Draft:Joy M. Query

• Comment: Entire early life section is unsourced. Greenman (talk) 10:24, 19 September 2024 (UTC)

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Joy M. Query (née Neale) was an influential British-American medical sociologist and academic, best known for her pioneering work in hospice care and her contributions to the field of medical sociology. She served as a professor and department chair at North Dakota State University and played a pivotal role in the establishment of Hospice of the Red River Valley, the first hospice organization in North Dakota.

Early Life and Education

Joy Query was born on June 18, 1926, in Quinton, a suburb of Birmingham, England. She grew up in a socially conscious family with a strong focus on health and welfare, influenced by her parents, Samuel (Sam) and Doreen (Doree) Oakley Neale, who instilled in her the importance of social responsibility. This emphasis on public service and the medical field greatly impacted Query's academic and professional interests.

At the age of 18, Query served as the assistant headmistress at the Smethwick Girls' School, marking an early start to her leadership and teaching career.

Initially interested in English literature, Query's academic focus shifted to medical sociology during her studies at the University of Birmingham, where she majored in English Literature with a minor in Theology. In 1952, she received a scholarship to the University of Syracuse in New York, prompting her move to the United States. She continued her studies in the U.S., earning a BA in 1954 and an MA in 1955 from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

While at Drake, Query met and married William (Bill) Theodore Query Jr. The couple later moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where they started a family, and Joy pursued her PhD at the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University. For a time, the family relocated to Worcestershire, England, where both Joy and Bill conducted research. They briefly returned to Lexington before eventually settling in Fargo, North Dakota.

Academic Career

Query began her academic career at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 1966, where she became a prominent figure in the sociology department. As the founder and chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department, she was instrumental in developing the curriculum and initiating student internships in the social sciences. Her work extended beyond NDSU, as she also held a dual appointment with the University of North Dakota (UND), where she advocated for the inclusion of social sciences in medical education.

Throughout her career, Query was recognized for her dedication to teaching, research, and community service. She retired from NDSU as an Emeritus Professor in 1991, leaving behind a legacy of academic excellence and social impact.

Founding of Hospice of the Red River Valle

Joy Query's most significant contribution came with the founding of Hospice of the Red River Valley in 1981. The idea was sparked by a conversation with Edie Herbst, a student in Query's medical sociology class at NDSU, who expressed a need for hospice care in the region. Motivated by this need, Query and Herbst embarked on a mission to establish the first hospice in North Dakota.

Query sought inspiration from Dr. Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the modern hospice movement, during a visit to St. Christopher's Hospice in South London. This experience solidified her commitment to creating a hospice that emphasized comfort, dignity, and respect for the dying.

Over the course of three years, Query and Herbst worked tirelessly to educate the community, raise funds, and garner support for their initiative. Their efforts culminated in the establishment of Hospice of the Red River Valley, which became the first Medicare-certified hospice west of the Mississippi River. Today, the organization serves thousands of patients annually across Minnesota and North Dakota.

Death

Joy M. Query passed away on August 18, 2024, in Fargo, North Dakota, at the age of 98. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions were requested to be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley or the Joy M. Query Scholarship Fund at North Dakota State University.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Query received numerous accolades for her contributions to the field of sociology and hospice care. In 1981, she was named YWCA Woman of the Year for Professions, an award recognizing her impact on the Fargo-Moorhead community through her service and achievements.

Selected Publications

• Query, Joy M. Neale. "Comparative Admission and Follow-Up Study of American Indians and Whites in a Youth Chemical Dependency Unit on the North Central Plains." International Journal of the Addictions, vol. 20, no. 3, 1985, pp. 489–502. DOI: 10.3109/10826088509044928.
• Neale Query, Joy M. "Premorbid Adjustment and Family Structure: A Comparison of Selected Rural and Urban Schizophrenic Men." The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, vol. 133, no. 4, 1961, pp. 333–38. DOI: 10.1097/00005053-196110000-00008.
• Neale Query, Joy M. "Role Perception: A Comparative Study of Good and Poor Premorbid Schizophrenic Men." The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, vol. 138, no. 1, 1964, pp. 43–47. DOI: 10.1097/00005053-196401000-00006.