Rose Mary Harvey, Health Link manager, is retiring Oct. 1 from North Mississippi Health Services after 30 years of service.

A native of Eva, Alabama, Rose Mary graduated from Albert P. Brewer High School in Somerville, Alabama, in 1977. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of North Alabama in Florence in 1981.  After graduation, she accepted a marketing job with Brown and Williamson Tobacco Co., for which she installed signage and displays in grocery stores throughout north Mississippi. She enjoyed her job so much that when she left Tupelo briefly and relocated to Nashville, she transferred with the company and worked part-time for a year.

Rose Mary returned to Tupelo and worked as office manager for an insurance adjusting business for three years until a secretarial position became available with Health Link. “I was just trying to get my foot in the door,” she says. “As Health Link grew, (former NMHS Vice President) Pam Hansen had the vision to add a Member Services Representative, and I was promoted to that position in 1993.” She served in that role until 1999, when she was named Health Link manager.

Much has changed over three decades, but Rose Mary says the highlight came three years ago with the Echo online application portal, which replaced several different applications related to credentialing. The streamlined process means health care providers need only complete one application for medical privileges at NMHS facilities, payor enrollment and membership in the preferred provider organization. “It’s much more efficient, and it has really been very well received,” she says.

For 24 years, Rose Mary helped coordinate the Health Link Managed Care Conference, which put her in contact with a variety of interesting guest speakers.

Rose Mary has a reputation for providing excellent customer service. “I enjoy making sure people are taken care of,” she says. “I like answering questions and helping people navigate through the system, which sometimes is not easy. I have met so many people that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”

Retirement will give Rose Mary more time for traveling with friends, visiting family, playing pickleball and reading. She attends First United Methodist Church in Tupelo and hopes to volunteer more with Helping Hands Food Pantry and start delivering Meals on Wheels.

Her son, Wesley Harvey (Melody) lives in Nashville with her two grandsons—Hank, 7, and Calvin, 3. Her daughter, Kate Moore (Drew) lives in Tupelo.

“North Mississippi Health Services has provided me with an excellent career,” Rose Mary says. “I am very grateful and just really enjoyed it.”