SLIPPERY ROCK — Some people with demanding jobs like to relax in their time off, but Kris Chiprean, director of Student Health Services at Slippery Rock University, maintains an active, adventurous personal life.

“I think when you're open to live in possibility, those possibilities appear,” Chiprean said.

“I like it a lot. It's wonderful,” Chiprean said of being the director for five years. “I'm just thrilled to be here. It's a good place.”

She said the department has a three-pronged mission: clinical practice, health promotion and public health.

“It's providing the venue for good quality health care to take place,” Chiprean said.

The clinic operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which Chiprean said is rare for campus health services. She said the university is supportive of the 24/7 operation because there is not a hospital in Slippery Rock and SRU has a large residential population.

The clinic employs one physician, 11 nurses, four nurse practitioners, one health promotion coordinator and two clerical staff members.

And they have earned her praise.

“I'm very fortunate. I'm blessed. They're a wonderful staff. They are hands down some of the best nurses I've ever worked with,” Chiprean said.

Much of what the clinic does is dealing with things such as colds, the flu, stomach illness and mental health issues.

Since Chiprean started at the clinic, she said she has seen an increase in mental health issues, but she is unsure whether that is an actual increase or if the clinic has gotten better at detecting them.

“I think life is a whole lot faster-paced now,” Chiprean said.

The clinic also tries to promote nutrition, exercise, safe sex and a tobacco-free lifestyle.

She said, since she started, students have become more involved and proactive in their health.

One reason she enjoys her job is that she enjoys interacting with the students.

“They're wonderful. They keep me young and fresh and moving forward. And I enjoy them very much,” Chiprean said.

Before coming to SRU, Chiprean worked in Indiana as a nurse after graduating from Ball State University.

“And I enjoyed that, but I wanted something different,” Chiprean said.

Later, she chose to go back to school at Indiana University.

As a way to help pay for her education, she went to work at the now VA Butler Healthcare, which was considered an underserved area for a stipend. On the advice of a co-worker, she visited SRU and liked the campus. She started at SRU in 1992 as a nurse practitioner in the clinic.

In addition to her work in the clinic, Chiprean does surveys for the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Care, which is a group that evaluates medical centers. She also is on the university's behavioral intervention team, which she helped form in 2007, and is involved with many of the university's assessment initiatives.

“So, I'm kind of a Jill of all trades, and I like it,” Chiprean said. “I'm on call 24/7.”

Evidence of her lifestyle litters her office.

She has five certificates and diplomas on her wall. A place mat on her desk is filled with quotes, some inspirational and some sarcastic. Next to the place mat is a cube with pictures of her and her daughter vacationing.

Indeed, when she is not working, Chiprean likes to spend time with her daughter Anna, 11.

“She's fun. She's enthusiastic. Not a timid bone in that child's body. She's a joy. She's my joy,” Chiprean said.

Often, she takes her daughter to soccer, swimming and basketball after school, which she also likes to attend.

“I feel, as a mom, my job is to support the child, support the team and support the adults,” Chiprean said.

In addition to sports, Chiprean and her daughter like to go to museums, play board games and travel.

She likes to keep the list of things she and her daughter want to do on her refrigerator.

“It's not about stuff, it's about experiences,” Chiprean said.

Fairly recently, she overcame a fear of heights by parasailing. Now, she looks for similar opportunities.

“If an experience involves going up high, I do it,” Chiprean said.

She also likes the beach: “When I retire, I would like to retire on the ocean.”

One goal is to visit every beach in the Caribbean. So far, she has been to three out of about 30.

In May, she will attend a convention for the American College Health Association in Arizona. While there, she would like to stop by the Grand Canyon.

“I just can't wait to see it,” Chiprean said.

And, in addition to all of the outdoor activities, she enjoys reading.

“I can't imagine doing this job if you don't like to read,” Chiprean said.

Although she occasionally thinks about going back to school to pursue a doctorate, she is concerned about the time commitment. She is happy with her current life.

“Right now, my daughter is my priority,” Chiprean said.

<B>Age: </B>46<B>Address: </B>Butler<B>Family: </B>Daughter Anna, 11<B>Employment: </B>Director, Student Health Services at Slippery Rock University<B>Education: </B>Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Ball State University; master’s in nursing from Indiana University<B>Interests: </B>Spending time with her daughter, traveling, reading<B>Quote:</B> “I think when you’re open to live in possibility, those possibilities appear.”