Aims to Keep City Healthy: Former Nurse Leads Community Efforts at St. John
By Javan Kienzle, Detroit Free Press
Jul. 1–Cynthia Taueg (pronounced “Tag”), St. John Health vice president for community health and senior services, is a native Detroiter.
She graduated in the last class at the old Wilbur Wright High School, received her nursing degree from Wayne State, her master’s in public health from the University of Michigan and her doctorate in health administration from Central Michigan.
Before joining St. John Health nine years ago, Taueg served as public health director for Detroit and Wayne County. She is the author of “Faces of Faith: Victorious Christian Living for Believers” (WinePress Publishing). In March, she received a Distinguished Leadership Award from the Michigan Business & Professional Association Workplace Conference.
Taueg lives with her husband in northwest Detroit. Their two sons graduated from Cass Tech; one is an engineer, the other a commodities trader.
Q: What are some of the programs you oversee?
A: St. John Health is in five counties, but 60% of our community health programs are utilized by Detroit citizens. We have two nursing homes; through churches we have health-based education and outreach programs; we have health fairs and screenings, school-based health services and clinics, asthma clubs, and abstinence and substance abuse-prevention programs. We have a grieving program for children and their families. … Among our focuses are issues involving the uninsured and helping our children and youth develop healthy habits. We’re concerned about communicable diseases (particularly HIV and AIDS). We have free screenings; they’re confidential and even anonymous.
Q. Who is your hero?
A: My (paternal) grandfather. He came from a sharecropping family in Mississippi. He would hitch up the plow and plow for a couple of hours; then he’d unhitch the plow, saddle the horse, ride it to school, turn it loose to graze, then go home after school and plow till sundown. He put himself through school through his master’s and became principal of a school in Mississippi.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I’m a reader, and I love movies. I love golf. I don’t have enough time — but I keep my clubs in the car; I’m always optimistic.
Q: What advice do you have for young people?
A: Goals and choices. Have a goal, and others will help. But your greatest power is the power to choose. Choosing good friends; the right friends can make all the difference in the world for you.
Q: Your office is in Warren, but you live in Detroit; ever thought about moving?
A: I feel that Detroit is a great city. I need to be here, to be part of what’s going on to revitalize the city. There’s a lot more work to do here; I want to contribute. Detroit’s been good to me; I want to be good to Detroit.
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