September 20, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Nurse practitioners, health care administrators, university presidents, deans and professors from around the globe will gather in Birmingham in October to celebrate the accomplishments of 60 visionary leaders and the 60th anniversary of University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing.

"Alumni from the UAB School of Nursing have been integral in distinguishing the school in state, national and international circles and in shaping the nursing profession," said School of Nursing Dean Doreen Harper, Ph.D. "These awards were established to celebrate the school's renowned graduates and their mark on nursing."

The event, featuring UAB President and School of Nursing Alumna Carol Garrison as keynote speaker, will be held Friday, Oct. 22, 2010, at 11:30 a.m. at The Club in Birmingham. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 205-975-8936, e-mail nursealum@uab.edu. 

Harper said all honorees are known for their distinctive service in the field of nursing or health care on the local, state, national or international level in practice, education or research; are recognized by colleagues and peers for outstanding achievement; and are recognized for their leadership, innovation or entrepreneurship. They include not only UAB School of Nursing graduates but also those with degrees from its predecessor the University of Alabama School of Nursing in Birmingham and/or diploma-nursing program rooted in UAB's hospital history - Hillman, Jefferson-Hillman and University Hospital. 

The 60 alumni honored for the service and dedication to the nursing profession are: Kathleen G. Andreoli, D.S.N, R.N., Emeritus Kellogg Dean, Rush University College of Nursing; Lazelle E. Benefield, Ph.D., R.N., dean and Perry Endowed Professor in Gerontological Nursing, University of Oklahoma College of Nursing; Judy L. Bezanson, D.S.N., R.N., senior science and medicine advisor, American Heart Association; Deidre M. Blank, D.S.N., R.N., former chief of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, National Center for Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health; Ellen B. Buckner, D.S.N., R.N., professor, University of South Alabama College of Nursing; Leanne C. Busby, D.S.N., R.N., director, Nursing and Allied Health, Tennessee Board of Regents; Joyce C. Clifford, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, The Institute for Nursing Healthcare Leadership Inc.; Susan M. Cohen, D.S.N., A.P.R.N., associate professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing;

Debra C. Davis, D.S.N., R.N., dean and professor, University of South Alabama College of Nursing; Sharon A. Denham, D.S.N., R.N., professor, Ohio University School of Nursing; Joanne M. Disch, Ph.D., R.N., president-elect of the American Academy of Nursing and clinical professor and director of the Katherine R. and C.J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leader, University of Minnesota School of Nursing; Sandra B. Dunbar, D.S.N., R.N., Charles H. Howard Candler Professor of Cardiovascular Nursing, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University; Lisa W. Eichelberger, D.S.N., R.N., dean and professor, Clayton State University College of Health; Melissa S. Faulkner, D.S.N., R.N., Gladys E. Sorensen Endowed Professor, University of Arizona College of Nursing; Ellen Fineout-Overholt, Ph.D., R.N., director, Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice, Arizona State University College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation; Carol Z. Garrison, Ph.D., M.S.N., president, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Anna Gawlinski, D.N.Sc., R.N., director, Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; Susan Gennaro, D.S.N., R.N., dean and professor, William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College; Sarah H. Gueldner, D.S.N., Garvin Professor of Nursing, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University;

Delois Skipwith Guy, D.S.N., professor emeritus, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing; Marguerite Kinney Handlin, D.N.Sc., R.N., professor emeritus, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing; James L. Harris, D.S.N., C.N.L., deputy chief nursing officer, Department of Veterans Affairs; Constance Smith Hendricks, Ph.D., R.N., professor, Auburn University School of Nursing; Alice S. Hill, Ph.D., R.N., John P. McGovern Distinguished Professorship in the Healing Practices of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; Sister Linda Hill, B.S.N., director, Registered Community Nurse Training School, Wamba Catholic Hospital,  Kenya; Mary H. Hill, D.S.N., R.N., associate dean and professor of nursing,  Howard University Division of Nursing; Marcia M. Holstad, D.S.N., R.N., assistant professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University; Phyllis N. Horns, D.S.N., R.N., vice chancellor for health sciences, East Carolina University; Larry G. Hornsby, C.R.N.A., senior executive vice president, AmSol Inc.; Jean A. Kelley, Ed.D., R.N., professor emeritus, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing;

Wipada Kunaviktikul, D.S.N., R.N., professor, faculty of nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand; Lora Lacey-Haun, Ph.D., R.N., dean and professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing; Kathleen A. Ladner, Ph.D., R.N., visiting assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing;  Martha G. Lavender, D.S.N., R.N., assistant to the president, Gadsden State Community College; N. Genell Lee, J.D., R.N.,  executive officer, Alabama Board of Nursing; Judy W. Lott, D.S.N., N.N.P.-B.C., dean, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University; Alfred E. Lupien, Ph.D., C.R.N.A., professor and director of graduate program in nurse anesthesia, Mount Mary College; Nancy L. McCain, D.S.N., R.N., Nursing Alumni Endowed Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing; Norma K. Mobley, Ed.D., M.S.N., dean and professor emeritus, University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing;

Karin H. Morin, D.S.N., R.N., president, Sigma Theta Tau International, and professor , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Linda D. Norman, D.S.N., R.N., senior associate dean for academics, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing; Marie L. O'Koren, Ed.D., M.S.N., dean emeritus, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing; James C. Pace, D.S.N., A.N.P.-B.C., professor and coordinator of adult nurse practitioner and palliative care program, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing; Ann R. Peden, D.S.N. R.N., professor, Capital University School of Nursing; Bonita A. Pilon, D.S.N., R.N.-B.C., professor and senior associate dean for clinical practice and community partnerships, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing; James L. Raper, D.S.N., J.D., associate professor of nursing and medicine and director of the HIV outpatient Research and Dental Clinics, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Nena F. Sanders, D.S.N., R.N., Ralph W. Beeson Dean and Professor, Samford University Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing; Sister Maurita Soukup, Ph.D., R.N., health trustee, Mercy Medical Center- Sioux City and Cedar Rapids; Karen J. Stanley, M.S.N., R.N., program manager, pain and palliative care service, Stamford Hospital;

Patricia L. Starck, D.S.N., R.N., dean and John P. McGovern Distinguished Professor , University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing; Elizabeth Stullenbarger, D.S.N., R.N., associate dean for academic affairs, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing; Surpora S. Thomas, M.B.A., R.N., chief nurse executive emeritus, Children's Health System of Alabama; Patricia E. Thompson, Ed.D., R.N., CEO, Sigma Theta Tau International; Sue Ellen Turner, Brigadier General USAF, NC (Ret.), former director of the Nurse Corps, United States Air Force; Anne Turner-Henson, D.S.N., R.N., professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing; Claudette G. Varricchio, D.S.N., R.N., former program director, Community Clinical Trials Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute; Joan M. Vitello-Cicciu, Ph.D., R.N., executive director of perioperative nursing and clinical services, Brigham & Womens Hospital; Connie White-Williams, Ph.D., R.N., advanced nursing coordinator, Center for Nursing Excellence, Evidence Based Practice and Nursing Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital;  Janet Stearns Wyatt, Ph.D., R.N., CEO, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board Inc.; and Sharon B. Wyatt, Ph.D., R.N., Harriett Williamson Endowed Chair in Nephrology Nursing, University of Mississippi Medical Center;

About the UAB School of Nursing
Building on a century of nursing education on the UAB campus, the UAB School of Nursing prepares nurse leaders to excel as clinicians, researchers and educators and advances knowledge and delivery of high-quality health care in Alabama and worldwide. The school offers leading-edge bachelor, graduate and doctoral programs and offers students the opportunity to learn with faculty and student teams across health disciplines at UAB.