Fall 2006 NURSING University of Maryland · At the University of Maryland School of Nursing, it is nurses who are leading the charge toward breakthrough research into the brain and

NURSINGFall 2006

L e a d e r s h i p — P a r t n e r s h i p — I n n o v a t i o n

NURSINGU n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d

Expanding the Science of Nursing Through Research

Expanding the Science of Nursing Through Research

Table of Contents

On the CoverAssociate Professor Christopher Ward, PhD, and Assistant Professor Susan G. Dorsey, PhD ’01, MS ’98, RN, co-directors of the School of Nursing’s Developing Centerof Excellence in Disorders of Neuroregulatory Function,pose in one of the School’s basic science research laboratories.

From the Dean 3

From the Guest Editor 4

Expanding Nursing Science Through Research 5-14

New Programs 14-15

Grants 16-17

Events 18-23

Faculty Appointments 24-26

Administrative/Staff Appointments 26-27

Alumni Pulse 28-38

Development 38-43

U n i v e r s i t y o f M a r y l a n d NURSING

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Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN,CS, FAANDean and Professor

Editorial BoardPatricia AdamsDirector of Media Relationsand Publications

Gail DoerrExecutive Director ofCommunications

Guest EditorBarbara A. Smith, PhD, RN,FACSM, FAAN

ContributorsPatricia AdamsGail DoerrSusan FlahertyRosalia ScaliaElizabeth Schuman

PhotographyChris HartloveRick LippenholzJoe Rubino

DesignRottman Creative Group, Inc.

PrintingJ.W. Boarman Co., Inc.

University of Maryland NURSINGThe University of Maryland School of Nursing, Office of Communications, publishes University ofMaryland NURSING biannually. We welcome your comments, suggestions, and story ideas. E-mailcomments to: [email protected].

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The American Associationof College of Nursing(AACN) states in theirAACN Position Statementof Nursing Research (2006)that “nursing researchinvolves rigorous scientificinquiry that providesknowledge to advancepractice, shape healthpolicy, and impact thehealth of peopleworldwide.” As a practiceprofession, nursing relies ona continually developingand expanding body ofscientific knowledge to help

individuals, families, and communities stay healthy,and to manage acute and chronic illness and disease. Tothis end, the University of Maryland School of Nursinghas built a nationally recognized research program witha growing community of scholars dedicated to makingan impact on important health issues and expandingthe knowledge base for practice and education.

Over a decade ago, the School of Nursing set out toestablish itself as a center for the discovery anddissemination of knowledge that informs andimproves nursing education and practice. Today, itis among a small number of Research I universitiessupporting a growing cluster of bench researcherswho are centering their investigations on targetednational health issues.

In this issue of University of Maryland NURSING, wefeature nurse scientists who are conductinggroundbreaking brain and nervous system research,as well as breast cancer research. The School’ssuperb wet labs, located in the 3,000+ square feetof space dedicated for bench research, haveattracted these basic science researchers. Inaddition, the bench research program has very strongties with the Biomedical Research Department in theUniversity of Maryland’s School of Medicine.

Also featured in this edition is an update on ourfirst Center of Excellence – The Center for Workand Health Research. This Center positions theSchool as a major leader in advancing theknowledge and policy base for workplace health.The Center houses a group of scholars who areaddressing critical occupational health and policyissues. Their work significantly influenced the

recent National Institute for Occupational Safetyand Health’s policy report, Over-Extended WorkShifts. The Center also provides a uniqueopportunity for doctoral students to participate intranslating scientific knowledge into health policiesin order to improve the health of workers.

To support the School’s Vision that “we advancediscovery that contributes to wellness, prevention,and health,” we are committed to the continuingdevelopment of a culture of scholarship within theSchool. The 2005 National Research Council’sreport, Advancing the Nation’s Health Needs,strongly emphasizes the need to enhance theproductivity of nurse researchers by providing anenvironment that promotes success. One way thatwe have addressed this recommendation and ourcommitment to developing a stronger culture ofscholarship, was the establishment of a specialprogram (in 2004) for new nurse scientists. Thisprogram involves a well-developed three-year planof research, strong mentoring, reduced teachingassignments, and resources to support each facultymember’s program of research. To date, there aresix faculty members in this program, and threealready have extramural funding.

Our success in educating superb nurse scientists isevidenced by the outstanding accomplishments ofour alumni. In this issue, you will read aboutgroundbreaking work in psychosocial oncology beingconducted by Ruth McCorkle, PhD, BSN ’69, RN,FAAN, and Barbara Medoff-Cooper, PhD, MS ’72,RN, FAAN, who is conducting research on infantdevelopment, feeding behaviors, and infanttemperaments. These alumni, and many others, aremaking a positive impact on the health and well-being of our society through their research efforts.

We are very proud of our School’s manyaccomplishments, particularly the research-intensive environment and culture we havedeveloped, and which continues to grow. Ihope you enjoy reading about our benchscientists and all the exciting things that aretaking place at our School in this issue ofUniversity of Maryland NURSING.

Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAANDean and Professor

FROM THE DEAN

From the Dean

Dean Janet D. Allan

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing has earned areputation as a premier research institution by cultivatingand expanding a comprehensive, multidisciplinary researchprogram. When I arrived at the School of Nursing in 2003,one of my goals as Associate Dean for Research was to notonly maintain that reputation, but also build upon itsstrengths by continually developing new research initiativesfor the School, its faculty, and its students.

In the School of Nursing’s 2003-2006 Strategic Plan, astrategic goal was set to “establish centers of excellencethat build on current strengths and market needs.” TheCenters would provide the framework for conductingtimely and relevant research for today’s challenginghealth care environment and provide the opportunity forthose with similar interests to work together closely. Inkeeping with that goal, the School launched its firstCenter of Excellence in 2005 – the Center for Work andHealth Research. Currently, a Developing Center ofExcellence in Disorders of Neuroregulatory Function iswell under way, and just as this magazine was ready togo to press, we received the wonderful news that thecriteria has been met for a Developing Center inPalliative Care. The cutting edge research beingconducted in these Centers serves the health care needsof the citizens of Maryland, the nation, and the world.Areas of interest for future Centers include nursinginformatics, cardiovascular disease, healthpromotion/exercise, and aging.

The Office of Research, established in 1999 andrestructured in 2003, plays a pivotal role in facilitatingthe School’s research and scholarship mission byproviding the resources needed to support ourdistinguished faculty and nurse scientists. The Office

provides technical assistance with the development,submission, and management of research grants so theinvestigator can devote more time to the science of thegrant. In addition, the Office coordinates a seminarseries, which features not only the School’s owninvestigators, but also scientists from across the nationand around the world. The Office also provides expertreview of grant applications through its Mock Reviewprocess, mentors both novice and establishedinvestigators, and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration.Through these efforts, we will continue to expand thequality and influence of the School’s research portfolio.

Author and biochemist Isaac Asimov once said, “Thereis a single light of science, and to brighten it anywhereis to brighten it everywhere.” At the University ofMaryland School of Nursing, we are brightening thatlight by creating a community of science that breedsinnovation and excellence in nursing research,education, and practice.

Barbara A. Smith, PhD, RN, FACSM, FAANAssociate Dean for Research

From the Guest Editor

Dr. Barbara A. Smith

Office of Research Team Front row -- Allison Hewitt, secretary; Sandra Murphy,administrative assistant; and Victor Peguero, MA, researchadministrator. Second row – Barker Bausell, PhD, researchmethodologist, biostatistician, director of evaluation, andprofessor; Hyeon Joo Lee, doctoral student and researchassistant; Dr. Barbara A. Smith; Lynee Roane, BSN, RN,research nurse coordinator; Sandra McLeskey, assistant deanfor research and professor; and Brian Hockenberry, MSA,research grants and contracts administrator.

Behind the tangled neurons and misfired synapsesthat are the hallmarks of such diseases as Alzheimer’s,Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Down’sSyndrome, and chronic pain, are scientists eager tounravel the medical mysteries that destroy so manylives. While bedside medicine has its place in thetreatment and compassionate care of patients, withoutquestion it is the pure science—the research—thatbrings hope.

At the University of Maryland School of Nursing, itis nurses who are leading the charge towardbreakthrough research into the brain and nervoussystem—all in an effort to understand why ourelegantly designed human body sometimes utterlyfails us.

Since the early 1990s, the School of Nursing hasbeen a leader in this effort by developing aresearch-intensive environment that supports thework of faculty and students. More than one-thirdof the School’s physical space is devoted toresources and laboratories for clinical, behavioral,health policy, and health services research,including enviable fully equipped wet laboratoriesfor biological and physiological research.

“Bench research is important,” says Barbara A.Smith, PhD, RN, FACSM, FAAN, associatedean for research. “Institutionally, we areincreasing our research interests, and creating anenvironment that is synergistic and collaborative.”

But what makes the School of Nursing far differentthan the traditional research-driven institution is itsunshakable foundation in the tenets of nursing care.“The beauty is that since we are nurses, we haveseen sick patients,” says Cynthia Renn, PhD, MS’98, RN, assistant professor. “We can put namesand faces on the diseases we study. Many PhDs,without a clinical background, have only been in thelab working with cells or animals. They haven’t seenpatients with the disease they are studying. We havethe ability to conjure up images of sick people. Sowe may ask questions differently because we knowwhat patients go through.”

A Developing Center of Excellence

Susan Dorsey, PhD ’01, MS ’98, RN,assistant professor, and Chris Ward, PhD,associate professor, sit at a table discussing the

intricacies of neurotrophins and their receptors.The neurotrophins are a family of growth factors.Research is demonstrating that neurotrophinsand their receptors play a critical role innumerous cell types in the body. Furthermore,alterations in these molecules can be associatedwith diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s,ALS, and Muscular Dystrophy.

Dorsey’s research centers on the role neurotrophinsplay in physiological and pathological conditions inthe central and peripheral nervous system—workshe has continued since arriving at the School ofNursing from a post-doctoral research position atthe National Cancer Institute. By contrast, Ward’sresearch focuses on skeletal and heart muscle andthe role of calcium as a signaling molecule.Specifically, Ward investigates how alterations incalcium signaling underscore disease processes inthese muscles. These two investigators initiallyteamed up for an ongoing project from Dorsey’swork in neurons, but have since expanded theirwork into collaborative investigations exploring thefunctions of neurotrophins and their receptors inseveral areas.

EXPANDING THE SCIENCE OF NURSING THROUGH RESEARCH

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Forging New Pathwaysin Nursing Research

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Dr. Chris Ward and Dr. Susan Dorsey stimulate cells andmonitor their activity under the microscope.

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So it makes sense that their groundbreaking work, aswell as significant School of Nursing research underway in pain management, breast cancer, andneuropathy, have meshed into a developing Center ofExcellence focused on disorders of neuroregulatoryfunction. The work is funded primarily by the NationalInstitutes of Health and the American Pain Society.

“This approach creates energy, synergy, and a sense ofpurpose,” says Dorsey. “We look at the way the brainregulates physiology from cognition to motor skills, aswell as the physiology of pain management.” The work,she explains, traverses subcellular processes to wholeanimal physiology—an integrated, translational approach.

“We seek to bring a range of thinking and technologiesthat are typically not available in one lab,” shecontinues. “Our expertise enables us to addressfundamental questions in the field.”

Investigating Disease

Diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS arelinked to neurotrophins and have certain commonresponse mechanisms. “These growth factors signalthrough cell surface receptors. The composition ofreceptors set on the cell surface determines how wellthe cell receives the message,” explains Dorsey. “We areinvestigating a potential role for neurotrophins and theirsignaling pathway in disease.”

One of Dorsey’s research projects, initiated when shewas a graduate student at the University of MarylandSchool of Nursing, looks at the role of growth factorsand receptors in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). One of thehallmark pathophysiological events in AD is thepremature cell death of neurons in the brain’s learningand memory centers. Previously, it was thought thatthese neurons died early because they lacked a fullsupply of neurotrophins. “You can think of it as aclassic case of supply and demand, with neuronscompeting for a limited amount of growth factors inorder to survive,” she says.

“Now, we have found through in vitro and in vivostudies of the mouse that the premature neuron deathin AD may be due to a mis-expression of neurotrophinreceptors on the cell surface, causing a reduction in thestrength of the neurotrophin signal that the cellsreceive. In other words, even if the supply ofneurotrophin in the brain is adequate, the signal telling

the cells to live cannot get through,” says Dorsey.“When we corrected the receptor expression, thefunctionality of the neurons in critical brain regions forlearning and memory was restored.”

These findings were sufficiently paradigm-shifting thatthe University of Maryland, Baltimore secured a patentfor gene therapy delivery of neurotrophin receptors. Theresults of the in vivo studies were recently published inthe journal Neuron (Dorsey, et al., (2006) 51, 21-28).

For Ward, the role of neurotrophins and their receptorshas much to do with neuromuscular transmission,synapse stability, and intracellular calcium signaling innerve and muscle. “A greater understanding of thesepathways may help unravel a portion of the cellulardysfunction that leads to conditions such as ALS,muscular dystrophy, and neuromuscular fatigue, as wellas decreased muscle force during aging,” he says.

In Ward’s lab, doctoral student Luke Michaelson,BSN ’03, RN, is investigating the role of calciumsignaling in muscle in support of related projects.

“I am interested in basic research science and how itcan be applied to understanding clinical questions,”says Michaelson. By evaluating muscle function in arat model of essential hypertension, Michaelson isinvestigating the loss of functional exercise capacityand muscle strength secondary to chronichypertension and high blood pressure. “We aredetermining how the role of intracellular calcium


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Doctoral student Luke Michaelson and Dr. Chris Ward fabricate a glassmicropipette, which will be used in laboratory experiments designed toexamine the contraction of single muscle fibers.


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channels and altered calcium signaling in musclecells contributes to the decrease in overallmuscle function,” he explains.

Delving Into Pain

A bump on the toe might hurt a bit, but the paindissipates quickly. Not so for patients who haveHIV or are undergoing treatment for diseases suchas cancer. In fact, as researchers at the School ofNursing are finding, neurons that are alreadydamaged lower the threshold for pain and increaseits intensity.

In collaboration with Dorsey, Renn studies painbehaviors in mice. One goal is to understand howthe brain stem integrates and processes pain.“As pain persists, the nervous system becomesmore excitable so that a smaller stimulus causespain,” she says. Working on a recently developedmodel of HIV drug-induced peripheralneuropathy, Renn is investigating why the drugsassociated with treatment often cause pain. “Yougive drugs to reduce the viral load, but thesedrugs can and often do cause or exacerbateneuropathy. The goal is to determine why they doand how to stop the pain.”

Sherrie Lessans, MSN, RN, a doctoral studentin the Dorsey/Renn lab who entered the PhDprogram after 25 years in nursing, touches theunderside of a mouse’s paw with a Von Frey hair toexamine whether mechanical allodynia, a noxiousresponse to a normally non-noxious stimulus, ispresent. This series of fibers, with a range ofwidths, gauges physical responses to mechanicalstimuli. Her question is: At what point does themouse remove its paw?

Next, Lessans prepares the Paw ThermalStimulator, which gauges pain sensitivity tothermal stimuli in the mice. The applications tohumans are significant. Normal pain is designed toprotect the body—to keep it from continuing aharmful act or to signal that something is wrong.But neuropathy is disabling and dysfunctional, anormal physiology that has gone awry.

When neuropathy occurs as a result of drugs, itcan be spontaneous. “One consideration is thatpain often causes patients and their physicians tochange course. If we can better understand whatcauses the injury to the nerve in the first place, wecan change that,” says Lessans.

She adds that research suggests there is a geneticpredisposition to pain. Some people developchronic pain and others do not. The end resultmight be therapies designed for one’s own geneticcode. “It is so early in the story, but here we are,classically trained bench research nursesinterested in physiological research.”



Doctoral student Sherrie Lessans (left) and Dr. Cynthia Renn prepare for a dissection.

Dr. Susan Dorsey (right) observes as doctoral student JohnnieHolmes pHs a solution.

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It’s the eureka moments in a nursing research programsuch as this that attracted Lt. Commander JohnnieHolmes, a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist(CRNA) in the U.S. Navy. Holmes, a doctoral studentworking with Dorsey, has just begun her four-year PhDstudies. “I sought out this program because it is one ofthe few in the nation with bench research and access tostate-of-the-art labs,” she says. Holmes plans to becomean instructor in the U.S. Navy, noting that the militarygroup seeks doctorally prepared CRNAs.

“I am interested in the science of pain,” she says.“What physiologic processes occur and what pathwayspain travels in the neurons. The goal is to understandhow to lessen chronic pain.”

Neuroendocrine Response to Critical Illness

Directly applicable to the patient bedside is the work ofKaren Johnson, PhD, RN, CCRN, assistantprofessor, who seeks to understand the neuroendocrineresponse to critical illness. She is particularly interestedin stress-induced hyperglycemia and its effect on thedevelopment of critical illness neuromyopathy.

As more patients survive critical illness, studies showthat they have problems with mobility and rehabilitationfor months after discharge from the hospital. Thisneuromuscular impairment contributes to physical,emotional, and financial strains on the family.

“Why does this occur and why do patients with itdevelop problems that may extend six months to a yearafter they leave the hospital?” she asks. “Cliniciansmust be aware of the frequency and severity of thiscondition. Studies say that 50 to 60 percent of patientsin the intensive care unit develop neuromyopathy. We donot fully understand why,” she says.

Noting that it is not simply a matter of muscle weaknessdue to inactivity, she explains that some evidencesuggests it is a disturbance in the structure and functionof peripheral nerves and skeletal muscles and that stress-induced hyperglycemia may play a role. “We are trying toconnect hyperglycemia and bed rest as causes ofneuromyopathy and other problems,” she says.

Interventions must be made earlier to minimize thedevelopment of this type of neuromuscularimpairment, she believes, adding that clinicians can

no longer wait until the patient is discharged fromthe intensive care unit to begin exercise programs.New to the Center, Johnson is taking time to work withthe other nurse-scientists in their research to learnhow to study a clinical problem in the laboratory.

Entering A New Aspect of Breast Cancer Research

As a complement to the work underway in neurotrophins,pain, and neuropathy, the research interests of SandraMcLeskey, PhD, RN, assistant dean for research andprofessor, are focused on breast cancer and the role ofanti-estrogen compounds in its treatment.

“Nursing has always recognized the role of research—inquality of life, symptom management, traditional care,and psychosocial research,” she says. She notes thather experience in animal and molecular studiessupports the work by her peers.

Recently, McLeskey received a one-year, $200,000grant from the Susan G. Komen Breast CancerFoundation Maryland Affiliate to develop acomprehensive higher education program for nursingfaculty and students that will aim to increase theawareness and understanding of breast cancer.

“There has been very little done in the way of breastcancer education in the nursing curriculum,” saysMcLeskey. “This innovative partnership—the first in thenation linking the Komen Foundation with a nursingschool— represents a new avenue. We will devise aprogram of education that will change theundergraduate and graduate curriculum.”



Dr. Karen Jounson splices frozen brain tissue on a cryostat machine.


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“There are many new targeted therapies andtreatment of breast cancer,” says McLesky. “Thisfunding will allow students and faculty to becomeaware of these developments, such as the geneticsof an individual’s breast cancer that make it moresusceptible to certain treatments.”

Work and Health Research Center

While these nurse-researchers are concernedabout the internal workings of the brain andcentral nervous system, their counterparts at theWork and Health Research Center are studyinghow the work environment influences employees’health and safety.

The Center is the School of Nursing’s firstdesignated Center of Excellence. As such, it hasmet the stringent requirements established by theSchool, which include collaboration amongresearchers, sustainable funding, and support ofdoctoral students. Center researchers havereceived more than $7.5 million in researchfunding within the past five years to study howwork environments such as acute care andpsychiatric hospitals, social service workplaces,and home care settings affect those who providehealth care and social services. During the pastyear, the Center has conducted field research inMaryland, California, Idaho, New York, Illinois,Wisconsin, and Washington State.

rofessor Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, FAAN,director of the Center, is the principal investigatorof a study funded by the National Institute ofOccupational Safety and Health to examine therisk of needle sticks and bloodborne pathogenexposures among home care workers. “Activitiesperformed in the home are much more variableand unstructured than what we find in thehospital, so they are much more challenging tounderstand, measure, and control,” she says.

Kate McPhaul, PhD, MPH, RN, assistantprofessor, also studies the home as a criticallyimportant arena for violence research and intervention.

“Increasingly, health care, long term care, andsocial services are delivered in the home andcommunity rather than in institutions, so thetraditional safety paradigm for workers andpatients must be completely reconsidered,” shesays. “Based on more than 25 focus groups ofhome visiting workers in five states, it has becomeclear to us that a new violence preventionparadigm is needed.”

Jeanne Geiger-Brown, PhD ‘01, RN,assistant professor, and Carles Muntaner,MD, PhD, a former professor at the School ofNursing, have conducted telephone interviewswith more than 1,600 home care workers. Theirresearch found that home care work is physically



Dr. Sandra McLeskey.

Dr. Jane Lipscomb and Dr. Jeffrey Johnson.

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and emotionally demanding and that workers are atrisk for musculoskeletal disorders and depression—allfor a median income of $12,000 per year.

On another front, Center researchers are studyingnurses working in all settings. Professor AlisonTrinkoff, ScD, RN, FAAN, has found that nurses areaffected by the dramatic changes in the health careindustry over the past decade, largely because of anincreased emphasis on reducing costs.

“Working conditions can be impossible, with health carechanges that influence patient care, recruitment,retention, and nurses’ health and error rates,” she says.For more than 10 years, Trinkoff, the principalinvestigator of the Nurses Worklife and Health Study,has researched the effects of long working hours, shiftschedules, staffing levels, and physical andpsychological work factors.

“For many nurses, these adverse working conditionsdon’t occur singly, but in combination, includingworking frequent shift rotation, returning to work afterinsufficient time off, and working overtime on shortnotice or on scheduled days off,” she says. Shebelieves that health care providers and legislatorsneed to recognize the limits within which nurses canpractice safely.

In nursing, there can be obstacles to providing care,agrees Professor Jeffrey Johnson, PhD, associatedirector of the Center. “Nurses find it very frustratingnot to be able to care for the ‘whole person’ becausethey are so overburdened. This creates moral stress,where professionals want to provide higher levels ofcare, but simply don’t have the time or the support todo so.”

Associate Professor Karen S. Kauffman, PhD, RN,CRNP, BC, an ethnographer and expert in the analysisof qualitative data, says, “Only after a careful review ofthe data from many focus groups can we began to seethe deeper patterns of what caregivers are experiencing.Listening to these voices provides us with a sense of thechanges that need to be made.”

Lipscomb notes that nearly all the Center’s studiesinvolve interventions. “We have found that only byengaging workers and their union representatives, alongwith management, in all aspects of the intervention, canwe hope to accomplish any real change,” she says.

Johnson adds, “Measuring complex work exposures,evaluating the risks they pose to care providers, anddesigning protective interventions are the coreactivities of the Center for Work and Health Research.What are the most effective ways to make change?How can we contribute to the emerging science ofworkplace intervention?”

Advancing the Research Agenda

Whether through a developing Center of Excellence suchas the program in Disorders of NeuroregulatoryFunction, or through an established Center ofExcellence such as the Work and Health ResearchCenter, research at the School of Nursing makes asignificant impact on the lives of patients and theirfamilies. Adding to this rich mix are promising researchprograms still coming together—efforts concerned withnursing informatics, palliative care, and aging.

As part of the research initiative, the School hasmade a commitment to training PhD nurses who willteach. The School is one of only 14 nursing schoolsin the nation to have received funding through theU.S. Department of Education’s Graduate Assistancein Areas of National Need (GAANN) TeachingScholars Training fellowship program.



Dr. Alison Trinkoff


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“Joining such fields as engineering andbiochemistry, nursing has been identified as anarea of need with regard to having PhD-preparednurses as instructors,” explains Sue Thomas,PhD, MS ’73, BSN ’69, RN, FAAN, assistantdean for doctoral studies, who co-directs theGAANN program with Louise S. Jenkins, PhD,’85, MS ’81, RN, associate professor.

“We received funding for seven fellowships in theamount of $30,000 per year for each student, andfull tuition.” The School of Nursing’s program willcreate a pipeline of instructors. It also offers acomprehensive teaching certification component,developed by Jenkins, which prepares doctoralstudents to teach.

Of note, the School of Nursing’s application stoodhead and shoulders above other applicationsbecause it received a perfect score on thetechnical review.

Entering through the GAANN program or otheravenues, the high-achieving nurse researchers atthe School of Nursing benefit from a program thatis eager to hear what they have to say. “We aretargeting and recruiting faculty and students whobring interest, excitement, and energy toresearch,” says Smith.

For students, there is the unprecedentedopportunity to work in Centers of Excellence anddeveloping centers in synergistic and collaborativeefforts. For faculty, says Smith, “This is a placethat provides young, promising faculty withprotected time to help launch their careers inresearch. We see so much potential in upcomingresearchers at the School of Nursing.”

Dr. Louise S. Jenkins and Dr. Sue Thomas consult with GAANNfellowship recipient Hyeon Joo Lee.

Professor Emeritus Mary V. Neal, PhD, RN, FAAN,undertook her first public health research project in the1930s—while she was still in elementary school. With afew friends, she set out to discover how a laundry woman’seye condition arose, and if the condition was hereditary.

“Her eye fluttered back and forth—obviously somethingwas wrong with it. We thought we’d find a cure,” shesaid. The curiosity of the schoolchildren fostered aninterest in research that resulted in a remarkable careerfor this professor emeritus of the School of Nursing.

Neal and her friends—unbeknownst to any adults—divided the tasks into group jobs so that no oneduplicated anyone else’s work. One group visited thewoman at home and observed her children to see ifthe eye condition had affected them. “We were onlyelementary school kids at the time and had tounobtrusively arrange to get ourselves to this lady’shouse so that we could see her children. For someodd reason, we only looked at the boys,” sheremembered with a laugh.

Another group interviewed the woman about her eyecondition, and still another group sought information fromthe library. “We gathered our information and reported theresults back to each other,” said Neal. “We didn’t discovereither the cause or the cure for the eye problem, but wetook the effort seriously. In those days when polio andother diseases like whooping cough were issues, publichealth was an important topic—even for kids.”

For Neal, however, the seeds of decades of publichealth research were planted during those childhooddays in Frostburg, Md. With an adult life dedicatedto similar quests, she became a pioneer of nursing-based research and amplified the role ofprofessional nurses. In recognition of her leadershipin expanding the scientific basis of nursing practice,she earned the designation of “Living Legend” fromthe American Academy of Nursing in 1996.

Neal’s innate curiosity, powers of observation, doggedpersistence in solving problems, and willingness tosacrifice many hours in the library led her deep into theresearch arena, something women of her era were notexpected to embrace. Her hours of research in infantmortality led to a practical application. She is well-known as the inventor of the rocking hammock, amotorized device for an incubator or crib, which hasbeen instrumental in decreasing the mortality rates ofpremature infants.

Neal knew early in her life that she would become anurse. “Back then, women didn’t have manyoptions. They either got married or became teachersor nurses. I didn’t see myself in the classroom,” shesaid. “I was interested in public health, so I went tonursing school.”

After earning a diploma in nursing from MemorialHospital in Cumberland, Md., Neal joined the U.S.Army Nurse Corps and served in Iceland andEngland during World War II.

“It was an exciting time to be an Army nurse,” she said.“That was when antibiotics were discovered, and I wasprivileged to be a nurse for one of the control groups ofsoldiers that received antibiotics. They didn’t tell usexactly what it was at first, but the men had infectionsand they all got better quicker than the ones who didn’ttake the pills. I think that it may have penicillin. I amlucky that I was right in the forefront of that discovery.”

Upon her return from the service, Neal earned abaccalaureate degree in education from theUniversity of Maryland, College Park, and a master’sin literature from the University of Pittsburgh.During this period, public health nursing inPennsylvania was under the auspices of theAmerican Red Cross, and Neal practiced polionursing for that organization. In 1953 she was sentto Hawaii as director of Red Cross Nursing Services.There she organized classes for mothers, usinginterpreters to communicate with various ethnicgroups. When “a volcano on the Big Island eruptedfor 40 days and 40 nights,” as she put it, shesprang into action, organizing nursing efforts for theinjured and homeless. In the process she gained anabundance of experience in handling disasters.

“The way things worked out in my life, I was quitefortunate to be there as a Red Cross nurse at thetime. Establishing a safe place where people could goand be treated was the logical thing to do,” she said.“The destruction of the volcano was an amazing sightto see. The lava just rolled through, burning andcovering everything.”

Still interested in maternal and child health, Nealleft Hawaii and the Red Cross to pursue a doctorateat New York University while also working as aconsultant for the National League for Nursing.Working with childbearing families living in NewYork City’s tenement houses, Neal learned that

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Dr. Mary V. Neal –A Role Model for Nursing Research



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premature infants did well initially, but “by thefourth week after birth, they failed. They movedaround when they were first born, but in fourweeks time, they gradually became less vital,”she said.

Neal noticed that although the infants in theincubators were fed and monitored, they were nothandled or touched. “I suspected that the motionthey would have gotten in utero as the motherwalked around and went about her dailyactivities—motion that they lacked in theincubators—may have been related to their highmortality in the fourth week of life,” she said.

After many hours in the library, Neal found astudy that linked premature rat births toneurological handicaps and high mortality. Shealso discovered that motion, or lack thereof,was closely associated with a nerve centerlocated just behind the ear.

To test her hypothesis, Neal needed theapproval of physicians at the CornellUniversity-New York Hospital. “I had submittedmy proposal, and one of the doctors had goneto the library to check every single one of myreferences before he’d approve it. Back thennurses weren’t involved in research. Once hewas confident that I knew what I was talkingabout, he approved my work,” she said.

Neal then set about designing the motorizedcanvas hammock—an effort that consistedmostly of months of trial and error—and whicheventually relied on a motor she scavengedfrom a toy. “When I grew up, if you didn’t havesomething or lacked the money to buysomething, you made it. So it was just themost natural thing for me to make somethingthat I needed if it didn’t exist.”

The “rocking hammock” she designed providedmotion and stimulation to each infant for 30minutes three times a day when it was tested in


Then Now

Dr. Mary Neal with her specially designed rocking hammock. Circa early 1960's.

Dr. Mary Neal poses beside her rocking hammock, now on displayat the School of Nursing's Living History Museum. Circa 2006.

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four New York City hospitals. The test consisted of anexperimental and a control group. Findings indicatedthat the premature infants who had not been rocked inthe hammock showed less weight gain. Those who hadbeen rocked demonstrated fewer abnormalities and ahigher survival rate past the four-week mortality wall.

“We did lose a few babies in the control group—thegroup not being placed in the hammock—but theones in the experimental group gained weight andmoved themselves around too,” she said.

Neal’s landmark study inspired additional researchefforts into the care of premature babies. Today, theseinfants enjoy closer contact with their parents andcaregivers and an earlier discharge than was onceconsidered possible.

After earning her PhD at New York University, Nealdirected the undergraduate program at AdelphiUniversity before joining the faculty at the Universityof Maryland School of Nursing in 1968 as anassociate professor. She became chair of theDepartment of Maternal and Child Health in 1972.During her tenure, she received grants from the U.S.Department of Health, Education and Welfare for 11consecutive years to develop and expand the role ofprofessional nurses in maternal and child health incollaboration with physicians and health care teams.

Also during her tenure, she spurred researchinterests at the School of Nursing when shelaunched the first series of groundbreaking

invitational conferences on the research conceptsthat emanated from her grant-funded work. Sheestablished the framework for the teaching andpractice of maternal and child health nursing duringa period of 12 years.

“Many of my master’s students submitted well-researched papers for the conferences, and many ofthem went on to earn doctorates in nursing atprestigious universities,” she said. “As a result ofthese early conferences, participants were able toidentify the need for a system for informationretrieval that later prompted the creation ofcomputerized databases…30 years before theadvent of informatics,” said Neal.

Elected as a Fellow of the American Academy ofNursing in 1977, Neal was the first School of Nursingfaculty member to attain this honor. Although sheretired in 1983, she has remained active in theprofession, serving on a variety of hospital boards andcouncils as a consultant in maternal and child health.She received a Governor’s Citation from the state ofMaryland in 1984 in recognition of her contributionsto the field. In that same year, the School establishedthe Research Award, a scholarship for nurses with akeen interest in research.

Today, this octogenarian nurse pioneer continues toremain active at the School of Nursing, servingseveral days a week as a docent in the School’sLiving History Museum. She credits her success toone thing: “persistence.”


School of Nursing Launches Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Under new guidelines adopted by the American Associationof Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in October 2005, advancedpractice nurses and other RNs seeking top leadership rolesin nursing practice will be educated at the doctoral level. Inresponse to the AACN’s recommendation to offer a practice-focused doctorate as a viable alternative to the research-focused doctorate, the School of Nursing launched the stateof Maryland’s first DNP program this fall.

“We are proud to assume a leadership role in offeringthe DNP program because it clearly responds to currentand future needs of the America health care system andto the educational demands of current nurse educators,nurse administrators, nurse informaticians, and alladvanced practice nurses,” says Dean Janet Allan.

NEW PROGRAMS

page 15

According to the AACN’s Frequently AskedQuestions (May 30, 2006), the DNP focuses onproviding leadership for evidence-based practice.This leadership requires competence in translatingresearch in practice, evaluating evidence, applyingresearch in decision-making, and implementingviable innovations to change practice.

Until now, master’s prepared nurses desiring tofurther their education had no choice but to enterresearch-focused doctoral programs, such as thePhD or DNSc, which, by design, prepare nursescientists. While nursing research is vitallyneeded and contributes to the improvement ofhealth care for the nation, many nurses prefer toremain focused on direct patient care orleadership in systems that support patient care asthey pursue advanced degrees in their profession.In addition, many DNP candidates look forward toeducating future generations of nurses bybecoming faculty at nursing schools.

Matthew D’Angelo, CRNA, MS, BSN ’98, assistantdirector of the School of Nursing’s NurseAnesthesia program and a member of theinaugural DNP class, says he didn’t feel as thoughhis clinical interests were being addressed withother doctoral programs like pharmacology,neuroscience, and the nursing PhD.

“I pride myself on being a clinician,” he says.“Anesthesia is an evolving practice, and cliniciansoften lack the tools to understand and incorporatechanges in practice. I hope the DNP will ultimatelyhelp me develop techniques to improve not only mypractice, but that of anesthesia as a whole.”

With six years experience as a pediatric nursepractitioner in both primary and specialty care ofchildren, combined with one year of teaching atCoppin State University’s Helene Fuld School ofNursing, DNP student Dionne Mebane Raley, MSN,RN, AE-C, CRNP, says her interests in obtaining aDNP degree are “multifaceted.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for clinician-scholars to have a terminal degree focused onadvancing clinical skills and learning to dissect,translate, and implement research (rather thanperforming it) to improve patient care,” she says.“My long-term goal is to direct a pediatric nursepractitioner clinical program while continuing topractice pediatric primary care. A DNP degree willhelp me obtain these goals by combiningadvanced assessment and management skills withthe theoretical, analytical, and business skillsnecessary to be a clinician-scholar.”

To specifically support the DNP program, theSchool of Nursing received a five-year,$1,020,000 grant from the Maryland HealthServices Cost Review Commission’s Nurse SupportII Program, an initiative designed to help alleviatethe state’s critical shortage of nursing faculty andbedside nurses. Dean Janet Allan led her peersand collaborated with other health care providersin the state to conceive and help develop theNurse Support Program.

“This practice-focused doctoral program opens thedoor for nurses who want to pursue one of the mostadvanced degrees in their field, rigorously applyingscientific evidence in practice environments;participating in multidisciplinary collaborations; andleading at the highest educational, clinical, andexecutive ranks,” says Patricia G. Morton, PhD, RN,CRNP, FAAN, interim associate dean for academicaffairs and director of the DNP program.

To learn more about the School of Nursing’s DNPprogram, call 410-706-7522 or visitwww.nursing.umaryland.edu/programs/dnp.

Dr. Patricia Morton (center) discusses the DNP program with studentsMatthew D’Angelo and Dionne Mebane Raley.


Susan Dorsey, PhD, RNTruncated trkB During Development and in Neuron Survival$148,429 (multi-year), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

Development of a Mouse Model of HIV Therapy-InducedPainful Peripheral Neuropathy$16,000, American Pain Society

Supraspinal BDNF Signaling Modulates Nociception$222,750 (multi-year), NINR

Mary Ellen Haisfield-Wolfe, PhD(c), MS, RN(Sponsor - Deborah McGuire, PhD, RN, FAAN)

Catherine Kelleher, ScD, MPH, RNEvaluation of House Calls Program at Washington Hospital$11,690, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Home Care Outcomes of Expanded Home Health Aide Roles$613,146 (multi-year), AHCPR

Cara Krulewitch, PhD, CNM, RNMaternal Opioid Treatment$48,635 (multi-year), University of Maryland, College Park

Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, FAANHealth Issues of Female Mexican Crab Pickers$4,996 (multi-year), Johns Hopkins UniversityEvaluation of Workplace Violence Prevention Intervention$538,145 (multi-year), NIOSH

Evaluation of Organizational Justice Intervention toAlleviate Type III Violence$312,673 (multi-year), CDC/NIOSH

Sandra W. McLeskey, PhD, RNDifferentially Expressed Proteins in Tamoxifen-ResistentBreast Tumors$7,000, American Nurses Foundation

Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD, RNWeb-Based Hip Fracture Prevention Modules for Seniors$182,655 (multi-year), National Institute on Aging

Lynn Oswald, PhD, RNHypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Alcoholism$58,653, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Keith Plowden, PhD, RNBaltimore City Faith-Based Prostate Cancer Prevention$139,017 (multi-year), U.S. Army Medical Researchand Development Command

RESEARCH GRANTS 2005-2006

page 16


TRAINING GRANTS 2005-2006 Janet Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAANAdvanced Education Nursing Traineeships$211,435 (multi-year), HRSA

Heidi Ehrenberger, PhD, RN, AOCNNurse Education, Practice and Retention: Career Ladder$265,224 (multi-year), HRSA-Contract Operation Branch

Louis Heindel, DNP, CRNANurse Anesthesia Program Focused on Diversity and the Underserved$282,170 (multi-year), HRSA

Tinagene (Pia) Inguito, PhD(c), RNSelf-Efficacy Based Intervention to Facilitate Recovery$41,760 (multi-year), The John A. Hartford Foundation

Sandra McLeskey, PhD, RNThe Komen Maryland Affiliate Nursing Partnership:Advancing Education and Practice$200,000 (multi-year), The Maryland Affiliate of theSusan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Mary Etta Mills, ScD, RN, FAANOther Health Professions Programs (Earmarks)$245,515, HRSA-BHP-Division of Medicine

Barbara Resnick, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN,FAANPTesting Restorative Care Nursing Program$644,036 (multi-year), AHRQ

Tuberculosis Curriculum Coordinating Center$8,437 (multi-year), Arkansas Department of Health

BCC Challenge Grant: Measurement of PA in Older Adults(No Cost Extension), Texas A&M University

Barbara Sattler, DrPH, RN, FAANEnvironmental Health Nursing w/the Healthcare Without Harm(No Cost Extension), Healthcare Without Harm

Training & Technical Assistance to Brownfields, EPA Region 3$43,000 (multi-year), US Environmental Protection Agency

Barbara A. Smith, PhD, RN, FACSM, FAANPhysical Activity & Nutrition Intervention in HIV(No Cost Extension), NINR

Sue Thomas, PhD, RN, FAANPatients & Families Psychological Response to HAT$236,412 (multi-year), NINR

Alison Trinkoff, ScD, RN, FAANExtended Work Schedules & Workplace Injury in Nurses(No Cost Extension), CDC/NIOSH

Christopher Ward, PhDPathogenic Mechanisms that Initiate Duchenne’s MD$7,425, Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Local Regulation of Calcium Release in SkeletalMuscle(No Cost Extension), NIAMS

Local Calcium Signalling: Implications in Fatigue$74,250 (multi-year), National Institute ofArthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Myra Woolery, PhD(c), MN, RN (Sponsor -Deborah McGuire, PhD, RN, FAAN)

GRANTS

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Master’s Preparation of Staff Nurses to Expand Clinical Instruction Capacity$1,325,000 (5-year), Maryland HealthServices Cost Review Commission

Patricia Morton, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAANThe Doctor of Nursing Practice: An Initiative to Increase Maryland’s Nursing Faculty$1,020,000 (5-year), Maryland HealthServices Cost Review Commission

Carol Snapp, DNSc, CNMEnhancement of Nurse-Midwifery Specialty(No Cost Extension), HRSA

Sue Thomas, PhD, RN, FAANTeaching Scholars Training Program (GAANN)$295,568 (multi-year), U.S. Department of Education

Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RNColorectal Cancer Screening Program$8,318, Wicomico County Health Department

page 18


More than 300 people attended the third annual nationalconference on evidence-based practice, “Your PracticeBased on Evidence: Essential Skills and Competencies,”held at the School of Nursing last spring. Co-sponsoredby the School of Nursing and the Veterans AffairsMaryland Health Care Systems (VAMHCS), theconference offered an expanded program of lectures andsessions addressing the importance of the role of evidencein all areas of nursing practice.

Pre-conferences provided comprehensive explorationand experience in essential aspects for building aninfrastructure for evidence and for using evidence inpractice. The main conference includedpresentations on a multidisciplinary teamperspective on the use of evidence acrossdisciplines, as well as essential competencies fornurses across practice settings and roles.

“The collaboration between our School of Nursing andthe Veteran Affairs Maryland afforded us the uniqueopportunity to develop and implement a verycomprehensive and innovative conference on the useof evidence in nursing,” says Kathryn Montgomery,PhD ‘97, RN, associate dean for organizationalpartnerships, outreach, and clinical enterprise.

Margaret Grey, DrPH, RN, FAAN, dean of the YaleUniversity School of Nursing, presented the keynoteaddress, “Building Evidence for Care: A Researcher’sPerspective.” The distinguished lecture, “Nurses UsingEvidence: Building Essential Skills and Competencies,”was delivered by Chris Baker, PhD, RN, executivedirector, Quality and Safety Department, and clinical

nurse specialist for nursing outcomes, St. Mary’sHospital and Medical Center, Madison, Wis.

“We are in a critical paradigm shift to evidence-basedpractice in nursing that is essential to improve thequality of care whether your professional role is that ofan executive, manager, staff nurse, educator, oradvanced practice nurse," says Dean Janet Allan. “Weare proud to host a conference where nurses can learnthe skills and competencies necessary for integratingevidence into their practice.”

Conference speakers were supported by a generousendowment from Cmdr. Lura Jane Emery, MS ’79, RN,who was introduced at the conference’s openingsession and surprised with a cake to celebrate her80th birthday. Sigma Theta Tau International, PiChapter, provided additional support.

Mark you calendar now for the 2007 Evidence-Based Practice Conference, scheduled for Thursdayand Friday, April 19 and 20, 2007.

Evidence-Based Practice ConferenceFocuses on Essential Skills

and Competencies

Dr. Margaret Grey, Dr. Kathryn Montgomery, and Carol Nizzardini,MS, RN, VAMHCS Chief Executive.

Cmdr. Lura Jane Emery is surprised with a cake, asMyrna Petersen, director of development, leads thesinging of “Happy Birthday.”

A five-year contract between the U.S. StateDepartment and the School of Nursing to provideprimary care medical conferences for embassy healthcare workers culminated last spring with two sessionsfocusing on trauma. More than 200 nurses fromaround the world came to the School of Nursing inMay and June to increase their knowledge in topicsranging from how to deal with injuries caused bybombings, gunshot wounds, falls, physical abuse, andvehicular crashes, to assessment mechanisms of injury,including forensics triage, pain management,stabilization, and transportation of victims.

“Trauma was chosen as the subject for this year’sconference, due in part to the current politicalclimate throughout the world,” said KathrynMontgomery, PhD, RN, associate dean fororganizational partnerships, outreach, and clinicalenterprises, who was instrumental in creating theconference curriculum. She says the conferencetopics were chosen by the State Department, basedon the needs of the nurses. “Participants were ableto hone their skills through didactic seminars andcase studies, as well as hands-on, comprehensiveexperiential learning modules.”

EVENTS

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Conferences for State DepartmentNurses Focus on Trauma

“Old Wisdom, New Science: East Meets West in thePractice of Integrative Psychiatric Nursing,” was thetopic of the 12th Annual Ann Ottney Cain Lecture inPsychiatric Nursing, held at the School of Nursinglast spring. Karen Kleeman, PhD, RN, CS, professor,Southwest Acupuncture College, Oriental MedicineProgram, presented the lecture to an audience ofnearly 150.

“Taxonomies of medicine and taxonomies ofpsychiatry serve to stimulate speculation aboutorigins of illness, in particular patients and thetreatment best indicated for such patients,” said

Kleeman. “We need to go beyond our currentclassifications of illnesses in order to apply theright medicine with skillful means.” During thelecture, she addressed the questions: How do wefind the particular key to a patient’s healing? Is ita medication, a change in diet, a surgicalintervention, energy medicine, traditional Chinesemedicine, psychotherapy, prayer, or exercise?

Kleeman stated that our current artificialboundaries for both diagnosis and treatment arebeginning to blur as our practice of conventional,alternative, integrative, and complementarymedicine begins to merge. “We can look forwardwithin the next decade to a practice of OneMedicine – Right Medicine, which is the bestmedicine for each individual in that moment,regardless of origin,” she said.

The Cain Lecture was established by students,faculty, alumni, and friends to honor Ann Cain,PhD, RN, FAAN, professor emeritus, upon herretirement from the School of Nursing in 1994.Their contributions allowed the School of Nursingto create an endowment to support this lecture,which is held in the spring of each year.

Integrative Psychiatric Nursingis Topic of Cain Lecture


Dr. Karen Kleeman, Dr. Ann Cain, and Dean Janet Allan.

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Faculty members from the School of Nursing, as well asnurses and other medical professionals from theUniversity of Maryland Medical Center’s R AdamsCowley Shock Trauma Center (STC), taught topics suchas shock, brain, and spinal cord injuries;musculoskeletal trauma; and thoracic and abdominaltrauma. Hands-on workshops included packagingpatients for transport, airway management, makingtriage decisions with multiple victims, critical thinking,and effective communication during trauma situations.

“Preparing the content for this program was bothchallenging and rewarding,” said Karen McQuillan,MS, RN, CCRN, CNRN, clinical nurse specialist at theSTC and lead curriculum developer for theconferences. “At Shock Trauma, we have the field’smost advanced equipment, resources, and staff tocare for our patients. In order to develop thisprogram, I needed to create adaptive approaches topatient care based on what resources and suppliesmight be available at each foreign post.”

Jim Radcliffe, NREMPT, coordinator of the STC’sEmergency Medical System field providers, taught aninteractive session, “Packaging a Patient for Transport.”The presentation offered innovative ways for providingbasic care and packaging of a patient for transport to moredefinitive care.

“By constantly thinking on our feet, we can provideeffective care and packaging with a board, bed sheet,shirt or cravats, and most importantly, DUCT tape,”said Radcliffe. “I recognized that, depending onwhere these nurses were practicing, they were not onlynurses, but often first responders in remote portions ofthe world. Medicine is an art where the canvas isalways changing. It takes the creativity of the astuteclinician to provide effective care in such a diverse setof circumstances.”

Such is the case with Hilda Debrah, RN, ADN, whoworks full-time at the U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana.Debrah, who is responsible for the primary health careneeds of 235 American employees and their families,says there are no formal Emergency Medical Systems inAccra, like those in the United States.

“The ambulances are not equipped to perform any typeof intervention en route to the hospital, beyondproviding a stretcher and an IV pole,” she says. “And,trained emergency medical technicians or paramedicsare nonexistent.”

Debrah says many times the victims of vehicularaccidents are transported in any type of vehicle that isavailable. “My role can shift from nurse to firstresponder/paramedic at any time. The conferencesession on transporting patients was particularlybeneficial to me.”

The potential for earthquakes in the Katmandu Valley ofNepal is great, due to its location on the edge of theHimalayas. In fact, seismologists believe that region isoverdue for a quake that could register as high as 6.8 onthe Richter scale. Carrie Sengelman, RN, who works forthe U.S. Embassy Unit in Katmandu, says this predictionhas brought much concern to the community, and theEmbassy is beginning to prepare for such an event.

“Given the poor construction and infrastructure in theKatmandu Valley, we realize that a disaster of thismagnitude would put us in a position to organize ourown search and rescue and manage all medicalemergencies,” says Sengelman.

She says the conference provided her with moreconfidence in dealing with mass casualties and better prepared her to deal with any type of lifethreatening injury.

“The trauma photos helped me to better understand thedifferent types of injuries, treatments, and probableoutcomes I could encounter,” she said. The instructorswere excellent and brought their years of experience tothe lectures.”

“The five-year relationship with the School of Nursinghas been richly rewarding and very productive,” saysJennifer Grise, MSN, CFNP, FSHP, deputy director offoreign service health practitioner programs for the StateDepartment. “The programs have given our nursesmuch-needed medical updates and have challengedthem to be critical thinkers in a wide range of medicalsituations. The hands-on workshops allowed forsimulated application and true collaboration.”


Conference participants practice packaging a patient for transport.

EVENTS

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School of Nursing Hosts Nation’sLargest Nursing Informatics Conference

“Advancing Clinical Practice Through NursingInformatics” was the theme for the School ofNursing’s 16th Annual Summer Institute inNursing Informatics, held July 19-22. More than600 people attended the event, includingparticipants from 39 states and eight countries.

“As the use of technology in health carebecomes increasingly important, so does theneed for nurses with the expert skills andknowledge to apply and manage information,”said Dean Janet Allan in her opening remarks.“These nurses provide leadership in theconceptualization, design, and research ofcomputer-based information systems in healthcare organizations and in industry.” DeanAllan also noted that the School of Nursing’sinformatics programs serve as national models.The School initiated the nation’s first master’sspecialty in nursing informatics in 1988, andthe world’s first doctoral program in nursinginformatics in 1991.

Donald E. Detmer, MD, MA, president andCEO, American Medical InformaticsAssociation, delivered the keynote address,Current Issues in Improving Clinical PracticeThrough Informatics.

“Clinical informatics faces a number of challengesand opportunities in order to improve practicedramatically,” said Detmer. “Expert appliedclinical informaticians are needed to support theknowledge and skills required by other clinicians,as well as citizens.” He added that by the year2010, our nation’s health care system would need10,000 additional informaticians – 5,000 nursesand 5,000 doctors.

Distinguished lectures were presented byMichael Zamore, policy advisor to CongressmanPatrick Kennedy, who provided an update onhealth care IT legislation; Victoria Bradley,DNP, RN, FHIMSS, director of patientinformation at the University of KentuckyHospital, who discussed the transformation ofthe work environment through informationtechnology; and Jeffrey Goldsmith, PhD,president, Health Futures, Inc., whose talkfocused on the influence of informatics on thefuture of health care.

The annual conference is designed for nursemanagers and executives, nurses interfacingwith information systems departments,managers of nursing information systems, andinformatics educators. It benefits nurses whoare new to informatics, as well as those whohave experience in the field.

The 2007 Summer Institute in Nursing Informaticsis scheduled for July 18-21, 2007, at the School ofNursing. For more information about the event,visit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/informatics.

Conference participants filled the auditorium for the keynote address.

Judy Ozbolt, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FAIMBE, director of theSchool of Nursing’s Informatics program; Dean Janet Allan; Dr.Donald Detmer; and Mary Etta Mills, ScD, RN, FAAN, SINI chairperson and former associate dean for academic affairs.

Convocation 2006The School of Nursing’s 2006 Convocation ceremonybegan with a special visit from Governor Robert L.Ehrlich, Jr., who delivered congratulatory remarks tothe state’s largest class of nursing students.

“Nursing is physically, emotionally, andintellectually demanding,” said Gov. Ehrlich.“You are a critical part of our health caresystem, and I commend you for choosing acareer in nursing.”

Tony McCann, secretary of the MarylandDepartment of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Del. Shirley Nathan Pulliam, BSN ’80, RN, alsoattended the event, held May 19 at the BaltimoreConvention Center. Degrees were conferred on 551nursing candidates, including 397 bachelor’sdegrees, 110 master’s degrees, 26 post-master’sdegrees, and 18 doctoral degrees – the most PhDsever awarded at the School.

Nellie C. Robinson, MS ’79, RN, vice presidentof patient services at the Children’s NationalMedical Center in Washington, D.C., deliveredthe Convocation address.

“You are entering nursing at a time when boththe health care industry and the nursingprofession are severely challenged. The world issmaller, expectations are greater, and demandis knocking down our doors,” she said.

“Nursing is a noble and rewarding professionthat today calls for leaders, educators,practitioners, and researchers. Find a passionand pursue it because when you love whatyou do, the sky is the limit.”

Master of Science graduate Krystina Mints, BSN ’02,RN, delivered remarks on behalf of the students.

“Nursing is dramatically changing, and with thecritical nursing shortage, attention is focusedgreatly on our profession. For years, patientshave reported that nurses have made thegreatest impact on their health careexperiences. With that in mind, your educationhas provided the tools to continue this trend andempower the profession of nursing.”

page 22


PhD graduates Deborah Chapa and Terry Laidlow

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich

Proud graduates

EVENTS

page 23

Dr. Keith Plowden and a happy grad

Mother and daughter grads KarenBuchanan and Bridgette Burnett

Nellie C. Robinson and Dean Janet Allan

Dr. Carol Esche and Dr. Lyn Murphy

page 24


Judith Criner, PhD, MS,RN, has been appointedassistant professor in theDepartment of OrganizationalSystems and Adult Health.Criner holds a PhD in adulthealth from the University ofTexas, Austin School ofNursing; an MS from theUniversity of Hawaii; and aBSN from the Medical College

of Georgia. She comes to the School of Nursingfrom her previous position as Director of ContinuingEducation, Director of Instructor Training Courses,and Nursing School Coordinator for the Walter ReedArmy Medical Center, Nursing Education and StaffDevelopment Unit.

Matthew D'Angelo, MS,BSN ’98, RN, has beenappointed clinical instructor inthe Department ofOrganizational Systems andAdult Health and assistantdirector for the NurseAnesthesia master’s specialty.D'Angelo holds an MS fromGeorgetown University School ofNursing and a BSN from the

University of Maryland School of Nursing. He comes tothe School of Nursing from his previous position as anurse anesthetist at the R Adams Cowley Shock TraumaCenter, University of Maryland Medical Center.

Michelle Duell, MSN, BSN ’95, RN, has beenappointed clinical instructor in the Department ofOrganizational Systems andAdult Health and director ofclinical education for the NurseAnesthesia master’s specialty.Duell holds an MSN fromHahnemann University and aBSN from the University of

Maryland School of Nursing. She comes to the Schoolof Nursing from her previous position as a staff nurseanesthetist at the R Adams Cowley Shock TraumaCenter and the University of Maryland Hospital.

Suzanne L. Feetham, PhD,RN, FAAN, has beenappointed professor in theDepartment of Family andCommunity Health. Feetham isnationally and internationallyrecognized for her research andscholarship in nursing researchof families, system change inhealth care, and the integrationof genetics and genomics in

education, practice, and policy. She holds a PhD fromMichigan State University (Family Sciences), an MSNfrom Wayne State University, and a BSN from theUniversity of Michigan. She comes to the School ofNursing from her previous position as senior programmanager at the Health Resources and ServicesAdministration’s Center for Quality.

Suzanne Gordon, BA, anaward-winning journalist andauthor, has joined the School ofNursing as a visiting professorin the Department of Familyand Community Health. Forthe past 15 years, Gordon hasbeen observing nurses andother caregivers, and writingabout care giving and healthcare reform issues. She has

served as an adjunct professor at the University ofCalifornia San Francisco School of Nursing and theMcGill University School of Nursing, and as a visitingscholar at the Boston College School of Nursing.

Linda J. Hickman, PhD '98,MBA, RN, CHE, has beenappointed assistant professor inthe Department ofOrganizational Systems andAdult Health, where she isteaching in the Health ServicesLeadership and Managementmaster's specialty and directingthe Nurse Support Programgrant. Hickman holds a PhD

from the University of Maryland School of Nursing, anMBA from Marymount University, and a BSN fromWesley College. She comes to the School of Nursingfrom her previous position as Vice President of PatientCare and Chief Nursing Officer for Chester River HospitalCenter in Chestertown, Md., where she has served for thepast 20 years.


Faculty Appointments

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

page 25

Deborah Jones, PhD,RN, has been appointedassistant professor in theDepartment ofOrganizational Systems andAdult Health. Jonesreceived a PhD, an MSN,and a BSN from theUniversity of Alabama atBirmingham. She is amember of Alpha Kappa

Alpha Sorority, the Nurses Organization VeteranAffairs and the National Association for HealthcareQuality. She comes to the School of Nursing fromher previous position as a nurse manager on theCardiovascular Care/Telemetry Unit at the VeteransAdministration Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.

Kathleen Michael, PhD,RN, CCRN, has beenappointed assistantprofessor in the Departmentof Organizational Systemsand Adult Health. Michaelholds a PhD from the JohnsHopkins University Schoolof Nursing, an MSN fromSeattle Pacific University,and a BSN from the

University of Washington. She comes to the Schoolof Nursing from her previous as Program Manager(Director of Health Programs) of the Claude D.Pepper Older Americans Independence Center,University of Maryland.

Judy G. Ozbolt, PhD,RN, FAAN, FACMI,FAIMBE, has beenappointed professor in theDepartment ofOrganizational Systems andAdult Health, and directorof the Nursing Informaticsprogram. Ozbolt, who isnationally andinternationally known for

her expertise in nursing informatics, most recentlyserved as a Scholar at the Institute of Medicine inWashington, D.C. She previously served as theIndependence Foundation Professor of Nursing andProfessor of Biomedical Informatics, as well as theJoe B. Wyatt Distinguished University Professor atVanderbilt University. Ozbolt holds a PhD and MS

from the University of Michigan, and a BSN fromDuke University.

Nina Trocky, MSN,RN, has been appointedclinical instructor andassistant director of theClinical ResearchManagement program inthe Department ofOrganizational Systemsand Adult Health. Trockyholds an MSN fromCatholic University of

America and a BSN from Temple University Schoolof Nursing. She comes to the School of Nursingfrom her previous position as program director atHarris Technical Services Corporation.

Kathryn Von Rueden,MS, RN, FCCM, hasbeen appointed assistantprofessor in theDepartment ofOrganizational Systemsand Adult Health. VonRueden holds an MSfrom the University ofMinnesota and a BSNfrom the Georgetown

University School of Nursing. She comes to theSchool of Nursing from her previous position asDirector of Professional Development and Qualityat Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Margaret Watt,MSN, RN, FNP, hasbeen appointed clinicalinstructor in theDepartment ofOrganizational Systemsand Adult Health. Wattholds a BSN and anMSN/FNP from theGeorgetown UniversitySchool of Nursing. She

comes to the School of Nursing from herprevious position as a cardiology nursepractitioner at Suburban Hospital inWashington, D.C., and as a forensic nurseexaminer-adult with Shady Grove AdventistHospital in Rockville, Md.



page 26


Doerr to Head New Communications Department

Gail Doerr, MS, has beennamed executive director ofthe School of Nursing’s newCommunications Department.In this position, she will createand implement the School’sbranding and identitycampaigns, and provideoversight for all marketing,advertising, public relations,and publications. Because

electronic media is now a primary communicationtool for recruitment and information sharing, theSchool’s Web site is part of the new department,

and is also under her direction. Doerr formerlyserved as the Director of Business and ProgramDevelopment in the School’s Department ofOrganizational Partnerships, Outreach, and ClinicalEnterprise. She comes to this position with morethan 15 years experience in communications andbusiness development for higher education andhealth care organizations. She holds an MS fromFordham University and a BS from Mercy College.

“Proper communication about our School and itsstudents, faculty, and programs is of utmost importancein meeting our strategic goals and initiatives,” saidDean Janet Allan. “Gail Doerr brings the level ofexpertise and experience required to lead this newdepartment in positioning our School as a leader innursing education, research, and clinical practice.”

Administrative/Staff Appointments

Marisa Wilson, DNSc,MHSc, RN, has beenappointed assistant professor inthe Department ofOrganizational Systems andAdult Health. Wilson holds aDNSc from the Johns HopkinsUniversity School of Nursing, anMHSc from the Johns HopkinsUniversity School of Hygieneand Public Health, and a BA

from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Shecomes to the School of Nursing from her previousposition as Senior Project Director for ClinicalInformation Systems at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Carolyn J. Yocom, PhD, RN,FAAN, has been appointedassociate professor and chair ofthe Department of OrganizationalSystems and Adult Health.Yocom holds a PhD in NursingSciences with an emphasis onNursing EducationAdministration from theUniversity of Illinois at Chicago;an MSN from the Frances Payne

Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University;and a BSN from the University of Pennsylvania School ofNursing. She comes to the School of Nursing from herprevious position as Assistant Dean of Research and Grantsat Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, College ofNursing, where she also held positions as an associateprofessor and coordinator of outreach programs. Prior tojoining the faculty at Rugters, Yocom spent 15 years withthe National Council of State Boards of Nursing, where sheheld positions as Assistant Director of Testing Services andDirector of Research Services. As Director of ResearchServices, she was responsible for developing andimplementing the research agenda for the NationalCouncil, directing and conducting research projects onissues related to the regulation of nursing practice. She isthe author of numerous publications, she has made manynational and international presentations, and she hasgarnered $4 million in external grant funding.



Amanda Barnes, MS, has joined the Office ofStudent Affairs as an admissions counselor. Barnesholds an MS from Shippensburg University, whereshe served as a graduate assistant in theAdmissions Office. She holds a BA fromWashington College.

Charles Bennett, AA, has joined theInstructional and Learning Technologies Departmentas a LAN administrator. Bennett holds an AA fromthe University of Baltimore. He comes to the Schoolof Nursing from MCI, where he provided desktopand laptop support and performed hardware repairsand basic LAN administration duties.

Billy Best, MPH, has joined the Office of StudentAffairs as director of admissions. Best holds anMPH from the University of Baltimore and a BAfrom Clemson University. He comes to the Schoolof Nursing from his previous position as a nurserecruiter at Maryland General Hospital.

Stacey Boyd has joined the School of Nursing ascoordinator of the Doctor of Nursing Practiceprogram. She comes to the School from herprevious position as program coordinator in theDepartment of Surgery, University of MarylandMedical Center.

Lisa Conway has joined the Office ofAcademic Affairs as a coordinator. She comesto the School of Nursing from her previousposition as an academic program specialist atthe University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Divisionof Community Psychiatry.

Deborah Hicks, BS, has joined the Office ofAdministrative Services as an accountant. Sheholds a BS from the University of Baltimore and anAA from Catonsville Community College. Hickscomes to the School of Nursing from her previousposition as a manager at the University of Maryland,Baltimore Institute of Human Virology.

Larry Nohe, AA, has joined the Instructionaland Learning Technologies Department as asystems engineer. Nohe holds an AA from HarfordCommunity College, and comes to the School ofNursing from his previous position as a fieldengineer at System Source.

Abby Plusen, MSW, has joined the School ofNursing as program manager for “The KomenMaryland Affiliate Nursing Partnership: AdvancingEducation and Practice” grant. Plusen holds anMSW in Social Work from the University of Texas.She comes to the School of Nursing from herprevious position as a manager at the University ofMaryland, Baltimore Institute of Human Virology.

Lynnee Roane, BSN ’85, RN, has joined theOffice of Research as nurse coordinator. Roaneholds a BSN from the University of MarylandSchool of Nursing. She comes to the Schoolfrom her previous position as clinical researchcoordinator at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore.

Yan (Sunny) Sun, MEd, has joined theInstructional and Learning Technologies Departmentas an instructional designer. Sun holds an MEdfrom Texas A&M University and a BS from BeijingCapital Normal University in China. She comes tothe School of Nursing from her previous position asan instructional designer for Web educationprograms at the University of Texas, Arlington.

Brian Walls, BA, has joined the Office of StudentAffairs as academic coordinator. Walls holds a BAfrom the University of Maryland, Baltimore County(UMBC). He comes to the School of Nursing fromhis previous position as assistant director ofscholarships at UMBC.

ADMINISTRATIVE/STAFF APPOINTMENTS

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As president of the Alumni Association, I have thehonor of serving as a member of the School ofNursing’s Board of Visitors. Dean Janet Allan hasassembled a wonderful array of leaders from thecorporate world and the community to assist us infulfilling the School’s mission and vision. This year,each Board member has taken on the challenge ofhelping promote, champion, or find funding for newinitiatives or existing programs, such as the Honorsprogram, the Clinical Research Managementmaster’s specialty, the Governor’s Wellmobileprogram, and Centers of Excellence.

The Alumni Association continues to support theSchool by finding new ways to reach out to ourfellow alumni. During the past year, we held twoThank-a-Thons. With the support of the AlumniAssociation Council and volunteer faculty and staff,we were able to make more than 400 phone calls tothank many of our alumni supporters. A number ofalumni were surprised that we were not asking formoney, but just calling to thank them. The calls alsoprovided a way for us to reconnect with manyalumni and speak with some of them for the firsttime. Our hope is to make contact with as manyalumni as possible and determine the best ways wecan be of service to you. If you didn’t receive a callduring the past two “Thons,” we hope we will beable to reach you the next time around.

Throughout the year, we met many of our graduates atvarious conferences and events around the nation, aswell as right here in Maryland. In early spring, we heldthe first reception for Shady Grove alumni at theUniversities at Shady Grove in Rockville. Nearly 50people attend the event, designed to bring our ShadyGrove alumni together again and keep them informed ofall the happenings at the School.

The 2006 Alumni Reunion was the biggest yet! Anevening reception at the B&O Railroad Museum onFriday, May 5, kicked-off the weekend of activities.On Saturday, 37 members of the Class of 1956were inducted as the newest members of theHeritage Class at a special program held at theSchool of Nursing. It is wonderful to experience theesprit de corps of the Heritage Cass and to see thebroad range of other classes and current studentsmingle in a wonderful social setting. The weekendalso included lectures and presentations, and waswell received by all who attended. Please reserveJune 1 and 2, 2007, for another outstandingReunion Weekend!

As a proud alumnus, it is my honor to continue tosupport the School and my fellow alumni. I hopeyou received our latest fundraising brochure, “Whoinspired you?” that features six of our facultymembers from across the decades who have madean impact on our students and the nursingprofession. I think fondly of Dr. Patricia GonceMorton, who is profiled in the brochure, and who, tothis day, remains my mentor in nursing and in life.Please take a moment to think about the facultymember who inspired you, and send in a gift inhonor of that person. If you have not received thebrochure, please contact the Alumni Office.

In this edition of University of Maryland NURSING,you will read about some of our alumni who areinvolved in bench research here at the School ofNursing, and how others are making their mark onnursing research at other institutions. Thegroundbreaking work being conducted by all ofthese nurse researchers is truly inspiring. Studentsfrom all the programs in the School have theopportunity to observe bench research first hand,and it is amazing to see how this experienceimpacts their education and the future of nursing.With your support, these programs will continue togrow and expand.

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Letter from the Alumni PresidentThis has been a tremendous year for the School of Nursing, and the Alumni Association has been there tosupport many of the endeavors that make the School outstanding.



Caleb A. Rogovin, Alumni Association President

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Please let us know what is happening with you,or tell us about a classmate or colleague. E-mail, call, or send us a letter with updates,and also make sure we have your currentaddress so we can stay in touch. As always, wewill do our best to keep you informed. We lookforward to hearing from you!

With best regards,

Caleb A. Rogovin, CRNA, MS ‘92, CCRN, CENPresident, Alumni Association

Alumni Office contact information:

[email protected]

Samantha Stern DavisDirector of Alumni Relations and Annual Support410-706-0674e-mail: [email protected]

Alvette ChaseAdministrative Assistant410-706-1502e-mail: [email protected]

Check out the School of Nursing’s web sitehttp://nursing.umaryland.edu to update yourcontact information and get the latest news.

Breaking New Ground in Psychosocial Oncology

A pioneer in oncology nursing, Ruth McCorkle,PhD, BSN ’69, RN, FAAN, is the first Florence S.Wald Professor of Nursing at the Yale UniversitySchool of Nursing, where she chaired the Doctor ofNursing Science program from 1998 to 2004 andcurrently serves as director of the Center forExcellence in Chronic Illness Care. McCorkle, whois well known for her work in psychosocialoncology, has focused her research on patientresponses to cancer at critical points in the illness,including the point of diagnosis, the initiation oftreatment, the period of active treatment,survivorship, recurrence, disease progression, andterminal illness.

“After I had been a nurse in the Air Forceduring the Vietnam War, I wanted to specializein an area of nursing that would allow me anopportunity to develop ongoing relationshipswith patients and their families,” says

McCorkle. “I was comfortable talking aboutpremature death with families and thoughtoncology nursing was right for me.”

Over three decades, McCorkle has developed theProgram of Research on Patient and FamilyCaregiver Outcomes, in which she and her teamexamined the positive effects of interventionsperformed by Advance Practice Nurses (APNs) torelieve treatment-related symptoms and improvefunctional abilities in patients with cancer. Theseries of studies showed that oncology patientsreceiving care from APNs remained physically andsocially independent longer than those who did notreceive such services. They also had fewer re-hospitalizations for symptoms and complications.

To measure symptoms and functional statusduring the study, McCorkle and her teamdeveloped a Symptom Distress Scale and anEnforced Social Dependency Scale, which arestill in use today by investigators worldwide.

Alumnae Make Their Markon Nursing Research



The studies also revealed the extreme burden thatcaregivers experience and the increasedresponsibility they assume for their family members.Included in McCorkle’s studies was an investigationof spousal bereavement that examined thepsychological distress of family caregivers beforeand after the death of a loved one.

“My research has been and will continue to be usedto establish guidelines for assessment of patients’symptoms, but additional work is needed,” she says.“Currently, in our health care system, patients arenot referred to home care after cancer surgery, eventhough they will develop complex, ongoing needsonce they are discharged and additional cancertherapies are started.”

McCorkle’s interest in cancer and palliative care islongstanding. More than 20 years ago, she studiedat St. Christopher’s Hospice in London andparticipated in clinical studies to relieve distressingsymptoms associated with dying. Since then, theNational Institutes of Health and other prestigiousorganizations have continuously funded her studieson managing life with cancer.

She has served as a member of the study sectionsfor the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and theNational Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Shewas director of the Center for Advancing Care inSerious Illness at the University of Pennsylvania,one of only six nationally supported research centers

funded by the NINR. In the early 1980s, sheobtained the first non-medical NCI InstitutionalTraining Grant (T32), which opened the door forother non-medical disciplines to becomecompetitive in securing funding.

Elected to the Institute of Medicine in 1990,McCorkle has received many awards for heroutstanding contributions to nursing science andoncology nursing. In 1988, she received theOutstanding Research Award from the PennsylvaniaNurses Association, and in 1993, the AmericanNurses Association recognized her as Nurse Scientistof the Year. She received the Distinguished ResearchAward from the Oncology Nursing Society in 1994,and in spring 2006, she received the 2006Distinguished Contribution to Nursing Research Awardfrom the Eastern Nursing Research Society.

In addition to her BSN from the University ofMaryland School of Nursing (1969), McCorkle holdsan MS and a PhD from the University of Iowa. Shehas held teaching positions at a number ofinstitutions, including the University of Pennsylvania,the University of Washington, and the University ofIowa, as well as various staff nursing positions.

Improving Care for Infants and Children

Barbara Medoff-Cooper, PhD, MS ’72, RN, FAAN, hasbeen in love with children—and caring for children—since the first day she walked onto a pediatric floor as anursing student. A professor in pediatric nursing andDirector of the Center for Biobehavioral Research at theUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Medoff-Cooper is internationally recognized for her research oninfant development, feeding behaviors in high-riskinfants, and infant temperaments.

Medoff-Cooper, who has devoted her professionalcareer to finding ways of improving care for infantsand children, credits her early interest in infants toMary Neal, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of MarylandSchool of Nursing professor emeritus (see pp. 12-14),who first brought her to the nursery during maternaland child health nursing classes at the School ofNursing in the 1970s.

“I fully attribute my love of infants and infantdevelopment to Dr. Neal,” says Medoff-Cooper. “Iwill never forget how she taught us about the‘amazing newborn.’ It was her passion about the

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Dr. Ruth McCorkle (left) consults with Dr. Dena Schulman-Green,project director on their ovarian study.

THE ALUMNI PULSE

page 31

preterm infants that has stayed with me duringmy entire professional career.”

As a pediatric nurse practitioner, Medoff-Cooperenjoyed newborn visits and making rounds in thenewborn nursery. “It was really the concerns ofthe parents of preterm infants about their infant’sbehavioral style, and the difficulties in parentingthese infants, that drove me to my doctoralprogram,” she says. Her doctoral program atTemple University enabled her to study variousaspects of infancy with a number of experts. Herdissertation involved the study of the biologic,behavioral, and environmental influences ondevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants at sixmonths of age.

Medoff-Cooper has received many researchawards, including five from the NationalInstitutes of Health (NIH) to studyneurodevelopmental outcomes of high-riskinfants. She is currently the principalinvestigator on a $3.2 million, five-year grantfunded by NIH to study the feeding behaviorsand energy cost in infants who have hadcorrective or palliative surgery for congenitalheart disease. The study, the first of its kind,seeks to find out why these infants fail to grow,even after they have had surgery to correcttheir congenital anomaly.

“My work has brought attention to theimportance of understanding the development offeeding behaviors as an index of neurobehavioralmaturation in preterm and other high-riskinfants,” says Medoff-Cooper. “We have shownthat preterm infants with organized feedingpatterns at 40 weeks are more likely to havebetter developmental outcomes at 12 months. Ihope that in the future all high-risk infants willhave feeding assessment before they go homefrom the hospital.”

Medoff-Cooper began her career as a RobertWood Johnson clinical nurse scholar. She is thefirst recipient (in 2005) of the Ruth M. ColketEndowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing, awardedby The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia,which recognizes and supports nurses withdoctoral degrees who conduct cutting-edgeresearch. She has served on numerous reviewpanels for NIH, Sigma Theta Tau International,and the American Nurses Foundation.

A visiting scholar at the HebrewUniversity/Hadassah Medical Organization since 1996, Medoff-Cooper has also been avisiting professor in England, Sweden, andHong Kong. She is the author of numerouspeer-reviewed journal articles, chapters, andsections, and she has been invited to lectureworldwide on the care and research of pretermand high-risk infants.

Medoff-Cooper holds a BSN from Trenton StateCollege, an MS from the University of MarylandSchool of Nursing, and a PhD from Temple University.


Dr. Barbara Medoff-Cooper (right) observes as a new mother feeds herbaby using Medoff-Cooper’s feeding equipment.

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Earn Continuing Education credits while enjoying an educational, fun-filled week in London,followed by a stopover in Iceland, with fellow University of Maryland School of Nursingclassmates, alumni and friends. Former faculty member Jean Trotter, BSN ‘72, MS ’77, will be our escort and guide.

TOUR INCLUDES:• Five nights stay in a first class London hotel with breakfast daily• Full-day escorted tour of London, including Buckingham Palace, Westminster

Abbey, Parliament and Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London.• Escorted tour to Windsor Castle and Thames River Cruise, including lunch• A full-day visit to the Nightingale Museum, including lunch• Afternoon High Tea in London• One night stopover in Iceland, including tour of Icelandic countryside,

visit to Blue Lagoon Thermal Reserve, and hotel with breakfast• CEU’s available

COST for this 8-Day/7-Night EscortedTour:$2395 per person*, based on double occupancy, includinground-trip airfare from Baltimore.A $500 deposit is due by November 15, 2006, to reserve a space.

Mark your calendar now, and plan to join us for this excitingtrip abroad. For more information, contact Samantha Davis,director of alumni relations and annual support, 410-706-0674, or e-mail: [email protected].

Watch for further information on the School of NursingWeb site (www.nursing.umaryland.edu)

*The cost of the trip includes a $50 tax-deductiblecontribution to the School of Nursing Alumni Association.

Funds for the School of Nursing are managed by the University of MarylandBaltimore Foundation, Inc.

Sponsored by the University of Maryland School of Nursing Alumni Association

APRIL 21-28, 2007

JOIN US FOR an ESCORTED TOUR to LONDON and the

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE MUSEUM with a STOPOVER IN ICELAND!

SCHOOL of NURSING ALUMNI and FRIENDS

THE ALUMNI PULSE

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PresidentCaleb Rogovin, MS ‘92

Immediate Past PresidentBarbara Resnick, PhD ‘96

Vice PresidentPam Lentz, BSN ’84, MS ‘00

TreasurerMarcie Snyder O’Reilly, BSN ‘88

SecretaryBeth D. Yarnold, BSN ’96, MS ‘98

Members-At-LargeE. Elaine “Woody” Crow, DIN ‘48W. Conrad Gordon, BSN ’96, MS ‘02Janet Harris, PhD ‘97Gail Hooper, BSN ‘64, MS ‘67Jane Johnson, DIN ‘47Sue Kim Saechao, BSN ‘99Esther McCready, DIN ‘53Kathryn Lothschultz Montgomery, PhD ‘97Patricia Gonce Morton, MS ’79, PhD ‘89Jewel Moseley-Gray, BSN ‘59Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD ‘03Carol Romano, BSN ’77, MS ’85, PhD ‘93Janet Southby, MS ‘71Sandra Sundeen, MS ’68Sue Thomas, BSN ’69, MS ‘73

1960s

Carol Miller Bruflat, BSN ’68, MSN, RN,WHNP/FNP, has begun a two-year term aspresident of the Virginia Council of NursePractitioners. She currently works in a privateOB/GYN practice in Northern Virginia.

1970s

Patricia Hong, BSN ’72, MA, RN, professoremeritus, University of Alaska AnchorageSchool of Nursing, was co-author and presenterfor an abstract selected for podiumpresentation at the Western Institute of NursingAssembly held recently in Albuquerque, NM.Petersen, J.A., Hong, P.A., and Pflaum, J.S.(April 2006): Mentorship: Retention Strategyfor New Faculty.

Linda Flynn, BSN ’75, RN, assistantprofessor at Rutgers College of Nursing,recently launched a study to explore the impactof nurse staffing levels and work environmenton patient outcomes. The project was fundedby a $357,000 grant from the Robert WoodJohnson Foundation and contributions from theNew Jersey State Board of Nursing.

Peggy Chamberlain Wilmoth, PhD, MS’79, BSN ’75, RN, presented the 25th MaraMogensen Flaherty Memorial Lecture at theOncology Nursing Society’s 31st AnnualCongress, held last spring in Boston. The topicof the lecture was, “Life After Cancer: WhatDoes Sexuality Have to Do With It?” Wilmothis a professor of Adult Health Nursing at theSchool of Nursing, College of Health andHuman Services, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, and serves as Brigadier General ofthe U.S. Army Reserve and Commander, 332ndMedical Brigade.

1980s

The Honorable Shirley Nathan-Pulliam,BSN ’80, RN, was a recipient of the AmericanPublic Health Association’s 2005 DistinguishedPublic Health Legislator of the Year Award. Theannual awards honor individuals at the federal,state, or local levels who support public healthissues.

Alumni Association Council

Class Notes


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Elizabeth Jesukiewicz Frey, JD, BSN ’82, RN,has been elected president of the Maryland TrialLawyers Association. She is a trial attorney and RNwith the law firm of Jack H. Olender & Associates,P.C., Washington, D.C., where she handlescatastrophic medical malpractice and personalinjury cases.

Margaret Franckhauser, MS ’82, MPH, RN, ARNP,executive director, Community Health and Hospice,Inc., Laconia, N.H, received her MPH from theUniversity of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has servedsix years on the New Hampshire Board of Nursing. Shehas also served on state and national committeesdealing with advanced practice issues, and has heldseveral clinical positions since graduating from theSchool of Nursing.

Frances Lessans, MS ’85, BSN ’80, RN,president of Passport Health, Inc., and a member ofthe School of Nursing’s Board of Visitors, receivedan Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2006Award for Maryland in the “Healthcare Educationand Related Services” category.

Susan K. Newbold, MS ’83, RN, BC, FAAN,FHIMSS, a doctoral candidate at the School ofNursing, was appointed by Maryland Gov. Robert L.Ehrlich to a 22-member task force to study theElectronic Health Record (EHR) in Maryland and thecurrent and potential expansion of the EHR in the state.

1990s

Capt. Catherine Wilson, MS ’90, RN, assumedcommand (CEO) of the U.S. Military HospitalKuwait and nine Troop Medical Clinics throughoutthe country last November. Her staff, comprised ofhealth care professionals for 22 different militarycommands, provided health care to our fightingforces, regardless of Service affiliation. This year,Capt. Wilson assumed command of Naval HospitalBremerton, a family practice teaching hospitallocated in Washington State.

Rear Admiral Carol Romano, PhD ’93, MS’85, BSN ’77, RN, BC, CNAA, FAAN, ChiefNurse Officer, U.S. Public Health Service, has beennamed an “Illustrious Alumni” of the University ofMaryland, Baltimore (UMB), and will be honored atthe UMB Founder’s Week Gala being held Oct. 26,2006, in Baltimore. Winners were chosen based ontheir impact on society, the profession or the school;their service as role models for students or others inthe profession; and demonstrated leadership onbehalf of UMB.

Helen Scannell Thomas, MS '93, has beenappointed director of the Lillian D. Wald CommunityNursing Center of the Johns Hopkins UniversitySchool of Nursing (JHUSON), located in EastBaltimore. In this role, Thomas will lead JHUSONfaculty and staff efforts to address health disparitiesby delivering free and reduced cost services touninsured and underinsured famililes in the EastBaltimore Community.

Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, an assistantprofessor in the School of Nursing’s Department ofOrganizational Systems and Adult Health, willreceive the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s(UMB) 2006 Public Service Award at the UMBFounder’s Week Gala being held October 26, 2006,in Baltimore. Wiseman will be recognized for herservice to the state of Maryland as director of theGovernor’s Wellmobile program, a program thatprovides primary care services to underserved anduninsured citizens of Maryland.

Kristin K. Tepas, BSN ’95, RN, is currentlyworking at Merit Medical in Atlanta as a clinicalspecialist for the southeast region. In this position,Tepas conducts hospital in-services, device trials,and product evaluations. She formerly worked as anRN in a neonatal intensive care unit, as aprofessional health care recruiter, and as a clinicalresearch coordinator in cardiology.




Lt. Col. Susan Jano, MS ’96, RN, has returnedto the United States after working as Chief NursingOfficer on the night shift at the Air Force TheaterHospital (AFTH) in Balad, Iraq. In this role, sheprovided direct nursing care to both American andIraqi patients, supervised more than 30 nursingpersonnel, assisted with the coordination ofaeromedical evacuation missions, and served assenior officer on duty. She is currently stationed atVandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, Calif.,where she commands and leads 110 health carepersonnel assigned to the Air Force clinic. She isdual certified by the ANCC in Advanced NursingAdministration and Medical Surgical Nursing. Shewas named the 2005 Air Force Field Grade Nurseof the Year for her accomplishments as NurseManager of a 36-bed Inpatient Medical Unit atWilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas.

Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP,FAAN, FAANP, a professor in the School ofNursing’s Department of Organizational Systemsand Adult Health, has been named a Fellow in theGerontological Society of America. Fellows arerecognized by their peers for outstandingcontributions to the field of gerontology.

Cecil King, MS ’98, BSN ’95, RN, CNOR,was the recipient of the Association ofPerioperative Registered Nurses’ 2006Outstanding Achievement in PerioperativeAcademic Nursing Education Award. Theaward was presented at the Association ofperiOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)Congress Awards Dinner, held last spring inWashington, D.C.

Joan Kramer, PhD ’98, MS ’78, RN, andSusan Crocetti, BSN ’83, RN, CPHQ, ofthe Johns Hopkins Community Physicians,submitted a winning entry for the EighthAnnual Cheers Award given by the Institute forSafe Medication Practices. The award ispresented annually to individuals andorganizations that “have set a superlativestandard of excellence for others to follow inthe prevention of medication errors and adversedrug events.”

Terry Tucker, MS ’94, BSN ’81, RN,received the 2006 Professional Nurse Awardfor Clinical Excellence from NOVA, the nationalprofessional organization of VA nurses. Theaward was presented at the 26th AnnualMeeting held in Miami. Tucker currently worksas a critical care nurse specialist at theBaltimore VA Hospital.

2000s

Lynda Artusio, MS, ’01, BSN ’92, RN, CS-P,owner of Healing Connections Counseling Center inFrederick, Md., received a grant from the FrederickSmall Business Development Council to provide alogo, brochures, business cards, and Web site forher business (www.healingandtherapy.com), whichprovides individual, family, and couples counseling services.

Kara Lauze Plummer, MS ’02, RN, waspictured in an article, “eICU Support CenterOpens,” which appeared in the June 26-July 3,2006 edition of UMass Memorial Hospital’sweekly newsletter, News & Views. Plummer, anurse practitioner critical care specialist isinvolved in a project at UMass Memorial todeliver ICU care via telemedicine.

Leslie Greenberg, MS ’04, RN, received aWomen’s Research and Education InstituteCongressional Fellowship for 2006, and isworking with the Health, Education, Labor, andPensions Committee and the Retirement,Security, and Aging Subcommittee staff in theoffice of Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).Greenberg is a graduate of the School ofNursing’s Health Policy program.

John Roemer, BSN ’04, RN, has joinedMedStar Research at Harbor Hospital inBaltimore as Clinical Research Coordinator forthe Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Mona Choi, PhD ’06, RN, was acceptedinto the Centers for Disease Control’s PublicHealth Informatics Fellowship Program for theClass of 2006-2008. She will be working atthe National Center for Public HealthInformatics, Division of Alliance Managementand Consultation in Atlanta.

THE ALUMNI PULSE

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School of Nursing Alumna

Edith (Hall) Miller, DIN ’28, sparkled in her purplebeaded top and “jeweled” tiara as she celebrated her100th birthday on July 8 at Carroll Lutheran Village inWestminster, Md. Miller’s grandson Daniel Miller, andhis wife Tracey, hosted the party for the School ofNursing’s oldest living alumna. Guests included familymembers, friends, and School of Nursing alumnae BettyCooper, ’48 and ’61; Jayne Johnson, ’47; Janet Hall,’61; Theresa Maskell, ’50; Lenora McKenzie, ’45;Lorraine Neel, ’41; and Eleanor Wells, ’46. MyrnaPetersen, director of development at the School ofNursing, presented Miller with mementos from theSchool and introduced alumnae who were inattendance. Alumnae remember Miller as a perceptiveand understanding instructor in the hospital when theywere students. They said she was always “calm andcollected.” Maybe that’s the secret for living 100 years!

Reception Held for

Shady Grove nursing alumni were acknowledged at areception held last spring at the Universities atShady Grove (USG) in Rockville, Md. Nearly 50people attended the inaugural event, designed tobring USG alumni together and keep them apprisedon the latest happenings at the School of Nursing.Attendees included Dean Janet Allan; Stu Edelstein,executive director, USG; Kathryn Montgomery, PhD’97, RN, associate dean for OrganizationalPartnerships, Outreach, and Clinical Enterprise;Karen Clark, PhD, RN, director of the USG nursingprogram; Samantha Davis, director of alumni

relations and annual support; Alan Silverstone, amember of the School of Nursing’s Board of Visitors,and a number of current and former USG facultyand staff. Prior to the reception, Dean Allan metwith current USG nursing students.

“The first USG alumni reception was a wonderfulbeginning,” says Samantha Davis, director of alumnirelations and annual support. “We hope to buildupon this year’s success and make this annual eventeven more successful in the future.”

Celebrates 100th Birthday

Shady Grove Alumni


Left to right - Kathie Dever, academic coordinator at Shady Grove, poses with Tammy Bobo, MS ’05; AlexNgati, MS ’05, BSN ’03; and Jana Goodwin, MS, RN, ANPC, a clinical instructor at Shady Grove.

Myrna Petersen, director of development, presents Edith Miller with a Schoolof Nursing poster, as fellow School of Nursing alumnae gather to participatein the surprise.

THE ALUMNI PULSE

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of Heritage Class

Nearly 100 faculty, staff, and alumni helped kick-off the 2006 Alumni Heritage Celebration at anall-class reception held Friday, May 5, at the B&ORailroad Museum. Guests enjoyed an evening ofdining, dancing, reminiscing, and touring thehistoric railroad car exhibits.

The following day, 37 members of the Class of1956 were inducted into the Heritage Class –a special honor for those who graduated 50 ormore years ago – at a ceremony held at theSchool of Nursing. The School of Nursing isvery proud of the accomplishments of theClass of ‘56, many of whom went on to receivemaster’s and doctoral degrees. Many have hadlong and distinguished careers in the healthcare professions, and some have served asschool of nursing deans and professors. Othercelebrating classes were well represented atthe reunion, including the Classes of 1951,’61, ’66, and ’71.

During the ceremony, Patricia Gonce Morton,PhD ’89, MS ’79, CRNP, FAAN, professor andinterim associate dean for academic affairs,delivered welcoming remarks on behalf of DeanJanet Allan, and also provided an update on

School of Nursing news. Rebecca Wiseman,PhD ’93, RN, assistant professor and directorof the Governor’s Wellmobile program, gave apresentation on the School of Nursing’sresponse to Hurricane Katrina.

Following a luncheon, attendees toured theSchool’s Nursing Museum, clinical simulationlabs, the Wellmobile, and the R Adams CowleyShock Trauma Center.

Mark your calendars now for the 2007 AlumniHeritage Reunion Celebration weekend,scheduled for June 1 and 2, 2007, when theClass of 1957 will be inducted into theHeritage Class, and all classes ending in “2”or “7” will be honored. All alumni areencouraged to attend and join in the fun.

Anyone interested in helping with the eventshould contact Samantha Davis, director of alumnirelations and annual support, 410-706-0674, ore-mail: [email protected].

Class of 1956 are Newest Members

The Class of 1956.

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Naomi White, DIN ‘27Oscie Crosland, DIN ‘30Pauline Oyeman, DIN ’34Mary Kluka Gormally, DIN ‘37Catherine E. Tochterman, DIN ‘37Lois Hundertmark, DIN ’38Dorothy Walker, DIN ‘39Charlotte Franz, DIN ‘41Etta Mae Robertson, DIN '41Doris Heaver, DIN ‘42LTC Eleanor Gordner, DIN ‘43Mariam Hutchins Stier, DIN ‘43Shirley Milke, DIN ‘45Mabel S. Leidig DIN ‘47

Minnie Sunderland, DIN ‘47F. Margaret Fitzgerald, DIN ‘48Jean G. Costello, DIN ‘50Betty Watts Kelleher, DIN ‘50Maxine M. Russsell, DIN ‘51Alice S. Weber, DIN ‘53Stephani Al-Sarraf, BSN ‘56Ruth E. Bytheway, BSN '58Sr. St. Urban Auer, MS ‘58Wilda V. Kaufman, BSN ’60Edith M. Tetlock, MS ‘60Rosa J. Ramirez, BSN ‘62Josephine V. Miles, BSN ‘66Laurie Buhler, BSN ’70

Patricia Chadwick, MS '72Ida R. Fitzberger, BSN ‘73Suzanne M. Diffley, BSN ’74 Sandra A. Johnson, BSN ‘74Sarah K. Welch, BSN ‘74Stephanie Pinney, BSN '75Alice W. Haak, BSN ’76, MS ’78 CAPT Patricia Hornback, BSN '76Priscilla J. Roessler, MS '76CMDR Ann M. Sullivan, BSN ’85Gloria A. Taylor, BSN '85Mary J. Stitcher, BSN ‘91Jill E. Mierau, MS ‘01Wendy S. Luttrell, BSN ’02, MS ‘05Ann E. Metz, BSN ’03

Dean Janet Allan recently named Myrna Petersen as theSchool of Nursing’s new Director of Development.Petersen has been a fundraising professional in thehealth and higher education arenas for 20 years,including five years at the University of MarylandSchool of Nursing, where she served as director ofcorporation and foundation relations. She has attained

major funding at the local, national, and internationallevels on behalf of the Benjamin Rose Institute, CaseWestern Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton Schoolof Nursing, and the Johns Hopkins University School ofNursing. Her service experience includes the SigmaTheta Tau International Honor Society of NursingFoundation and the American College of Nurse-Midwifery Foundation, as well as cultural andcommunity volunteer activities. Petersen is a member ofthe Association of Fundraising Professionals, and isactive with the Nursing Advancement Professionals ofthe American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Sheholds a BA from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

“Myrna Petersen brings a wealth of experience anda strong commitment to excellence to this position,”says Dean Janet Allan. “She will provide leadershipand expertise for our Board of Visitors as we moveinto the School’s 2006-2009 Strategic Plan andbegin to develop our capital campaign.”

In Memoriam

Petersen Named Directorof Development


Myrna J. Petersen

page 39

DEVELOPMENT

Steven S. Cohen, chairof the School of Nursing’sBoard of Visitors, recentlyannounced the addition offour new members to theBoard.

Scott Corbett is aSenior Vice President withSodexho Health Care, ahospitality servicescompany providingcontract management forFood and Nutrition, PlantOperations andMaintenance andHousekeeping. Mr.Corbett has 34 years

experience as a manager and is responsible foroperations and sales in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Victoria McAndrews isco-founder, senior vice-president, and chieffinancial officer of CMDOutsourcing Solutions, Inc.,a privately owned,Baltimore-based call centerthat focuses on health care,higher education, andbusiness-to-businessservices. In her role as

CFO, McAndrews is responsible for the financialand risk management of the company. As acompany co-founder, she is actively involved instrategy setting and development of key businessrelationships for the company. McAndrews holdsa BA from Harvard University.

As Vice President forDevelopment at theBaltimore WashingtonMedical Center (BWMC),Beth Peters hasadministrative oversightof fundraising efforts forthe BWMC and theBWMC Foundation. Inthis role, she leadscapital campaigns; plans

and implements the major gift program, annualgiving, and special events fundraising; anddirects community cultivation activities andvolunteers. Peters, who has 18 years experienceas a development professional for non-profitorganizations, holds a BA from the University ofMaryland, College Park, and an MBA from LoyolaCollege of Maryland.

Deborah Tillett, atechnology industryveteran, is president ofBreakAway, Ltd., a leaderin modeling andsimulation software usedfor developing computergames, training, andanalytical tools. Underher leadership,BreakAway has grown, in

the past five years, from a few game developers inHunt Valley, Md., to a staff of 88 with two studiosin Texas. Her efforts have resulted in companyrevenue growth of more than 250 percent over thepast two years. Tillett holds a BA from TowsonUniversity and an MBA from Loyola College’sSellinger School of Business.

“We are excited about adding these new membersto our Board, and we welcome them,” says BoardChair Steven S. Cohen. “As the School of Nursingmoves forward with its 2006-2009 Strategic Plan,our new members and the entire Board will beworking on several projects to support the strategicgoals and initiatives.”

Welcomes New MembersBoard of Visitors

Steven S. CohenChairman, Board of VisitorsSenior Vice PresidentIntegrated Operations, MedStar Health

Eric R. BaughSenior Vice President of MedicalAffairs and Chief Medical OfficerCareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield

Scott CorbettSenior Vice PresidentSodexho Healthcare Services

Debra B. DoyleSenior Operations ExecutiveErickson Retirement Communities

Antonella Favit-Van PeltMedical DirectorDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Medicine

Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Jack GildenPresidentGilden Integrated

Sonya GershowitzGoodman ‘73

Frances Lessans ’80, ‘85PresidentPassport Health

Victoria C. McAndrewsCo-Founder, Senior Vice President, and CFO

CMB Outsourcing Solutions

Katherine McCullough ‘79Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services

University of Maryland Medical System

David S. OrosChairman and CEOAether Holdings, Inc.

Marian OsterweisExecutive Vice PresidentDirector, Division of Global Health

The Association of Academic Health Care Centers

Beth A. PetersVice President for DevelopmentBaltimore-Washington Medical Center

Judy Akila ReitzExecutive Vice President and COO

The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Caleb Rogovin ‘92Assistant Director, Nurse Anesthetist Program

University of Maryland School of Nursing

President, Alumni Council

Alan SilverstoneIndependent Consultant

Julia Ann SmithPrincipalJAS Financial, LLC

Deborah TillettPresidentBreakAway, Ltd.

William A. ZellmerDeputy Executive Vice PresidentAmerican Society of Health System Pharmacists

page 40


The School of Nursing's Board of Visitors consists of dynamic and active individuals whose contributions of time,knowledge, and funds serve as a cornerstone for sustaining excellence in undergraduate and graduate nursingeducation. At the invitation of the Dean, Board members serve in an advisory role, communicate the School'smessages to the greater Baltimore business and professional community, and partner with the School in strategicfundraising initiatives.

Board of Visitors

page 41

DEVELOPMENT

Show your school spirit or purchase a gift for your favorite School of Nursing alumnus at the School of Nursing’sMarketplace! A variety of souvenirs and gift items, including spirit wear, jewelry, tote bags, note cards, and more, areavailable for purchase. Proceeds benefit the School’s Living History Museum and the Alumni Association.

School of Nursing Marketplace

Item Quantity Price Per Item Total

____________________________ ____________________ __________________ ______________________

____________________________ ____________________ __________________ ______________________

____________________________ ____________________ __________________ ______________________

____________________________ ____________________ __________________ ______________________

+ $5 shipping/handling per order

Total ________________

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________

E-Mail Address:____________________________________________________________________________________

Daytime phone: ________________________________ Cell phone:________________________________________

Mail order form with payment to: Office of DevelopmentUniversity of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 West Lombard Street, Room 727, Baltimore, MD 21201-1579(Make checks payable to: University of Maryland School of Nursing) Questions? Call 410-706-7640.

ShirtsGolf Shirt (pink, light blue, maize, navy blue and hunter green; Sizes M-XL $30Long Sleeve T-Shirt (Red, white; Sizes M, L, XL) $15Short Sleeve T-Shirt (Red, white; Sizes M, L, XL) $10Sweatshirt (Gray or red; Sizes M, L, XL) $20

Hats:Baseball Cap (Navy blue, maroon) $15Visor (Maroon) $ 9

Umbrellas:Golf Umbrella (Red/white, black/gold) $25Tote Umbrella (Red, black) $15

Carrying Items:Lunch Sack (Red) $ 7Tote Bag (Red/Black) $10

Mugs:Travel Mug (red) $13Ceramic Mug (Red, white) $ 7

Clocks:Flip Clock $15Photo Frame Clock $15

Disc Charms:14K Gold $260 Gold Overlay $4510K Gold $210 Sterling Silver $35

Wooden Building Replicas: $15 ea.Davidge Hall Parsons Hall1970 School of Nursing 1999 School of Nursing

Alumni Key Ring (Gold and black metal) $ 8License Plate Holder $15Journal $10Calculator $15School of Nursing Poster (18”x24”) $15Nursing Nostalgia Note Cards (12 per pack) $10School of Nursing Note Cards (10 per pack) $15

page 42


All gifts and bequests to benefit the School of Nursing should be made to the University ofMaryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc. (UMBF) a 501 (c)(3) organization that holds and

administers funds on behalf of the schools on our campus.

WHERE THERE’SA WILL…

…There’s a way to sustain the mission of the

University of Maryland School of Nursing.

Myrna J. PetersenDirector of DevelopmentUNIVERSITY OF MARY-LANDSchool of Nursing655 West Lombard Street, Rm. 727Baltimore, MD [email protected]

Christine A. Lambert, Esq.Senior Director of Planned Giving UNIVERSITY OF MARY-LAND BALTIMOREOffice of Planned Giving410-706-2069Toll free [email protected]/plannedgiving

CONTACTS:

Have you alreadyremembered theSchool of Nursing inyour estate plan?Please be sure to let us know sowe may extend our thanks to youthrough membership in the LEGACY COUNCIL.

Interested in exploring possibilities?Give us a call. Together we can helpyou and your attorney tailor abequest strategy that is the rightsize for you regardless of your budg-et – or, select an annuity or trustthat will provide you with incomefor life.

We look forward to meeting youand introducing you to members ofthe University of Maryland,Baltimore Office of Planned Giving.Each of your questions is important.You will have all the time you needto come to a decision that makesyou feel comfortable and satisfied.

If you do not have awill, you are not alone. Amongpersons age 35-44, 59 percent haveno will. For your own peace ofmind, and for the sake of those youlove, we encourage you to seek theadvice of an attorney now, and cre-ate a plan that is right for you andyour family.

Should you also choose the optionof including a bequest to the Schoolin your will, it is a painless way tocontribute without touching cashthat is critical to your wellbeing. Abequest is a thoughtful way to give,and a vital source of support for ourinstitution and its mission.

As one donor said, “Putting theSchool of Nursing in your will is away to make something out of nothing, and is such an easy way to,‘give back’.” You can do it!

Please send us information about what’s happening in your life – appointments, presentations,honors, awards, advanced education/degrees – so we can include your news in the “Alumni Pulse”section of the magazine. Photos are welcome! Your news items will be used as space permits.

NAME (INCLUDE MAIDEN NAME): ______________________________________________________

DEGREE(S) & YEAR OF GRADUATION: __________________________________________________

HOME ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

IS THIS A NEW ADDRESS? YES NO

DAYTIME TELEPHONE:______________________EVENING TELEPHONE:______________________

E-MAIL ADDRESS: __________________________CURRENT POSITION(S): ____________________

NEWS:

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

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______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE COMPLETE FORM, DETACH, AND RETURN TO:

Samantha DavisDirector of Alumni Relations and Annual SupportUniversity of Maryland School of Nursing655 West Lombard Street, Suite 729Baltimore, MD 21201E-mail: [email protected]: 410-706-0399

DEVELOPMENT

page 43

Alumni – Share Your News!

Edmunds LectureTuesday, Oct. 3, 20064 to 5:30 p.m; reception following lectureFeaturing Sandy Summers, MSN, MPH, RNExecutive Director, Center for Nursing AdvocacyFor information, call 410-706-1838 or www.nursing.umaryland.edu/events

Virginia Lee Franklin Dean’s LectureThursday, Nov. 1, 2006For information, call 410-706-3767 or visit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/events

Ann Ottney Cain Lecture in Psychiatric NursingFriday, March 30, 2007For information, call 410-706-3767 orvisit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/events

Evidence-Based Practice ConferenceThursday and Friday, April 19 and 20, 2007For information, call 410-706-3767 orvisit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/events

Alumni Trip to London (see p. 32)April 21-28, 2007For information, call 410-706-0674 orvisit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/development/alumni

Alumni Heritage CelebrationFriday and Saturday, June 1 and 2, 2007For information, call 410-706-0674 orvisit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/alumni

ConvocationFriday, May 18, 20079:30 a.m.Baltimore Convention Center

CommencementFriday, May 18, 20073 p.m.First Mariner Arena

Summer Institute in Nursing InformaticsWednesday, July 18 – Saturday, July 21, 2007For information, call 410-706-3767 orVisit www.nursing.umaryland.nursing/informatics

Mark Your Calendar

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDBaltimore, MDPermit #7012655 West Lombard Street

Baltimore, MD 21201www.nursing.umaryland.edu


Documents

Fall 2006 NURSING University of Maryland · At the University of Maryland School of Nursing, it is nurses who are leading the charge toward breakthrough research into the brain and