History of North Coast Ohio Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates
In 1984, a group of dedicated gastroenterology nurses met and established the North Coast Ohio Society of Gastroenterology Assistants (NSOSGA). The group held its first election on November 14, 1984. The first elected officers were: President Jill Kundtz, President-Elect Helen Sobe, Secretary Mary Lou Brown, Treasurer Elizabeth DeGiovonni, and Board Member Agnes Wilson.
On March 13, 1985, the NCOSGA logo was selected. The logo, a sailboat on waves, remains the same today.
Through the efforts of its members, NCOSGA applied for and received its charter May 1985 at the Society of Gastroenterology Assistants Annual Course in New York. The regional had 34 regional members and 22 national members. At that time, a member could belong to a regional society without joining the national society.
The first Fall Education Course was presented in October 1985. It was held at the Marriott Inn on 150th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1989, The Society of Gastroenterology Assistants changed its name to The Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Assistants (SGNA) and therefore required NCOSGA to change its name to North Coast Ohio Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (NCOSGNA).
Since we received our charter in 1985, many members of NCOSGNA have been active on the national level. We have had several members on the faculty at annual courses. Many have served on committees and task forces and have been the Chairperson for a Special Interest Group. Our members have submitted resolutions to be presented at the House of Delegates at the SGNA Annual Courses. Cleveland, through applications by NCOSGNA, has been a site for the several certification examinations.
NCOSGNA continues to provide networking and education opportunities with contact hours to its members. The officers and committee members of NCOSGNA remain dedicated to the SGNA mission statement.