Allison Wittfoth started a chain reaction when she joined Mayo Clinic in 1974. Since then, her daughter and granddaughters have joined the fold — all in Obstetrics. They share what it means to them to have a legacy of working at Mayo.

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Three generations of women in one family have proudly built their nursing careers at Mayo Clinic, dedicated to caring for mothers and newborns in the Obstetrics department. Over five decades, their footprints have overlapped in the hallways. Their uniforms and tools have evolved. Yet, the heart of their work has remained constant: caring with compassion and being there when it matters most.

Their story begins more than 50 years ago with Allison Wittfoth joining Mayo Clinic in 1974. After floating between departments early in her career, she found her calling in Obstetrics, drawn to the heartwarming sounds of new life that filled the unit.

"It was like paradise to me," Allison recalls. "There was so much joy."

Over the next 32 years, Allison cared for thousands of women during and after childbirth, providing skilled support and a steady presence during one of life's most vulnerable and meaningful moments.

"What mattered most was making our patients feel safe and cared for," she says. "Sometimes that meant sitting beside them, holding their hand, letting them share their tears and fears and simply being there through the ups and downs. Other times, it meant monitoring vital signs closely and noticing when something wasn't right. Most of all, it's about kindness, empathy and being someone who truly listens."

Her daughter, Amy Glienke, followed in her footsteps, inspired by how her mom lit up when she talked about her work.

"Nursing has always been about being present for patients."

Allison Wittfoth

"My mom loved her job and always had the best stories," Glienke says. "I knew I wanted to help people the way she did."

For 10 years, the two worked side by side in the same department.

"She's a go-getter," Allison says of her daughter. "She never stopped moving, always helping. Her co-workers appreciated her, and so did I."

Now, Amy works alongside her daughters, Mya Glienke, and Kiara Glienke, who are continuing the family's legacy of care.

Mya, a licensed practical nurse, works in the Obstetrics clinic. Kiara, still in nursing school, works part-time in the department while completing her degree. They grew up hearing stories from both their mother and grandmother about what it meant to care for patients as if they were family.

"Being part of this family and this department means a lot to me," Mya says. "I feel proud knowing I can turn to my mom and grandma for guidance, just like so many others have."

"I always wanted to be a nurse, just like my sister, mom and grandma," Kiara says. It's inspiring to follow in their footsteps because they share their experiences and encourage me through nursing school. I like that nursing lets me help people when they need it most."

"My mom loved her job and always had the best stories."

Amy Glienke

The roots of the family's commitment to patient care runs even deeper. Allison's mother was a nurse's aide, and her grandmother a private duty nurse who assisted in the births of all her grandchildren. Her great-grandmother was a country midwife who cared for women and families in their homes at a time when formal training was rare.

"She always kept her nursing bag packed by the door," Allison says. "If someone needed help, she went — day or night."

She says the family often reflects on their shared experience, supporting one another and learning together.

"We talk through situations and about understanding what patients are going through and how to be present for them," she says.

The family has witnessed significant changes in healthcare through the years.

Allison remembers when charting meant pencil and paper, and patient histories arrived in plastic canisters that zipped through the hospital's tube system. Nurses learned to balance a clipboard in one hand and a calming touch in the other.

Today, her daughter and granddaughters work with digital technology and real-time data. But even with all the advancements, they agree that the foundation of nursing at Mayo Clinic remains the same: putting the needs of the patient first.

"Nursing has always been about being present for patients," Allison says. "Technology changes, but patients still need someone beside them."

Although she has retired, Allison remains connected to Mayo Clinic through volunteer service. She donates blood regularly, sews caps for pediatric patients, crochets prayer shawls and makes fidget blankets for patients in hospice care.

What means the most to her now is knowing that the nursing work she loved continues through her family.

"When people tell me my daughter and granddaughters are doing a great job — that's what makes me proud," she says.