Ann Arbor resident has long history of leadership in nursing, labor community

OKEMOS – Members of the Michigan Nurses Association, the state’s largest and most effective union and professional association for registered nurses, have elected John Armelagos, RN, as their new president. Armelagos, an Ann Arbor resident, is a longtime nurse who has held multiple leadership positions in the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council (UMPNC), the Michigan labor community, Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) and its national affiliate, National Nurses United.

“I’m humbled by the confidence of my fellow nurses and I’m excited about working together to take MNA’s advocacy for our patients and our profession further,” Armelagos said. “MNA is uniquely poised over the next 3 to 4 years to grow our membership due to the stability afforded by securing so many strong collective bargaining agreements over the past year.  There is a lot of excitement from frontline nurses who are eager to advance MNA and the nursing profession. We will harness that energy to increase our organizing activities, member engagement and political activism so that as nurses and workers, we can achieve the positive change that Michigan so desperately needs.”

Armelagos was elected this weekend by representatives of MNA’s local bargaining units who participated in the organization’s annual Convention and House of Delegates near Traverse City.  Armelagos succeeds Jeff Breslin, RN, as president of MNA, which represents nearly 11,000 registered nurses all around the state.

Armelagos, an autoworker for 10 years and a union steward at that job before pursuing his degree, received a diploma at Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing and went on to earn his BSN (bachelor’s of science in nursing) at University of Michigan’s School of Nursing. He has spent most of his career as a psychosocial nurse, later concentrating on the care of postpartum families.

Armelagos has held various leadership roles in UMPNC, which represents the approximately 4,660 MNA registered nurses at the University of Michigan Health System.  He currently serves as Grievance Chair. Armelagos is also a Vice President of National Nurses United, MNA’s national affiliate, and an activist in Michigan State AFL-CIO’s efforts to protect working families. Armelagos also has a diploma from Wayne State University’s Labor School.

Armelagos and his wife, Heidi, who is also an RN at UMHS, live in Ann Arbor. His son, Matt, lives in Allen Park; stepdaughter Amy and her husband, Anthony, parents of 6-month-old Harper, live in Ann Arbor. Armelagos’ stepson, Marty, resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Kara.

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The Michigan Nurses Association is the state’s largest and most effective union and professional association for registered nurses, representing nearly 11,000 RNs statewide and advocating for them and their patients.