Acknowledging achievements of STTI members.
Jocelyn C. Anderson, postdoctoral fellow, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, is among six students selected by the American Academy of Nursing to participate in its 2016-18 Academy Jonas Policy Scholars Program. Anderson’s doctoral research focused on the intersection of intimate partner violence, HIV and mental health symptoms among a sample of women living with HIV in Baltimore City. Funded by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the Academy Jonas Policy Scholars Program matches emerging scholars with nurse leaders for a two-year fellowship experience on an Academy Expert Panel where they have the opportunity to learn about major health policy issues from leading nursing experts. Anderson is assigned to the Violence Expert Panel.
Beth Ashmore, director of throughput and patient flow at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota, has been named to the Opiod/Pain Management Task Force by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The task force supports U.S. clinical nurse specialists in providing appropriate pain management and addressing opioid abuse in their practices and will make recommendations to the NACNS board of directors for resources and policies the organization should develop and support to address this national health care crisis.
Margaret ‘Maggie’ Wooding Baker, former associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, began serving as dean of the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions in August. She will lead a team of more than 100 full-time faculty and staff members and also serve as a member of the university’s Leadership Team. Before the University of Washington, Baker worked for the State of Washington as a senior health policy analyst, was a member of the state’s Nursing Action Coalition, and was a past president of Washington’s Council on Nursing Education. Baker completed in 2016 the Executive Nurse Fellows Program, a three-year executive nurse leadership program sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to identify solutions to the country’s most pressing health issues.
Linda S. Beeber, The Francis Hill Fox Distinguished Term Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, began serving as president-elect and member of the board of directors of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) in October at the end of the organization’s 30th Annual Conference in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Beeber currently serves as a member of the editorial board for the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, APNA’s peer-reviewed scholarly journal, and as co-chair of the APNA Research Council.
Jordon Bosse, PhD candidate, University of Massachusetts Amherst, is among six students selected by the American Academy of Nursing to participate in its 2016-18 Academy Jonas Policy Scholars Program. Bosse is predominantly interested in health and health disparities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, with a focus on mental health. Funded by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the program matches emerging scholars with nurse leaders for a two-year fellowship experience on an Academy Expert Panel where they have the opportunity to learn about major health policy issues from leading nursing experts. Bosse is assigned to the Primary Care Expert Panel.
Linda Burnes Bolton, vice president for nursing, chief nursing officer, and director of nursing research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, California, USA, was honored as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing, the highest award the organization bestows, at its policy conference in Washington, D.C., in October. Burnes Bolton, a champion of community nursing and global advocate for empowering communities of color to actively participate in their care, helped develop a “Community Collaboration Model” that has been implemented in more than 100 neighborhoods. She served as president of the academy from 2005 to 2007.
Ann Wolbert Burgess, professor of psychiatric nursing at Boston College, was honored as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing, the highest award the organization bestows, at its policy conference in Washington, D.C., in October. Internationally lauded as a pioneer in assessing and treating victims of sexual violence and trauma, Wolbert Burgess’ transformative work as co-founder of one of the first hospital-based crisis counseling programs introduced the rape trauma syndrome into scientific literature, a diagnosis that has since gained admissibility in more than 300 appellate court decisions. She has also worked with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to study links between child abuse, juvenile delinquency, and subsequent perpetration.
Sharon Byrne, associate professor and co-chair of the Department of Nursing at The College of New Jersey, was among 13 members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) honored for outstanding professional career accomplishments at the 2016 Diva and Don Gala, sponsored by the organization’s foundation, the Institute for Nursing. In the nomination for her award, In addition to her academic achievements, Byrne’s clinical expertise was identified, in addition to other professional academic achievements, as “key to her success in guiding an evidence-based, practice-oriented curriculum and mentoring faculty to teach real-world content.” Byrne serves as president of the Delta Nu Chapter of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. NJSNA represents the interests of 125,000 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses as an advocate for the nursing profession.
Norma P. Conner, associate professor at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing, was appointed to the new position of associate dean for academic excellence and began serving in that role in August. A nurse researcher with prior management and academic leadership experience, Conner will be responsible for providing leadership for accreditation, strategic planning, program evaluations, continuing education and institutional effectiveness. An abstract reviewer for Southern Nursing Research Society, Conner is on the editorial board for Computers Informatics Nursing. She is also a manuscript reviewer for American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Journal of Transcultural Nursing.
Colleen Conway-Welch, dean emerita of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN), recently received two honors recognizing her impact on nursing and health care. The American Academy of Nursing named Conway-Welch a Living Legend, the highest honor the organization bestows. In early October, she was inducted into the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame in recognition of her significant and lasting contributions to the health and health care industries in Tennessee. Conway-Welch served as dean of VUSN for 29 years before retiring in 2013. As dean, she shepherded the school in an overhaul of school’s curriculum, starting with the introduction of an accelerated master’s program. Under her direction, VUSN instituted its PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs.
Patricia Davidson, dean of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, received the 2016 Australian Museum’s Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers. The award is considered one of Australia’s most prestigious scientific awards, and Davidson is the first nurse to receive this honor. Given annually by the Australian Museum, the awards showcase excellence in research and innovation, leadership, school science, and science communication. In September, she was announced a winner in the 2016 100 Women of Influence Awards in the global category for her contributions to nursing by Westpac and The Australian Financial Review.
Veronica Barcelona de Mendoza, postdoctoral student, Yale School of Nursing, is among six students selected by the American Academy of Nursing to participate in its 2016-18 Academy Jonas Policy Scholars Program. Barcelona de Mendoza is a nurse-epidemiologist with a focus on public health and health disparities in birth outcomes in minority populations. Funded by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the Academy Jonas Policy Scholars Program matches emerging scholars with nurse leaders for a two-year fellowship experience on an Academy Expert Panel where they have the opportunity to learn about major health policy issues from leading nursing experts. Barcelona de Mendoza is assigned to the Genetic Nursing and Healthcare Expert Panel.
Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, dean of Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing for more than 15 years, was honored as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing, the highest award the organization bestows, at its policy conference in Washington, D.C., in October. Best known for her contributions to advancing the science of nursing education at universities and health ministries around the world, Fitzpatrick’s research has shined a spotlight on the meaningfulness of nurses’ work life—from developing educational interventions focused on HIV/AIDS prevention in Uganda to designing a 10-hospital project centered on improving nursing care provided to elders. She served as president of the academy from 1997 to 1999.
Mary Fortier, associate professor at New Jersey City University, was among 13 members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) honored for outstanding professional career accomplishments at the 2016 Diva and Don Gala, sponsored by the organization’s foundation, the Institute for Nursing. Fortier was nominated in recognition of her clinical experience and excellence in teaching, as well as her scholarly work, publications, presentations, research,. She is a member of Gammu Nu Chapter. NJSNA represents the interests of 125,000 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses as an advocate for the nursing profession.
Terry Fulmer, director, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and founding dean of New York University College of Nursing, has been named one of the top 50 “2016 Influencers in Aging” by Next Avenue, a digital publication covering issues for older Americans. A leading expert in geriatrics, Fulmer is well known for her research on elder abuse and neglect, funded by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute for Nursing Research. In making the list, Fulmer was among advocates, researchers, and thought leaders at the forefront in improving aging that includes television innovator Norman Lear, journalist Lesley Stahl, and Susan Reinhard, senior vice president and director, AARP Public Policy Institute.
Marjorie Geisz-Everson, assistant professor and interim director of the nurse anesthesia program at The University of Southern Mississippi College of Nursing, has been elected to Distinguished Fellowship of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) in Nursing and will be officially inducted into NAP in March. Geisz-Everson played an instrumental role in developing a nurse anesthesia program at Southern Miss, the first of eight Mississippi institutions of higher learning to offer a degree-granting nurse anesthesia curriculum. In December of 2015, 18 students completed the rigorous program. Induction as a Distinguished Practitioner, Scholar, or Policy Fellow within NAP is a high honor that acknowledges outstanding achievements. Inductees are recognized leaders in their profession and colleagues within other academies of NAP acknowledge the inductee’s ability to help establish and lead the new academy.
Catherine Alicia Georges, professor and chair of Lehman College Department of Nursing, president of the National Black Nurses Association, and past-president of the National Black Nurses Foundation, is president-elect of the AARP’s board of directors and will begin serving as president in 2018. Long a member of AARP’s all-volunteer board, Georges is an effective advocate for nursing and spoke about AARP’s commitment to nursing in 2015 when it sought expert testimony on then-recent changes in nursing and healthcare. The Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action is an initiative of AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Sheila A. Haas, professor and former dean of the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University Chicago, was presented the Margretta Madden Styles President’s Award by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for her contributions to the nursing profession. Haas, known for her work in advanced education, translational research, care coordination, and ambulatory care nursing, served on the ANCC board of directors for eight years, four as treasurer. She is also past president of the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing and the National Federation of Specialty Nursing Organizations.
Martha N. Hill, professor of nursing, medicine, and public health, and dean of Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing from 2001-14, was honored as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference, held in Washington, D.C., in October. Known for her leadership, particularly in research related to hypertension care and control among African-American men, Hill is the first non-physician to have served as president of the American Heart Association. A member of the National Academy of Nursing (formerly the Institute of Medicine) and an inaugural member of STTI’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, Hill also chairs the Global Advisory Panel on the Future of Nursing & Midwifery, of which Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a founding sponsor.
William L. Holzemer, dean and distinguished professor at the School of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, was presented the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award his outstanding contributions to ANAC and his global leadership in the battle against HIV/AIDS from the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) at the organization’s annual conference in November 2016. Renowned for his contributions to national and international health policy and practice, Holzemer was elected in 2003 to the prestigious Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine), becoming one of very few nurses to hold that distinction. Traveling abroad vwhen the award was presented, Holzemer accepted the award in absentia via video.
Florence L. Huey, medical director at Impact Communications in New York, New York, USA, is serving her first term as trustee on the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association Board of Trustees. Prior to joining Impact Communications, Huey was managing editor at SCP Communications in New York, where she was responsible for medical journals, such as Medscape Women’s Health and Reviews in Urology. She has also worked for the American Journal of Nursing Company, where she served as editor of the American Journal of Nursing.
Karen S. Kesten, associate professor at George Washington University School of Nursing in Washington, D.C., began serving a two-year term as chair of the AACN Certification Corporation board of directors in July. She has experience as a bedside nurse in critical care and as an educator and researcher. She most recently served as director of faculty initiatives at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, also in Washington. From 1999-2016, Kesten provided leadership as associate professor and director of the acute care nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist programs at Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies. She is a frequent writer and presenter on clinical practice and AACN’s Healthy Work Environment Standards.
Cynthia Klaess, medical-surgical clinical nurse specialist at WakeMed Health & Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, was named to the Opiod/Pain Management Task Force by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The task force supports U.S. clinical nurse specialists in providing appropriate pain management and addressing opioid abuse in their practices and will make recommendations to the NACNS board of directors for resources and policies the organization should develop and support to address this national health care crisis.
Melissa Kurtz, doctoral candidate, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, is among six students selected by the American Academy of Nursing to participate in its 2016-18 Academy Jonas Policy Scholars Program. Kurtz’s dissertation focuses on perceptions of parenting and decision making for NICU parents. Funded by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the program matches emerging scholars with nurse leaders for a two-year fellowship experience on an Academy Expert Panel where they have the opportunity to learn about major health policy issues from leading nursing experts. Kurtz is assigned to the Breast Feeding Expert Panel.
Mary Lopez, interim dean, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Graduate Nursing (CGN), has been selected as the college’s second dean, succeeding Karen Hanford who retired in April 2016. Lopez guided prelicensure and master’s degree students at Azusa Pacific University for several years before joining CGN in 2009. As director of the MSN-E program from 2010 to 2014, she led a team of educators to raise NCLEX passage rates to 100 percent, revise curriculum to include QSEN competencies, and establish the first RN transition-to-practice program in Southern California. Before serving as interim dean, Lopez was CGN’s associate dean of research and administration and directed the RN to MSN Program. Her research interests include interprofessional education, RN transition to practice, and cancer survivors.
John Lowe, educator, researcher, and global advocate of culturally competent healthcare for Native Americans and indigenous populations, has joined the faculty of Florida State University’s (FSU) College of Nursing as the newly endowed McKenzie Professor in Health Disparities Research. Lowe is a member of the Cherokee tribe and one of only 20 Native American nurses in the United States with a doctoral degree. At FSU, he will create the Center for Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Equity—the first research center of its kind worldwide. Lowe, a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, has received funding from the National Institutes of Health for his work with Native American substance-abuse prevention, most recently to implement and evaluate an after-school intervention known as the “Intertribal Talking Circle,” recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs as a Promising Evidence-Based Program for the well-being of youth. For this innovative intervention, he was also named by the American Academy of Nursing as an Edge Runner for bringing new thinking and methods to a healthcare challenge. Most recently, the American Nurses Association chose Lowe as the winner of the 2016 Luther Christman Award, which recognizes the significant contribution an individual man has made to the nursing profession.
Judith Lucas, associate professor at Seton Hall University, was among 13 members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) honored for outstanding professional career accomplishments at the 2016 Diva and Don Gala, sponsored by the organization’s foundation, the Institute for Nursing. Lucas, a board-certified clinical nurse specialist in gerontological nursing and past president of the Alpha Tau Chapter of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, was nominated, in part, for her interest in promoting evidence-based nursing practice and policy change through research and education. NJSNA represents the interests of 125,000 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses as an advocate for the nursing profession.
Brenda Marshall, associate professor at William Paterson University, was among 13 members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) honored for outstanding professional career accomplishments at the 2016 Diva and Don Gala, sponsored by the organization’s foundation, the Institute for Nursing. Marshall, who maintains a private practice as a psychiatric advanced practice nurse, served as the first coordinator of the Doctor of Nursing Program at William Paterson and has developed and revised multiple courses at the MSN and DNP levels for nursing education. NJSNA represents the interests of 125,000 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses as an advocate for the nursing profession.
Anna M. McDaniel, dean of University of Florida (UF) College of Nursing, was named Linda Harman Aiken Professor by the college in August. Alumna Linda Aiken announced the $1 million gift in February to endow the professorship, which supports excellence in nursing research at the college. In addition to serving as dean, McDaniel is assistant vice president for academic-practice partnerships at UF Health. Her research focuses on using technology for cancer prevention and control, specifically treatment of nicotine dependence. Her creative approach has earned her consistent research funding and international recognition. McDaniel serves as the chair of the Florida Association of Colleges of Nursing, as a reviewer for professional journals and scientific meetings, and as an ad hoc member of National Institutes of Health review panels in her areas of research expertise. Aiken is the director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, the Claire M. Fagin Leadership Professor of Nursing and a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.
Teresita Medina, chief nursing officer, Behavioral Health Center, RWJ Barnabas Health, was among 13 members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) honored for outstanding professional career accomplishments at the 2016 Diva and Don Gala, sponsored by the organization’s foundation, the Institute for Nursing. Medina, who started as a staff nurse in psychiatric services, was recognized for notable leadership abilities that brought her to her current role in which she is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing overall operations of nursing and patient care services at Barnabas Behavioral Center in Tom’s River, New Jersey, including all behavioral health nursing units in the RWJ Barnabas Health System. NJSNA represents the interests of 125,000 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses as an advocate for the nursing profession.
Trisha L. Mims, health center director, Office of Practice, School of Nursing at Johnson City Community Health Center, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA, has been named director of program and education by the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA). Involved with NSNA as a student and volunteer for the past 16 years, Mims, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, was a clinical instructor at East Tennessee State University School of Nursing from 2011 to 2015. As director of program and education, Mims will work in cooperation with the chair of the Convention and Program Planning Committee to identify potential content of programs, current issues, legislation education, future trends and career opportunities.
Cindy Munro, professor and associate dean of research and innovation at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, was named an Edge Runner by the American Academy of Nursing in August for her work toward effective oral care interventions that reduce infections in patients who are mechanically ventilated in intensive care units. Edge Runners are an integral part of the academy’s Raise the Voice campaign, which promotes innovative, evidence-based, and nurse-designed models of care. In July, Munro was inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame at the 27th International Nursing Research Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
Donna Felber Neff, associate professor and PhD program coordinator at the University of Central Florida College of Nursing, was appointed to the new position of associate dean of research, one of two new associate deans named by the college in 2016. Neff is a member of the Florida Hospital Systems Clinical Research Collaborative and nursing faculty representative on the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives Research Council. Vice president of communications for the National Academies of Practice and associate editor for Issues in Mental Health Nursing, Neff is also a manuscript reviewer for Research in Nursing & Health.
Daniel B. Oerther, professional engineer; professor of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology; and honorary member of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, was inducted as an honorary fellow of the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference in October. A foreign affairs officer with the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Food Security and dedicated to preventing disease and promoting wellness, Oerther partners with nurses, physicians, and other professionals to focus interventions on water, sanitation, nutrition, and food safety. His efforts have brought clean drinking water, sanitation, and access to health care to more than 100,000 villagers in Guatemala, India, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Terri Ann Parnell, author, lecturer, and founder of Health Literacy Partners, has joined TVR Communications, provider of interactive patient systems and related services to hospitals and health systems, as chief nursing officer. Parnell will apply her clinical, nursing, and health literacy expertise to assist TVR Communications in advancing health equity and enhancing the patient experience. The author of Health Literacy in Nursing: Providing Person-Centered Care, which received a 2015 AJN Book of the Year Award in the Nursing Management and Leadership category, Parnell was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in October 2016. She is a fellow in the New York Academy of Medicine and was selected for the 2016-17 New York Academy of Medicine Fellow Ambassadors Program.
Michael J. Polacek, professional development specialist with Salem Health Clinical Education's Emergency Department and Acute Psychiatric units in Oregon, began serving on the board of directors of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) as member-at-large in October at the end of the organization’s 30th Annual Conference in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Polacek’s past involvement with APNA includes serving as associate chair of the APNA Institute for Safe Environments.
Audra N. Rankin, instructor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, was presented an award for Outstanding Dissemination of Health Information at the Maryland Nurses Association’s (MNA) annual convention in October. The award is presented in recognition of achievements in the dissemination of health information to the public. Coverage may include illness prevention or wellness promotion. Four faculty members from the school were honored with MNA awards.
Lisa D. Rathman, lead nurse practitioner of The Heart Group of Lancaster General Health Congestive Heart Failure clinic in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, was presented the Nursing Leadership Award by the Heart Failure Society of America at its 20th Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida in September. The award recognizes an individual who improves, through achievement and excellence in nursing leadership, the outcomes of patients with heart failure. The awardee must meet a set criterion that focus on the quality and effectiveness of heart failure management programs, nursing practice, and patient outcomes. The award is sponsored by Cytokinetics.
Angelique L. Richard, former nurse executive and vice president of clinical operations for Seattle Cancer Cure Alliance (SCCA), began serving on 3 October as vice president for clinical nursing and chief nursing officer at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and associate dean for practice, Rush University College of Nursing. Prior to joining SCCA, which is a partnership of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, and Seattle Children’s Hospital, Richard held nursing leadership positions at the University of Connecticut Health Care System, Presence St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois, and Adventist Glen Oaks Hospital in Glendale Heights, Illinois.
Donna G. Rolin, director of the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program at the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing and a psychiatric-mental advanced practice nurse with Psychiatric Associates of Central Texas, began serving as treasurer of the board of directors of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) in October at the end of the organization’s 30th Annual Conference in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Before her election to the board, Rolin was co-chair of the APNA Education Council and served on the APNA Institute for Safe Environments Violence Prevention Task Force, which recently developed a position paper on the role of psychiatric-mental health nurses in violence prevention.
Patricia Rosier, surgical clinical nurse specialist at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA, was named to the Opiod/Pain Management Task Force by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The task force supports U.S. clinical nurse specialists in providing appropriate pain management and addressing opioid abuse in their practices and will make recommendations to the NACNS board of directors for resources and policies the organization should develop and support to address this national health care crisis.
Michael Sanchez, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, was presented the Outstanding Mentorship Award at the Maryland Nurses Association’s (MNA) annual convention in October. The award is given to a mentor who best demonstrates outstanding efforts and interest in the professional development and advancement of less experienced nurses. Four faculty members from the school were honored with MNA awards.
Phyllis Sharps, Elsie M. Lawler Endowed Chair and associate dean for community programs at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, was awarded the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award in Education and Research by the Association of Black Nursing Faculty. The award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to nursing and/or health care of African-Americans. As a researcher and expert in perinatal and women’s health, domestic violence, and community health, Sharps has published more than 80 articles on reducing violence against African-American women. Her studies, funded by the National Institutes of Health, have focused extensively on the health consequences of violence against pregnant and parenting women, babies, and young children, and have led to the development of interventions to protect women and children from intimate partner violence.
Maria R. Shirey, professor and chair of the Acute, Chronic, and Continuing Care Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA) and project director, HRSA Heart Failure Clinic at UAB Hospital, is the recipient of the inaugural Suzanne Smith Memorial Award for Scholarly Writing Excellence. The award, presented by the Council on Graduate Education for Administration in Nursing, recognizes scholarly writing by a member that advances the knowledge of administration and leadership in nursing. Named in honor of the late Suzanne Smith, EdD, RN, FAAN, longtime editor of both the Journal of Nursing Administration and Nurse Educator, the award will be presented every two years at the International Nursing Administration Research Conference.
JoAnne Silbert-Flagg, assistant professor, Department of Acute and Chronic Care, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference, held in Washington, D.C., in October. Silbert-Flagg has been a pediatric nurse practitioner for more than 25 years, with her most recent scholarship dedicated to breastfeeding promotion and the impact of support groups on breastfeeding success. For a complete list of 2016 AAN class of new fellows.
Sarah L. Szanton, associate professor and director, PhD program, at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, has been named one of the top 50 “2016 Influencers in Aging” by Next Avenue, a digital publication covering issues for older Americans. Her innovative Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders program, known as CAPABLE, has made strides across the nation as a viable solution to improving health outcomes among older adults. In November, Szanton was awarded the 2016 Senior Service American Senior Scholar Award for Research Related to Disadvantaged Older Adults, given by the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and Senior Service America, Inc. A GSA fellow, Szanton is also an American Academy of Nursing Emerging Edgerunner.
Christine Tebaldi, director of clinical business development and director of psychiatric emergency services at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, began serving on the board of directors of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) as member-at-large in October at the end of the organization’s 30th Annual Conference in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. She served as the Co-Chair for the Institute for Mental Health Advocacy from 2008 to 2016.
Sheila Dinotshe Tlou, director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, based in Johannesburg, was presented the NLN President’s Award by Anne R. Bavier, president of the National League for Nursing, at the organization’s 2016 NLN Education Summit. The award recognizes leaders in health care who are exemplars of NLN’s core values of excellence, integrity, caring, and diversity, individuals who have dedicated their life’s work to advancing the health of the nation and of the global community. In her current role, Tlou provides leadership in response to HIV/AIDS and ensures technical support to United Nations teams in 21 countries. Her pioneering work has earned her the coveted designation of United Nations Eminent Person for Women, Girls, and HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa.
Janiece L. Walker, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, was presented the Outstanding Pathfinder Award at the Maryland Nurses Association’s (MNA) annual convention in October. The award recognizes those who have pioneered in nursing innovation or developed creative approaches to further nursing’s agenda. Four faculty members from the school were honored with MNA awards.
Michelle A. Webb, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at Four Seasons Compassion for Life, Flat Rock, North Carolina, USA, and principal investor is the recipient of a three-year, $600,000 grant to leverage Four Seasons’ federally funded telepalliative care model to develop a program that provides remote, in-home hospice services to people in western North Carolina. Four Seasons serves rural, low-income counties in a geographic area and climate that is not amenable to consistent, coordinated health care and poses numerous challenges for nurses charged with making regular hospice-care home visits.
Carol Toussie Weingarten, associate professor at Villanova University’s College of Nursing, became president of the board of trustees of the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association following the resignation of Kenya Haney. Weingarten specializes in undergraduate nursing education and works with students from beginning to PhD levels, including generic students and those entering nursing with degrees in other areas, and her specialty areas include leadership and professional development, women’s health and childbearing, and health promotion and community health nursing. Long involved with the National Student Nurses’ Association, Weingarten advises the Villonova University chapter and is a volunteer adjunct professor in the NSNA Leadership University program.
Phyllis Whitehead, pain management and palliative care clinical nurse specialist at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia, USA, was named to the Opiod/Pain Management Task Force by the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The task force supports U.S. clinical nurse specialists in providing appropriate pain management and addressing opioid abuse in their practices and will make recommendations to the NACNS board of directors for resources and policies the organization should develop and support to address this national health care crisis.
Rachel Whittaker, high-level bedside nurse (clinical nurse IV) on the inpatient pulmonary unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she also serves as an ethics nurse liaison for this pediatric specialty unit, was presented the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in 2016 by the National Patient Safety Foundation. She was selected for her leadership, compassion, and practice of patient and family-centered care, particularly during difficult end-of-life decisions. Patients include children with cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, prematurity requiring ventilator dependence, asthma, and chronic lung disease. A critical member of the house-wide ethics committee, Whittaker teaches ethics to fellow staff members and interdisciplinary students entering the medical profession. In addition, she serves as a safety coach to her peers, with advanced training in coaching and quality improvement. The DAISY Award is given to a nominee from more than 2,300 health care facilities in all 50 states and in 14 other countries.
Clareen Wiencek, associate professor of nursing at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Nursing and program director of advanced practice, began serving a one-year term as president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) board of directors in July. Wiencek has almost 40 years of experience as a bedside nurse in critical care, nurse manager, educator, and researcher. She was the nurse manager for the acute care-based palliative care unit and program director for the Center for Integrative Pain Management at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond for four years before joining the faculty at UVA. Wiencek is a frequent contributor to AACN’s peer-reviewed journals.
Karen K. Wiley, certified emergency nurse at CHI Health Immanuel in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, and emergency department nurse for more than 20 years, assumed a one-year term as president of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) on 4 January 2017. Passionate about advocating for emergency nurses locally and nationally, Wiley served as chair of the Nebraska ENA State Council Government Affairs Committee for 10 years, and successfully collaborated with the Nebraska Nurses Association to make it a felony to assault a nurse in Nebraska. For her sustained and inspiring efforts, Wiley received the 2012 Nebraska Nurses Association Outstanding Achievement in Nursing Award and the Image of Nursing Award.
Madelyn Yu, nurse manager at RWJ Barnabas Health, was among 13 members of the New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA) honored for outstanding professional career accomplishments at the 2016 Diva and Don Gala, sponsored by the organization’s foundation, the Institute for Nursing. Yu, who serves as Eastern Regional Vice President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, was nominated for her transformational leadership, demonstrated, in part, by high retention rates, low turnover rate, and quality results in her current role as nurse manager of a post-anesthesia care unit. NJSNA represents the interests of 125,000 registered nurses and advanced practice nurses as an advocate for the nursing profession.