Topic: Membership 

Those who’ve met Omega Chapter President and Alpha Chapter member Christina Kiger have no doubt about her caring, generous nature and her passion for excellence in all aspects of her life. It was no surprise when Christina chose nursing, focusing on pediatrics, as her career choice. Christina earned her BSN in 2000 from the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, to work at Riley Hospital for Children. Simultaneously, Christina began taking graduate level courses through Indiana University and discovered her passion to be a nurse leader, researcher, and educator.

She earned her MSN in nursing education from Indiana University in 2009 and decided to leave clinical practice to pursue a position with Marian University as an associate professor. There, she could further her research on nurse preceptorships and their role in the scientific advancement of nursing education, a research interest that was piqued through her work on her master’s thesis during graduate school. Prior to her exit to pursue her PhD in nursing education, Christina developed and implemented the clinical immersion preceptorship experience in Marian University’s new curriculum. “My focus on preceptorship has been strong for many years,” Christina says. “I have had preceptorship experiences, both as an undergraduate student and as a preceptor, so I realize the value these experiences can add to a nurse’s skillset. However, student experiences can vary based on the preceptor they’re assigned, so from a research perspective, it makes sense to dig deeper into the impact these experiences can have on new nurses.”

In 2017, she again was admitted to Indiana University to pursue her PhD in nursing education and was awarded the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars Program Fellowship for her work on Nurse Residency Program preceptorships, specifically, the interpersonal attributes and communication styles of preceptors and their impact on self-efficacy and turnover in newly licensed nurses. Christina will graduate in 2020 and plans to stay in academia so she can continue advancing the profession of nursing through scholarship, while passing along her knowledge to the next generation of nurses.

Christina’s dedication to nursing advancement and scholarship makes it appropriate that her initial opportunity to join Sigma came during her time as an associate professor at Marian University; she was able to join Sigma’s ranks as a nurse leader and faculty member. “Initially, my desire to join Sigma was based on the want to be a part of an honor society of nursing,” Christina says. “I wasn’t sure what else Sigma offered because our chapter wasn’t visible at the time.” Soon, Christina was asked to serve on the Omega Chapter’s board and stepped into the role of vice president, earning her a spot as Omega’s chapter delegate for the 43rd Biennial Convention in Las Vegas in 2015, where Christina was exposed to all the opportunities available, both for her personally and her chapter. “Attending biennial convention as a delegate opened my eyes to not only all that I could personally gain from being an active Sigma member, but I realized that our chapter needed to be more active in Sigma, too. There are so many opportunities for chapter members and I knew a more active chapter would open many more doors for them.”

After her experience at the biennial convention, Christina decided to step into her current role as Omega’s chapter president, utilizing her passion and leadership skills to transform the Omega Chapter. Under her leadership for the past two years, Omega Chapter hosts member events, regular member meetings, and has reinstituted a fully functioning board that meets regularly. But Christina’s far from done, and has a couple of goals in mind, both for the long and short term. “We’ve already accomplished a lot over the past two years, but I’d like to increase member participation at our events and, ultimately, win a Chapter Key Award.”

It’s the member participation that’s the key for Christina. She credits being active in her current chapter for enhancing her leadership skills, increasing her visibility as a nurse scientist and researcher, connecting her with many different colleagues around the globe, and inspiring her to go back to get her PhD. Christina says, “Today's healthcare complexities require us to continue moving nursing education forward and there is a lot that we need to do to allow nursing education to evolve to that level. Sigma allows so many opportunities to grow personally as a leader, scholar, or clinician. Within all levels of participation, you are truly able to make an impact on nursing and health care all over the world.”

In 2017, Abby Heydman was the first nurse to win the prestigious Mary Jane Harris Distinguished Service Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education. This is just the most recent of many awards she has received. During her career, Abby’s commitment to the nursing profession has been recognized by her local Sigma chapter, her undergraduate college alumni association, the Alameda County Nurses Association, and the California Nurses Association.

Starting her career has an ICU nurse, Abby quickly moved up the ranks into a supervisor position. After taking an opportunity to serve as Interim Dean for a BSN program, Abby knew that she wanted to further pursue a career in higher education. With that decision, Abby moved to California to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where she obtained a PhD in higher education. After first working as a department chair, she then advanced to Dean-Nursing, and finally as Academic Vice President. She even served as Interim President for a brief period while their University President took a sabbatical leave.

Abby supports Sigma’s mission and values, as well as the leadership development and networking opportunities. Specifically, Abby appreciates the support for nursing research and leadership. Although Abby has been a Sigma member since 1969, she began actively participating in 1993. Since then, she has served her chapter as communications chair, webmaster, newsletter editor, treasurer, secretary, president-elect, and president. She has also served internationally as the Region 1 Coordinator and a member of numerous committees. Abby recently retired from her position as a consultant for program development in health sciences, but that hasn’t stopped her from being actively involved in her chapter in her current role as communication chair.

Sarmad Soomar’s passion for being a nurse is evident from the first moment you speak to him. Finding inspiration in his mother’s service as a community midwife, Soomar knew that he wanted to work in the healthcare field. Soomar received his BSN from Aga Khan University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, where he received special training in human sexuality, early childhood development and mental health.

Soomar’s Sigma involvement is instrumental in developing a sense of who he is as nurse. Male nurses still struggle to find role models in Pakistan, but with Sigma’s help, he was able to find mentorship and a sense of belonging in his chosen profession. He now sees himself as a role model to other young male nurses, a rare distinction in his region. Soomar has been enriched by the evidence-based research that he can use in both community and clinical settings. Soomar was also uplifted by his induction into Sigma, and considers it an honor to be a part of our organization. He desires to help empower future male nurses the same way that he was empowered through Sigma.

For Soomar, giving back to his community does not end with his role as a nurse. Soomar is a trained laughter yoga trainer. He has conducted yoga sessions across Pakistan for people of all ages and walks of life. Soomar is also part of his university’s innovation club and the editor of a blog about medical innovation. Soomar hopes to continue to be a lifelong learner with Sigma’s help. One day he would like to conduct play therapy research, promote health in early years, as well as human sexuality and rights. Without Sigma, Soomar would not have been exposed to the innovation that has so inspired him.