Dean's Monthly Communication: August 2008

Message from Dean Woods

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In July, I had the privilege of presenting the keynote address to the International Congress on Women’s Health Issues in Gaborone, Botswana. Preparing for this talk required me to delve into literature about the “girl-child,” women and global health, the topic of the meeting. As I talked with many of our faculty and staff colleagues in the School of Nursing and the Department of Global Health, I had a renewed appreciation for the depth of talent we enjoy at University of Washington. At the same time, I felt overwhelmed by the realization that the problems young girls and women face on the other side of the world resemble those of girls and women in Western countries.

Regardless of where we look, it seems, we are constantly challenged by violence, poverty and social structures poorly adapted to women’s lives. Young girls and women in Sub-Saharan Africa face violence resulting from war, pressure to marry young and leave school early, and dire shortages of food and other resources as a result of poverty in their countries. Global-health problems are just that: They are reproduced around the world, including in our own communities. Our ability to appreciate the dramatic consequences of HIV/AIDS, violence, sexism, lack of access to education, and other problems girls and women face throughout the world can facilitate renewed appreciation and novel solutions for the challenges we face at home.

– Nancy Woods

Advancement Update ***********************************************************

With the close of Campaign UW: Creating Futures, the school’s development staff will begin operating under a new name. The University’s former Development and Alumni Relations office now will be known as University Advancement to better reflect the unit’s role at the UW. For more information: www.devar.washington.edu

The search for the assistant dean of development, the position formerly held by TRACY OSTREM, is well underway. The position is expected to be filled by the start of the fall quarter.

SoN in the News

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“Study Finds Nurses Need Their Naps”

Nursezone.com, July 31, 2008:

http://www.nursezone.com/Nursing-News-Events/more-news.aspx?ID=18132

Features research by SoN alumnae Diana McMillan, PhD ’01, and Wendy Fallis, PhD ’02.

Honors and Awards

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ELIZABETH BRIDGES and HILAIRE THOMPSON, both asst. profs., BNHS, will be inducted as Fellows into the American Academy of Nursing during the academy’s 35th annual meeting and conference in November.

Faculty

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JOACHIM VOSS, asst. prof., BNHS, was asked to join the editorial board of the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

DEAN NANCY FUGATE WOODS traveled to Botswana in July to give the keynote address at the International Council on Women’s Health Issues annual meeting. Her keynote focused on the health of girls and women and addressed the need for bettering women’s health access worldwide.

New Grant Awards

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TERRI SIMPSON, assoc. prof., BNHS

Title: Nurse Educator Preparation for Academic and Clinical Settings

Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration

Abstract: http://www.son.washington.edu/research/grants/ShowAbstract.asp?ProjectID=1215&Refer=BNHS

BRENDA ZIERLER, assoc. prof., BNHS, and assoc. dean, TIER

Title: Faculty Development: Integrated Technology into Nursing Education & Practice Initiative

Sponsor: Health Resources and Services Administration

Abstract: http://www.son.washington.edu/research/grants/ShowAbstract.asp?ProjectID=1216&Refer=BNHS

A list of Web reports is available on the Office for Nursing Research Web page, providing information on active/pending grants, faculty-specific grants, awards and other data. See: http://www.son.washington.edu/research/grants/default.asp

Staff

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Two new staff  members have joined the grant project of CYNTHIA DOUGHERTY, assoc. prof., BNHS. NANCY HEALY is project director, and GAYLE FLO is research nurse.

Goodbye to BARB HALPENNY, project director, as she starts a new job in Boston at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute with former SoN Professor DONNA BERRY.

The Staff Advisory Council hosts its annual staff retreat on Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Waterfront Activities Center. Come hear the direction that SAC is headed and updates from each department, followed by an information session deciphering the multitude of degrees offered in the SoN. We will end with a staff presentation to DEAN NANCY WOODS.

Former School of Nursing staff member PAT GAITAN passed away Aug. 3. Pat worked at the school for several years in the Office for Nursing Research as an administrative assistant until her retirement in 2000. At her request, no memorial service is scheduled.

Students

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DNP student CINDY DESCHENES participated in the NCLEX RN Item Reviewing Panel last month in Chicago.

Academic Services

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STUDENT ORIENTATIONS

Orientation for new students starting in the fall for all degree programs will be held Sept. 22-23. Please welcome new BSN, MN/MS, DNP and PhD students when you see them in your departments. Students will be on campus during the week of Sept. 15-19 for immunizations, photo ID and document check-in appointments.

STAFF

PATRICK TUFFORD has taken on a new role as GEPN manager. He leads all aspects of the program, from admissions to interfacing with EO to budget. DORA WANG is the new GEPN program coordinator, supporting aspects of the pre-licensure portion of GEPN as well as the BSN program.

STUDENT RECRUITMENT DATES

Aug. 4-8: National Black Nurses Association Sept. 23: DAWG DAZE Sept. 26: Outreach in Eastern Washington (UW Day)

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS

YU-CHI CHEN, visiting scholar from Taiwan’s National Yang-Ming University School of Nursing, arrived in late July. She is hosted by DORIS BOUTAIN, assoc. prof., PCH. She is here until February to pursue interests in community-based nursing interventions and performance evaluation of community organizations.

Alumna MEI-CHIH HUANG, chairperson of Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University, Department of Nursing, visited July 24 to discuss the development of activities through our institutional cooperative agreement.

Program and Center News

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 After a two-year hiatus, the graduate certificate program in infant mental health begins again in fall 2008. This seven-quarter, interdisciplinary graduate certificate program has its academic home in the School of Nursing and its physical home in the Center for Human Development and Disability. Trainees develop a knowledge base in infant mental health through coursework and complete an intensive clinical/capstone training year in community-based direct service and consultation. For details, see http://cimhd.org/training.html.