Mary Mitsch
Mary Mitsch
Professor
Acting Chair of Health Services Administration
Degrees
- Ph.D., Medical Anthropology, Wayne State University
- Master of Science, Nursing, University of Pittsburgh
- Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Gannon University
Biography
Dr. Mary Mitsch retired from full-time faculty in 2023, but returned to Detroit Mercy in 2025 to assist with the accreditation, program development and other duties as requested by the dean. She is a medical anthropologist with extensive expertise in interprofessional program development, health sciences and administration. She originally joined the Health Services Administration program at Detroit Mercy in 2019.
Mitsch is an end-of-life researcher and presents nationally and internationally on issues related to ritual activity surrounding traumatic and sudden death events and how those events are handled in emergency departments by staff and families. She has also presented on how anthropological research and teaching methods can contribute to nursing curriculum.
Mitsch's other research interests include population health, narrative and autoethnography. She is also an end-of-life doula. Her work is highly motivated by the Mercy values of "mercy and compassion" and the Jesuit value of "accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future."
In her free time, Mitsch enjoys reading, walking and traveling with her husband and friends. She has a daughter and two sons, and her immediate family has expanded to daughter-in-laws and four granddaughters, who live in the area. The family enjoys Sunday dinners together as often as possible.
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Areas of Research
- Narrative research
- Qualitative Research in Healthcare Autoethnography
- Sudden Death
- Good Death
- Resilience