While age and health issues have slowed her down, 86-year-old CNA Labor Council delegate Pat Schramm remains a regular presence at delegate meetings and in local labor and progressive political activities because “people out there need our help, especially when it comes to the need for universal health care,” she says.

Pat worked as a registered nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Regional Medical Center for 28 years prior to her retirement in 2005. During her career she was a CNA chief nurse representative at her worksite and served on the union’s staffing issues and professional performance committees.

She’s a long-time SBLC delegate and is active in FORUM, CARA, and the Working Blue Democratic Club. She also joins in activities with the SEIU 521 Latino Caucus.

She supports progressive political candidates and was active in Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaigns, including riding in the “Bernie Bus” in 2016. Her current focus is on artificial intelligence and its impact on health care. She explains that many providers, most notably nursing homes, are using AI to assess patients and then determining care based only on those results. “The outcomes can be devastating,” says Pat.

Pat also enjoys “thrifting” (shopping for treasures at thrift stores and estate sales), getting together for birthdays with a group of her former coworkers, and spending time with her family that includes four children, nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Pat doesn’t have any plans to curtail her efforts on behalf of workers and unions, she says.

“I told my family that I’m going to be an advocate as long as I can walk and talk and wipe myself,” she declared.