Noteworthy member news

Acknowledging achievements of Sigma members.



Daily, Sigma members advance world health through scholarship, leadership, and service. These are some who have been recognized for their achievements.

Jose Alejandro, director of care management at UCI Health in Orange, California, USA, and assistant professor of nursing at Mount St. Mary’s University, Los Angeles, was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves in October 2018. After traveling the world as a journalist and photojournalist for military magazines and newspapers, he changed his career path in 1992 and began clinical nurse training. Currently serving as president of Case Management Society of America (2018-20), he is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a Virginia Henderson Fellow (Sigma). In 2015, he was named Case Manager of the Year by Case Management Society of America.

Jerico Alicante, a member of the board of directors of Sigma Foundation for Nursing, is now vice president of practice, education, administration, and research for North Dakota Nurses Association. Employed by Sanford Health—located in Fargo, North Dakota, USA—Alicante is a member of the North Dakota Center for Nursing Leadership Team and was appointed as North Dakota state contact for Nurses on Boards Coalition.

Philip D. Authier, senior consultant with Edgework Institute, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April 2019 at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Vanessa H. Barlow, supervisor charge nurse at Children’s of Alabama in Alabaster, Alabama, USA, was presented the Award for Excellence in Practice-RN, from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association at the organization’s 33rd annual conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Barlow works closely with colleagues to find alternatives to restraint usage. To reach this goal, she pioneered a unit-based de-escalation team composed of psychiatric-mental health nurses, behavioral interventionists, and psychotherapists.

Lynda Bartlett, case manager lead at University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA, and coordinator of Sigma’s North America Region 5, was appointed to the advisory board of the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center. The board represents a wide variety of expertise, including nursing practice, research, education, and administration. She also serves on the Institutional Review Board, Nursing Research Committee, and Nurse Residency Advisory Board at the University of Chicago. Bartlett is an adjunct nursing faculty member at Saint Xavier University.

Cynthia A. Bautista, a neuroscience clinical nurse specialist practicing at Yale New Haven Hospital and an associate professor at Fairfield University’s Egan School of Nursing in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. Bautista, who also provides neuroscience nursing continuing education seminars for hospitals, universities, and conferences and is the owner of Nursing Brains LLC, is also a Neurocritical Care Society Fellow.

Geraldine “Polly” Bednash was one of five exceptional leaders officially designated a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., USA, on 24 October 2019. A powerful leader recognized nationally and internationally for her work to advance nursing education, Bednash served as chief executive officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) from 1989 to 2015. Prior to serving as CEO, she headed AACN’s legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts as director of government affairs.  

Mary A. Bemker, faculty member, Walden University School of Nursing, is a recipient, together with Christine M. Ralyea, of a first-place AJN Book of the Year Award as co-editor of Population Health and Its Integration into Advanced Nursing Practice (Fourth Edition). The book is published by DEStech Publications Inc. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.

Linda Burnes Bolton, formerly senior vice president and chief nursing executive at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, is now senior vice president and chief health equity officer at the center. She has been with the institution for 48 years. As chief health equity officer—the first to hold that position—she will steer the health system’s efforts to improve health and healthcare outcomes for all members of the community. In addition to the positions she has held at Cedars-Sinai, Burnes Bolton has served as president of the American Organization of Nurse Executives (recently renamed American Organization of Nursing Leadership), the National Black Nurses Association, and the American Academy of Nursing.

Donna C. Bond, who practices at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. For the past 20 years, Bond has focused on weaning of patients on chronic ventilation, reducing ventilator associated pneumonia rates, started a tobacco cessation education program, initiated an outpatient asthma clinic, and conducted research projects related to pulmonary and critically ill patients. A founding member of the Virginia Chapter of CNSs and its first president, Bond has also been active in the Respiratory Nursing Society Interprofessional Collaborative, serving in multiple board positions including president.

Jacalyn Buck, assistant professor of clinical practice at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Ellen B. Buckner, professor, Ida Moffett School of Nursing, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, USA, was inducted as a Distinguished Scholar and Fellow, Nursing Academy, National Academies of Practice, in March 2019. A nurse educator for more than 40 years—she developed nursing honors tracks at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of South Alabama and has consulted with nursing honors programs at New York University and Texas Woman’s University—Buckner joined the faculty of Ida Moffett School of Nursing in 2016. The National Academies of Practice was established in 1981 to advise government bodies on healthcare issues and systems.

Jacqueline Cassagnol, founder and president of Worldwide Community First Responder Inc., was presented the 2019 Haitian American Young Citizen of the Year Award in March from the U.S. Haitian Chamber of Commerce Inc. in Randolph, Massachusetts, USA. In June, she was selected as a New York Yankees Nurse Hero and on 20 June was honored on the field of the New York Yankees Stadium in Bronx, New York, together with Nurse Blake and nine other New York Yankees Nurse Heroes. Five days later, on 25 June, Cassagnol was honored in Brooklyn, New York, as the recipient of the 2019 Caribbean American Healthcare Award.

Janice Ceccucci, an assistant professor at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, New York, and co-director of Saratoga Hospital’s Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Program in Ballston Spa, New York, USA, has been named Nurse Practitioner of the Year by The Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State. The award was presented at The NPA 35th Annual Conference, held 16-20 October in Verona, New York, USA. Recipient of the Joan Unger Memorial Award, presented by the New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Ceccucci is co-founder of Forensic Nurse Practitioners of Schenectady. She served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from 1988 to 1999.

Garrett K. Chan, director of the Center for Education and Professional Development at Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, California, USA; clinical associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine; associate adjunct professor at the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing; and associate professor at Molde University College in Norway, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. Chan is nationally and internationally known for his work as an emergency CNS, especially in emergency palliative nursing care, receiving the Emergency Nurses Association CNS of the Year Award in 2016.

Colleen A. Chapp, who served in leadership roles with B.E. Smith for 10 years, is now executive vice president of interim leadership services and executive coaching at Kirby Bates Associates. Chapp’s interim and permanent leadership experiences include chief nurse executive and vice president of patient care services in Ohio, Nebraska, and Oregon. Certified in organizational transition management, Chapp is pursuing a doctorate in strategic leadership. Kirby Bates is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Jean A. Christopher, who practices in the pediatric intensive care unit at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. Christopher has actively improved practice through research. As an advanced practice nurse in a PICU, she collaborates with an interprofessional healthcare team to achieve optimal outcomes in critically ill pediatric patients. In 2016, she received the Lois M. Hodgson Award for Nursing Excellence from Akron Children’s Hospital.

Karen F. Clements, chief nursing officer of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA, was inducted by Husson University into its Alumni Hall of Fame during a ceremony held on 18 October 2019 on its Bangor, Maine, campus. Clements, a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, is the current regent for New Hampshire and past president of the Northern New England Chapter. Before joining Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Clements worked with Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Bangor for 23 years.

Bonnie J. Clipper, formerly vice president, innovation, at the American Nurses Association, has been named chief clinical officer at Wambi, a workforce engagement and recognition company. Powered by a platform that enables patients to express gratitude for healthcare professionals who tended to them during their care, the company leverages this data to drive engagement, reduce turnover, and improve the patient experience. In her new role, Clipper oversees clinical innovation, user experience, and development of new product features that create value for Wambi’s clients, nurse leaders, and their teams.

Marnie Loree Colborne, a 2017 graduate of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, was awarded an Alumni Horizon Award on 19 September 2019 for local and international contributions to healthcare. Colborne’s efforts have taken her to the United Nations, where she served as a youth representative. Closer to home, she organized a campus initiative to help people facing homelessness in Edmonton. She is a co-founder of Youthnited Nations, a non-profit that connects youth with the UN’s sustainable development goals. A current project involves fundraising for a clinic in southwestern Uganda, which will have nursing staff and supplies as requested by widows who live in the community. Colborne currently works in a hospital ward, a clinic, and in esthetics and regenerative medicine.

Patricia Davidson, dean of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON), Baltimore, Maryland, USA, has been named as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women for 2019 by The Daily Record in recognition of her professional accomplishments, community leadership, and mentoring. Davidson, who is from Australia, became JHSON’s fourth dean in 2013. She is secretary general of the Secretariat of the World Health Organizations Collaborating Centers for Nursing and Midwifery, counsel general of the International Council on Women’s Health Issues, a member of Sigma’s Institute for Global Healthcare Leadership Advisory Board, and a member of the Board on Health Care Services for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Bertha L. Davis, retired dean and professor emerita of nursing, Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia, USA, and retired lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army Nurse Corps, was inducted as a Visionary Pioneer at ceremonies marking the 130th anniversary of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), joining the school’s 25 other alumni thus honored. Every five years, UMSON names an additional five Visionary Pioneers to this esteemed group composed of alumni who have rendered distinctive service to nursing and healthcare through clinical practice, education, scholarship, and research. Click here and scroll down to “Meet Our Five New Visionary Pioneers” to learn more about her contributions.

Bob L. Dent, vice president and chief nursing officer at Emory Healthcare in Decatur, Georgia, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Crystal L. DeVance-Wilson, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, has been appointed to the Montgomery County Commission on Health (COH) for a three-year term. The Montgomery COH advises the county executive and council on public health issues, programs, services, and allocation of public health funding. The commission also monitors and assesses Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services health priorities.

Victoria Vaughan Dickson, associate professor and director of the Pless Center for Nursing Research at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York City, USA, was inducted into Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. She was honored at the 30th International Nursing Research Congress held in July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For more information about Vaughan Dickson and other inductees, click here.

Stuart D. Downs, chief operating officer at WellStar Atlanta Medical Center and AMC South, Grayson, Georgia, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Susan C. Dresser, clinical assistant professor and director of the adult-gerontology CNS program at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, Norman, Oklahoma, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. A certified critical care CCRN, Dresser has worked as a clinical nurse specialist for more than 25 years. She has served on the Oklahoma Board of Nursing APRN Practice Committee and was president of the Oklahoma Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Melanie Duffy, clinical nurse specialist in critical care and telemetry nursing at Geisinger Holy Spirit in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, and adjunct faculty member at York College of Pennsylvania, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. Duffy is currently chair of NACNS’ Legislative/Regulatory Committee and politically active at the state level. In addition, between 2007-11, she served in multiple capacities on the organization’s board, including director, vice president, president-elect, and president (2009-10). 

Abbey J. Elliott has been named national senior manager, simulation by Purdue University Global. Elliott comes to Purdue Global, an online university affiliated with Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, with expertise in all levels of simulation fidelity within nursing education. Elliott, who holds numerous trauma and emergency room nursing certifications, is also a certified healthcare simulation educator.

Paula N. Ellis was named chief executive officer of Saint John Hospital in Leavenworth, Kansas, USA. She has been with the hospital since February 2016. Prior to her appointment as CEO, she served as administrator and chief nursing officer, during which time she significantly improved the hospital’s quality and financial performance. Previously, Ellis was an administrative leader at St. Francis Health Center in Topeka, Kansas, for 28 years.

Linda Q. Everett, leadership consultant and professor, Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy, Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Melissa A. Fitzpatrick, formerly vice president and chief clinical officer at Hill-Rom, has joined Kirby Bates Associates as chief operating officer. Prior to her tenure at Hill-Rom, Fitzpatrick was chief nurse executive and chief clinical officer for the Duke University Health System, president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and editor-in-chief of Nursing Management Journal. Kirby Bates is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Dorrie K. Fontaine, Sadie Heath Cabaniss professor of nursing and dean of the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Nursing, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA, prior to her recent retirement, was presented with the AACN Pioneering Spirit Award by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses in May. Founder of UVA’s Compassionate Care Initiative, Fontaine lectured around the world on the importance of teaching resilience practices to students and clinicians, diversity in nursing, and cultivation and maintenance of healthy work environments. During her tenure, which began in 2008, the school garnered some $35 million in grants, raised more than $55 million in philanthropy, and attracted some of the profession’s top talent.

Regina K. Freeman, clinical nurse specialist in the cardiovascular ICU at Michigan Medicine (formerly University of Michigan Health System) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. In 2017, Freeman received the Michigan Medicine Advanced Practice Nursing Award for leadership as a clinical nurse specialist. In addition to leading quality improvement initiatives using her leadership skills in LEAN methods, Freeman is an adjunct clinical faculty member at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University schools of nursing.  

Erika Friedmann, associate dean for research, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, was awarded, together with co-principal investigator Cheryl Krause-Parello of Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, $438,787 over two years by the National Institutes of Health for the research project titled “Evaluating the efficacy of a service dog training program for military veterans with PTSD.” Through a randomized clinical trial, Friedmann and Krause-Parello will examine how training service dogs may be rehabilitative for veterans with PTSD.

Janet S. Fulton, professor and associate dean for graduate programs at Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. In addition to her position at IU School of Nursing, she also holds a research appointment and CNS position with Eskanazi Health in Indianapolis. Editor of Clinical Nurse Specialist journal, she is a prolific writer with much of her writing focusing on outcomes and core competencies of the clinical nurse specialist. She was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in 2010 and the National League for Nursing’s Academy of Nurse Educators in 2014. In 2018, Fulton received both the NACNS President’s Award for Outstanding Service and the CNS Educator of the Year Award.

Deborah Delaney Garbee, professor of clinical nursing at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, and associate dean for professional practice, community service, and advanced nursing practice at the school, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. Past director of clinical practice, health policy, and advocacy for the Louisiana State Nurses Association and former member of the board of trustees for the Louisiana Nurses Foundation, Garbee currently serves as a member of the nominating committee for the Southern Region Education Board Council on Collegiate Education in Nursing and is associate editor of the Brazilian Journal of Health Research.

Patricia I. Geddie, certified nurse specialist for adult oncology at Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center in Orlando, Florida, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. Selected by the Florida Board of Nursing to serve on the Florida Cancer Control and Research Advisory Board in 2017-18, Geddie received the Orlando Health Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing Award in 2010 and 2012 and the Florida Nurses Association Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award in 2008 and 2017.

C. Alicia Georges was one of five exceptional leaders officially designated a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., USA, on 24 October 2019. Georges is a leader in academic nursing, health policy development, community engagement, organizational development, and healthy aging. A nurse educator for more than 40 years, Georges has served as chairperson of the Department of Nursing at Lehman College of the City University of New York for the past 17 years. A former president of the National Black Nurses Association and current president of the National Black Nurses Foundation, she serves on the AARP board of directors as the national volunteer president. 

Kimberly S. Glassman, senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer at NYU Langone Health and associate dean for partnership innovation at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York City, New York, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Kelly A. Goudreau, associate director of patient care services/nurse executive for the Kansas City VA Medical Center in Missouri, USA, and instructor for Indiana University was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. The new credential is FCNS. One of three editors of a book titled Foundations of Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice and Education, Goudreau has promoted understanding of the CNS role in other scholarly publications and presently serves as associate editor of Clinical Nurse Specialist journal. She received an alumni award from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2014 and the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists presented her the President’s Award in 2013.

Susan B. Hassmiller, senior adviser for nursing, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and director, Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, has been appointed senior scholar-in-residence and senior adviser to the president on nursing at the National Academy of Medicine, Washington, D.C., USA. Victor Dzau is president of the academy.

Monina Hernandez, a lecturer at Massey University School of Nursing in Albany, New Zealand, has been appointed a board member of the Nursing Council of New Zealand, the first Filipino thus honored. The council is the regulatory authority responsible for nursing registration in New Zealand. Hernandez has completed her term as director of the New Zealand Nurses Organization, the first Filipino elected to that position. The organization represents nearly 52,000 nurses throughout New Zealand. Hernandez, who is working toward her PhD at Massey University, is also a founder and president of the Filipino Nurses’ Association of New Zealand.

Patricia A. Hickey, vice president and associate chief nursing officer, cardiovascular and critical care patient services at Boston Children’s Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, was named 2019 Distinguished Research Lecturer by the Association of Critical-Care Nurses. The award recognizes nurses whose research significantly influences high acuity and critical care. Established in 1982, it is funded by a grant from Philips Healthcare, Andover, Massachusetts, USA. Known internationally for her work in research and leadership development, care delivery innovation, patient safety, and bridging nursing practice and health policy, Hickey’s program of research examines the nursing and organizational factors associated with pediatric patient outcomes and the health of the work environment.

Cheryl L. Hoying, senior consultant, Values Coach Inc., South Lebanon, Ohio, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Anne E. Hysong, a unit-based clinical nurse specialist who practices in the intensive care/intermediate care unit at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth, Georgia, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. A three-time winner of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ BEACON Award of Excellence, Hysong has served on the NACNS board as a board member, secretary, and, currently, president. To ensure a future supply of clinical nurse specialists, she has made the CNS role more visible to nursing students by working with the National Student Nurses’ Association. As a member of the Georgia Board of Nursing’s Advanced Practice Committee, she played an integral part writing the rule that gave CNSs APRN licensure.

Sharon Y. Irving, assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, was awarded a Distinguished Nutrition Support Service Award from the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. The award is given to the nurse member who has made exceptional leadership and practice contributions that have furthered the vision and mission of the society over a sustained period of time. Irving recently served as lead author of the first set of recommendations on feeding tube location verification in pediatric patients and was co-author of new guidelines for nutrition therapy in critically ill children. Irving practices as a pediatric nurse practitioner at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she provides patient care in the pediatric intensive care and pediatric progressive care units.

Tamara M. Kear, formerly associate professor at Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA, will begin serving as executive director of the American Nephrology Nursing Association (ANNA), effective 1 January 2020. Kear is currently president of the association. In addition to her leadership roles with ANNA, Kear has devoted much of her career to groundbreaking research to advance nephrology nursing and patient care.

Cheryl A. Krause-Parello, professor, faculty fellow, and director of Canines Providing Assistance to Wounded Warriors (C-PAWW) at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, has been awarded, together with co-principal investigator Erika Friedmann, associate dean for research, University of Maryland School of Nursing, $438,787 over two years by the National Institutes of Health for the research project titled “Evaluating the efficacy of a service dog training program for military veterans with PTSD.” Through a randomized clinical trial, Friedmann and Krause-Parello will examine how training service dogs may be rehabilitative for veterans with PTSD.

Gay L. Landstrom, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Trinity Health, Livonia, Michigan, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Mary E. Lough, an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University, clinical professor with the Department of Physiological Nursing at the University of California San Francisco, and clinical nurse specialist at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, California, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. A fellow in the American Heart Association, Lough is co-editor of Critical Care Nursing and editor of Hemodynamic Monitoring.

John Lowe, McKenzie professor in health disparities research at Florida State University College of Nursing, Tallahassee, Florida, USA, has been appointed to serve on the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research (NACNR). The NACNR is a component of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), part of the National Institutes of Health. The founding and current director of the Center for Indigenous Nursing Research for Health Equity, Lowe has spent his career developing and studying interventions for the prevention and reduction of substance use and other risk behaviors among Native American and indigenous youth. Developer of the first manualized Talking Circle, an evidence-based intervention that aims to reduce substance use and other risk factors among Native American and indigenous people, Lowe was the first Native American man to be inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.  

Mary Beth F. Makic, professor and director of the adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist (CNS) program at the University of Colorado and CNS at Denver Health in Denver, Colorado, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. In her faculty role, she has increased admissions to the CNS program by 83%, and graduates have attained a 98% certification pass rate. Currently serving on the board of directors of AACN, she is the recipient of the Nightingale Luminary Award for Innovation and Systems Leadership and Magnet Nurse of the Year from the University of Colorado Hospital.

Elizabeth Manias, research professor and associate head of school (research) at Deakin University in Burwood, Victoria, Australia, was inducted as a member of the American Academy of Nursing during the Academy’s annual policy conference, which took place 24-26 October 2019 in Washington, D.C., USA. Manias is a 2014 inductee in Sigma’s International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Click here to view a list of other active Sigma members who were inducted into the Academy this year.

David R. Marshall, formerly chief nursing and patient care services executive for UTMB Health (University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston), was appointed chief nursing executive at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, USA, effective 3 June 2019. Marshall, who succeeds Linda Burnes-Bolton in that position, brings more than three decades of healthcare experience from bedside nurse to nursing-leadership proficiency and a reputation for enhancing innovation and emphasizing compassionate care. Marshall was inducted into the inaugural class of American Organization of Nursing Leadership fellows on 11 April at the organization’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. The designation FAONL recognizes a nurse leader’s sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The association’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Tina M. Mason, a board-certified oncology clinical nurse specialist and nurse researcher at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. With nearly 20 years of experience in evidence-based practice and performance improvement projects that have supported Moffitt’s continuing designation as a Magnet hospital, Mason was recognized as one of 100 Great Nurses by the Florida Nursing Association.

Kimberly Haus McIltrot, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON), Baltimore, Maryland, USA, has been chosen to serve as director of the school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, recently ranked No. 1 in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Throughout her career, McIltrot has held a variety of leadership positions in academia and clinical practice. At JHSON, she co-led the first Saudi Arabian DNP class to graduate from the school—in 2017. For many years, McIltrot was the lead nurse practitioner in pediatric surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. In the earlier part of her career, she was an officer in the Army Nurse Corps. She is the founding editor of Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing.

Margaret M. McNeill, a perianesthesia clinical nurse specialist and nurse scientist at Frederick Regional Health System in Frederick, Maryland, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. Retired from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of colonel, McNeill was the first-ever Air Force Critical Care Master Clinician and the Air Force Surgeon General’s consultant for critical care nursing. A fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, McNeill served as senior leader for inpatient operations at the major U.S. military hospital in Afghanistan contributing to unprecedented casualty survival rates.

Bernadette Melnyk, vice president for health promotion, university chief wellness officer, and College of Nursing dean at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA, and editor, Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, was recognized by the American Academy of Nursing as an Academy Edge Runner for her intervention titled “Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) for Children, Teens, and College-Age Students.” In July, Melnyk was elected president of the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities, which seeks to enhance population health and well-being at universities/colleges and their communities.

Pamela Holsclaw Mitchell was one of five exceptional leaders officially designated a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., USA, on 24 October 2019. Highly regarded for her work as a clinical nurse specialist and nurse scientist in neuroscience and critical care nursing, Mitchell has been a pioneer in the development of interprofessional education. She and her students were the first to document that ordinary nursing care activities can affect intracranial pressure in people with acute brain injury. Professor emerita at the University of Washington, Mitchell is associate editor of the International Nursing Review and consulting professor at various international nursing schools. 

Margaret A. Murray, resuscitation coordinator at UW Health in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. In addition to her role as a clinical nurse specialist, Murray is a preceptor and mentor for CNS and DNP students and a leader in medical missions, where she educates nurses on the care of post-operative cardiothoracic patients. In 2009, she was inducted as a fellow in the American Heart Association. Her work with emergency departments across the state of Wisconsin has led to improvements in care of patients with ventricular assist devices.

Carol M. Musil, interim dean and the Marvin E. and Ruth Durr Denekas professor of nursing at Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, was named dean of the school in this past May. Musil brings four decades of experience at the school as a student, researcher, and faculty member. As interim dean, she helped shepherd the school’s physical transition to the Health Education Campus, a collaboration between the university and world-famous Cleveland Clinic. She recently received a four-year, $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Nursing Research for her clinical trial, “GIFT: Grandmother Initiatives in Family Transformation.” Her research focuses on stress, health, and caregiving.

Robin P. Newhouse, dean of Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and an IU distinguished professor at the school, was inducted as a Visionary Pioneer at ceremonies marking the 130th anniversary of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), joining the school’s 25 other alumni thus honored. Every five years, UMSON names an additional five Visionary Pioneers to this esteemed group composed of alumni who have rendered distinctive service to nursing and healthcare through clinical practice, education, scholarship, and research. Click here and scroll down to “Meet Our Five New Visionary Pioneers” to learn more about her contributions.

Scot W. Nolan, a clinical nurse specialist at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, California, USA, where he covers critical care, emergency, a step-down area, and medical/surgical units, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. In addition to working with a local organ procurement agency, Nolan is an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University, University of San Diego, and Point Loma Nazarene University.

Elizabeth D. Penoyer, director of the Center for Nursing Research and Advanced Nursing Practice at Orlando Health in Orlando, Florida, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. Penoyer developed the first collaborative practice team for critical care at Orlando Health and has led many multidisciplinary team initiatives that improved care and patient outcomes. Recipient of the Norma Shoemaker Award for Clinical Excellence in Critical Care Nursing, the AACN Circle of Excellence Award, and multiple Society of Critical Care Medicine Presidential Citation Awards, Penoyer is a fellow in the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

Ronald J. Piscotty Jr., assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), Baltimore, Maryland, USA, was selected as a member of the inaugural class of Fellows of the American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA) in recognition of his accomplishments in the application of informatics. The class of 130 fellows was inducted at the association’s 2019 Clinical Informatics Conference in Atlanta in April. Piscotty, whose expertise is in clinical informatics, teaches UMSON master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice students.

Christine M. Ralyea, assistant vice president, patient care services, Atrium Health, is a recipient, together with Mary A. Bemker, of a first-place AJN Book of the Year Award as co-editor of Population Health and Its Integration into Advanced Nursing Practice (Fourth Edition). The book is published by DEStech Publications Inc. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA.

Jeffery Ramirez, associate professor of nursing, Gonzaga University School of Nursing & Human Physiology, Spokane, Washington, USA, was elected to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) as member-at-large by psychiatric-mental health nurse members from across the country. His term began at the APNA 33rd Annual Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, 2-5 October 2019.

Heather D. Schoonover, customer success director at Health Catalyst, a Utah-based healthcare facility located in Silver Lake, Washington, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. As a CNS leader, she led a statewide effort to appropriately license clinical nurse specialists as advanced practice registered nurses and then partnered with the state of Washington to develop the rules. She currently represents CNS practice with a pro tem appointment to a regulatory board at Washington State Department of Health.

Linda Schwartz was one of five exceptional leaders officially designated a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., USA, on 24 October 2019. A decorated U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War, Schwartz has tirelessly dedicated her life to improving the health of veterans. She has testified on behalf of veterans more than 35 times before Congress and has served as an expert on readjustment after combat, equality for women, homelessness, and mental health care to five Veterans Affairs (VA) secretaries. Unanimously confirmed as VA assistant secretary for policy and planning at the Veteran Health Administration (VHA), Schwartz oversaw implementation of the groundbreaking ruling to allow full scope of practice authority to advanced practice registered nurses in all VHA facilities. Currently, she serves as a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee’s Women Veterans Task Force.

Elizabeth A. Scruth, clinical practice consultant and interim director of telecritical care at Northern California Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California, USA, critical care transport RN and director of education with Bayshore Ambulance, and volunteer assistant clinical professor for the Physiological School of Nursing at the University of California San Francisco, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. Chair of a Bay Area CNS research group and director on AACN’s certification board, Scruth has been section editor of the legal and ethics column in Clinical Nurse Specialist journal since 2013. In 2014, she was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

Victoria L. Selby, assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, was awarded a one-year Nurse Support Program II grant of $137,408 to support planning for expansion of nurse education in substance use and addiction by creating a focus area for undergraduate nursing students, particularly registered nurses returning to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and by developing a post-baccalaureate certificate in addictions nursing. NSP II grants aid in increasing nursing capacity in Maryland.

Heather A. Shattuck, director of medical services, trauma critical care clinical nurse specialist, and adult acute care nurse practitioner at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella in Italy, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. As part of Continuing Promise 2015, she provided humanitarian and civil assistance efforts for U.S. Southern Command, located in Doral, Florida, USA. During this deployment, she was selected to spearhead the first quality assurance and risk management committee and patient safety program across eight directorates and worked for the directorate of nursing as the sole clinical nurse specialist.

Margaret “Margie” Hamilton Sipe, assistant professor and director, DNP program, at MGH Institute of Health Professions, and director, Center for Nursing Excellence, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Nicole E. Smith, clinical instructor at Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, USA, was among three members from the University of Maryland School of Nursing who received a nurse educator doctoral grant for practice and dissertation research. Each recipient received the maximum award amount of $30,000. The competitive grant program assists PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates by helping to cover education and research-related expenses.

Allison Squires, associate professor at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, USA, has been appointed chair of the New York Academy of Medicine’s Section on Nursing for a three-year term. Squires, who conducts research on global health workforce capacity-building, has a special interest in improving immigrant and refugee health outcomes. She has also been selected as National Academy of Medicine’s Distinguished Nurse Scholar-in-Residence for the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Study. The year-long position will enable Squires to engage with nurse leaders and other scholars at the National Academy of Nursing while helping to develop health policy at the federal level.

Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx, dean of NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing in New York City, USA, and president of the American Academy of Nursing, was awarded a Special Tribute by the United Hospital Fund (UHF) for advancing nursing and healthcare through policy, education, and clinical excellence. The award was presented on 7 October at UHF’s annual gala at Cipriani 42nd Street. Sullivan-Marx is one of the nation’s most distinguished nursing researchers, educators, and policy leaders, with a long history of promoting innovation in primary and geriatric care. On 1 October, she became president of the American Academy of Nursing, where she will work closely with the academy’s 2,700 fellows to promote nursing and patient-centered care.

Sarah L. Szanton, endowed professor for health equity and social justice and director, Center for Innovative Care in Aging at Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, was presented the 24th Heinz Award in the Human Condition category by the Heinz Family Foundation on 12 September 2019. Szanton is the co-developer of the Community Aging in Place Advancing Better Living for Elders (CAPABLE) program. CAPABLE provides low-income seniors with handyman services alongside in-home nursing visits and occupational therapy to improve health and mobility, restore dignity and independence, and decrease healthcare costs. CAPABLE programs operate in 28 locations in 14 states. As a part of the accolade, Szanton received an unrestricted cash award of $250,000.

Jacquelyn Taylor, the Vernice D. Ferguson professor in health equity at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing in New York City, New York, USA, has been elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine, effective 1 October. She is recognized for her bench-to-community research in gene-environment interaction studies on blood pressure among African Americans that has provided novel contributions on SDoH and omic underpinnings of hypertension. Election to the National Academy of Medicine is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. This year, 90 members and 10 international members were elected; Taylor is one of two nurses selected.

Tami Thomas, associate dean of research and faculty development and director of the PhD nursing program at the Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA, was awarded a $1.5 million grant to launch the Advanced Nursing Education-Regionally Underserved Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (RUSANE) program. To aid sexual assault survivors in rural and underserved communities, the university-based program will nearly double the number of licensed healthcare specialists known as sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in Florida. SANEs help to properly secure evidence from survivors of sexual assault, which can lead to higher prosecution rates.

Vidette Todaro-Franceschi, professor in the School of Health Sciences, College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, USA, is the author of the recently released second edition of her book titled Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Nursing: Enhancing Professional Quality of Life, published by Springer.

Mary Fran Tracy, critical care clinical nurse specialist and holder of a joint position as associate professor at University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, and nurse scientist at University of Minnesota Medical Center, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. In addition to being named Minnesota March of Dimes APN of the Year, Tracy is a past recipient of the NACNS Brenda Lyon Leadership award and Sigma’s Marie Hippensteel Lingeman Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice. She is currently lead editor of Hamric and Hanson’s Advanced Practice Nursing and editor-in-chief of AACN Advanced Critical Care journal.

Kathleen M. Vollman, founder and owner of Advancing Nursing LLC, Northville, Michigan, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. Vollman worked as a clinical nurse specialist for many years in ICUs at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Known for her invention of a support frame to position patients prone, she conducted studies to evaluate the effect of prone positioning on critically ill patients. A founding member of NACNS, Vollman is a recipient of the organization’s Sue B. Davison Service Award and CNS of the Year Award. She is president of the Michigan Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Mary K. Wakefield was one of five exceptional leaders officially designated a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing at its annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., USA, on 24 October 2019. A renowned trailblazer and advocate, Wakefield has had a tremendous impact on health policy through her role in several high-profile positions within the federal government. During her tenure as administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration from 2009-15 and as acting deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services from 2015-17, Wakefield led key health policy initiatives with a particular focus on health programs for rural populations. Currently, she serves as a visiting distinguished professor at Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin and is co-chair of the National Academy of Medicine's Consensus Study on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030.

Paula Admire Webb, chief nursing officer and vice president of nursing at Cook Children’s Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Ann Williamson, formerly chief clinical and nursing officer at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, has been named regional chief nurse executive and vice president for Kaiser Permanente Northern California. She will serve as a member of the regional Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan Executive Leadership Team and report to the president of Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Prior to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Ann served as chief nursing officer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for six years, where she oversaw nursing services and patient care.

Margaret Chamberlain Wilmoth, inaugural executive dean and associate dean for academic affairs for the University of North Carolina School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA, was inducted as a Visionary Pioneer at ceremonies marking the 130th anniversary of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), joining the school’s 25 other alumni thus honored. Every five years, UMSON names an additional five Visionary Pioneers to this esteemed group composed of alumni who have rendered distinctive service to nursing and healthcare through clinical practice, education, scholarship, and research. Click here and scroll down to “Meet Our Five New Visionary Pioneers” to learn more about her contributions.

Rebecca F. Wiseman, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing at the Universities at Shady Grove, was awarded a five-year Nurse Support Program II grant of $1,912,767.  Funding will support the work of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center (MNWC) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA, as it continues to provide access to and assist with analysis of nursing workforce data. NSP II grants aid in increasing nursing capacity in Maryland.

Patricia S. Yoder-Wise, professor, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and president, The Wise Group, Lubbock, Texas, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Claire M. Zangerle, chief nurse executive, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, was inducted into the inaugural American Organization of Nurse Leadership (AONL) Class of Fellows on 11 April at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego, California, USA. Induction recognizes sustained contributions to the specialty of nursing leadership, commitment to service, and influence in shaping healthcare. (The group’s former name was American Organization of Nurse Executives.)

Kathy E. Zavotsky, assistant vice president of the Center for Professional Development, Innovation and Research at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health System in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, was inducted in March into the inaugural class of fellows named by Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, an arm of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS). The new credential is FCNS. As a practicing CNS and researcher, Zavotsky contributed to the visibility of the CNS role by conducting research and authoring publications that focused on emergency department and critical nursing. In her current role, she oversees the practice of clinical nurse specialists and clinical nurse educators in seven hospitals across the state of New Jersey.

—Compiled by James E. Mattson, editor, Reflections on Nursing Leadership

Editor’s note: Send submissions for Noteworthy Member News consideration via email to jim@sigmanursing.org. We want to increase acknowledgment of achievements by non-North American members. To that end, schools of nursing, chapter leaders, nursing organizations, and members located outside of the United States and Canada are encouraged to submit news items. Please include photos.