NEWS

Fall 2007

SCHOO L O F NURSING

Patricia Moritz, PhD, FAAN,dean and professor, has announcedthe creation of the Daniel and JanetMordecai Rural Health NursingEndowed Chair and four RuralHealth Nursing EndowedFellowships. The gifts are a reflec-tion of the commitment and vision ofthe donor, Janet Mordecai, a nursewho recognizes the importance ofserving the health care needs of all ofthe citizens of Colorado, and partic-ularly in the rural areas of the state.

The Mordecai Endowed Chairdesignates a distinguished nursescholar who has significant scholarlyaccomplishments and a national rep-utation as a leader in rural healthnursing, which will allow the chairto initiate a rural health nursing pro-gram to educate nurses as teachers inthe rural areas of the state.

Dean Moritz commented thatendowed chairs are one of the topacademic priorities of the SON andwill allow the School to position

Mordecai Foundation gives $1.9 million to fund Rural Health Nursing Program at SON

itself to respond to the nursing short-age. “In this way, we are beingproactive to the national nursing cri-sis of a lack of doctorally preparedfaculty available to teach nursingstudents,” she said, adding, “Anendowed chair is necessary to recruitother top nursing faculty and willallow us to continue the excellencein nursing education, for which wealready are known as well asincrease our capacity for students.In addition, this chair will continueto maintain our reputation as anational leader among the nation’sschools of nursing.”

The ripple effect of this gift isthat it will allow the rural hospitalsto “grow” their own graduate edu-cated nurses who will then remain inthe rural areas to serve their commu-nities and educate other rural nurses.

The second gift of the MordecaiFoundation, four Rural HealthNursing Endowed Fellowships, willbe used to support students in the

School’s MS, DNP, and PhD gradu-ate nursing programs who focustheir studies on rural health andagree to future employment in rural

areas.“We are delighted with this

extraordinary gift from the MordecaiFoundation that will enable theSchool of Nursing and the HealthSciences Center to expand opportu-nities for the people in ruralColorado. These funds will allow usto educate nurses as teachers fornursing education programs thatdirectly serve rural Colorado,” statedDean Moritz.

Added Terry Biddinger, RN,BSN, SON Director of ExternalRelations, “It is fitting that JanetMordecai has given the SON its firstindividual endowed chair in nursing.In addition to her financial generosi-ty, Janet Mordecai also has taken thetime and effort to serve on theSchool's Advisory Board and toguest lecture in some of our SONcourses. The School is very indebtedto the Mordecai Foundation.”

Janet Mordecai

New faculty members join the School of NursingNancy K. Lowe, CNM, PhD,

FACNM, FAAN, has joined theSchool of Nursing as a tenured pro-fessor of nursing. Dr. Lowe will beassociated with the School ofNursing’s Division of HealthOutcomes, Populations andEnvironments (HOPE) with respon-sibilities for teaching, research andservice.

Lowe comes to the School fromOregon Health and SciencesUniversity where she was ElnoraThomson Distinguished Professor in

the Schools ofNursing andM e d i c i n esince 2005and a profes-sor from2 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 5 .Previous tothat, Lowewas awardedtenure and fullprofessorshipin the School

of Nursing at The Ohio StateUniversity, where she also was anAdjunct Professor in the School ofMedicine.

She received her BS degree fromWheaton College, an MS degreefrom Northern Illinois University,and was awarded her PhD degreefrom University of Illinois atChicago.

Her past accomplishmentsinclude a two-decade record of con-

tinuous funding as a principal inves-tigator or co-investigator on 15major grants. She will bring clinicalexpertise to the school in the areas ofmaternal/family and women’shealth. She also brings with her arecord of research success inwomen’s pain experience duringlabor and childbirth, women’s self-efficacy for labor, and patient safetyresearch in simulation training forobstetric health care teams, forwhich she has received numerousresearch awards. Lowe has a distin-guished record of publications.

Lowe’s election as a fellow in theAmerican Academy of Nursing andthe American College of NurseMidwifery is an indicator of hernational reputation and esteem. Herprevious colleagues and studentsconsider her an excellent teacher anda valued mentor, with a track recordof success in curricular innovationsand the development of distanceeducation programs.

Graduate of the School ofNursing’s BS, MS, and PhD pro-grams, Eileen Thomas, PhD, hasjoined the SON faculty as an assis-tant professor in the tenure track,associated with the School’s HOPEDivision.

Dr. Thomas is a specialist in com-munity health nursing and has beenrecognized by the National Institutesof Health, Center on Minority Health& Health Disparities as a NCMHD

Heath Disparities Scholar; andreceived a Sigma Theta Tau awardfor her research while at the SON.

She hasworked at theUniversity ofNew Mexico,College ofNursing sincec o m p l e t i n gher PhD at theSON.

Thomas isa member oforganizationsincluding the

Editorial Review Board of AmericanJournal of Health Behaviors,National Black Nurses Associationand Western Institute of Nursing.

Marylou Robinson, PhD,CCRN, ARNP, has been appointedassistant professor of nursing in theClinical Teaching Track. She will beassociated with the school’s Divisionof Health Experience andTechnology (HEAT) and haveresponsibilities that include teach-ing, scholarship, practice, and serv-ice.

Dr. Robinson received her BSNfrom University of Maryland at theWalter Reed Army Institute ofNursing and her MS degree fromThe Catholic University of America.She also was awarded a FamilyNurse Practitioner Post-Master’sCertificate from Pacific Lutheran

University, Tacoma, Wash.Robinson earned her PhD degree atOregon Health and SciencesUniversity in 2006, with a minor insports psychology.

Robinson was instructor of nurs-ing at University of Portland,Portland, Oregon in 2006 and clini-

cal assistantprofessor atP a c i f i cL u t h e r a nU n i v e r s i t yfrom 1993-2006. She alsowas in privatepractice from1997-2007 asa family nursepract i t ionerwith a group

of family physicians in Lakewood,Wash. Prior to that, she had a distin-guished career in the Army from1976-1993, receiving the BronzeStar in 1991 during her service in thePersian Gulf War. She also receivedthe Blue Star from the National SkiPatrol International for successfulrescue of an avalanche victim inChamonix, France, in 1990. Hermost recent military position was asclinical head nurse of the largest ICU(Pediatric, Surgical, Medical andCardio-Thoracic) in the militaryworld, located at Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center in Washington, DC,from 1992-93.More new faculty are continued on page 3.

Lowe

Thomas

Robinson

Fresh faces in the hall

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News Fall 2007PAGE 2 SCHOOL OF NURSING

SCHOOL OF NURSINGNEWS

Patricia Moritz, PhD, FAAN Dean, School of Nursing

Diane LenfestEditor, WriterPhotographer, SON

Eve Hoygaard and Sarah FischlerAlumni News Editors

Kenna BrunerManaging Editor, PR

Jenni ProsserStudent Intern, PR

Send alumni news to:Office of Alumni Relations

UC Denver, Mail Stop A0804200 E. Ninth Avenue

Denver, CO 80262alumni@uchsc.edu

-o r-www.uchsc.edu/nursing and

click on News & Events, thenSON News

Teri Westerman, SON Accounting Technician III, has received theFrank Nelson Award "for her leadership and dedication to peoplewith disabilities," on October 5 at the 4th Annual DenverCommission for People with Disability Awards Breakfast held atthe Colorado Convention Center. Teri was selected over othernominees and was surprised and thrilled to receive the award,commenting: "This award tells me that, by being how and who Iam, I have made a difference. That makes me very proud." TheSON also is very proud of Teri!

Teri Westerman receives award

Message from the DeanOn September 24,

the School of Nursingheld an “On theMove” celebration forfaculty and staff to sayfarewell to NinthAvenue in anticipationof the move to theAnschutz MedicalCampus. Our newhome is in theEducation 2 Northbuilding at 13120 East19th Ave., P.O. Box6511, Mail Stop C288,Aurora, CO, zip code 80045.

We will make the transition toour new 21st Century campus in afirst wave, with administrative facul-ty and staff moving to the third floorof Ed2 on November 6, including theDean’s office and several adminis-trative offices and their staff.

This will be closely followed by asecond wave, the week of December3 for the academic and researchoffices, and the remaining adminis-trative offices to the third, fourth andfifth floors of Ed2. This second wavewill allow the School to complete thefall term at our current location.

We have had a rich history at thiscampus, making it difficult to leaveafter calling 4200 East Ninth Avenueour home for over 80 years, from1924 – 2007. Current studentsbegan their degree programs here atthis campus and will be either grad-uating in December or moving withus to the new campus. Numerousfaculty have been at the NinthAvenue campus for many years andare steeped in the history here. Ouralumni also have rich memories oftheir time spent at Ninth Avenue andwe look forward to them visiting usat Ed2.

Included in our history at NinthAvenue are many of the School’simportant milestones. For example,distinguished professor Jean Watson,

PhD, FAAN, Murchison-Scoville Endowed Chair inCaring Science and formerSON dean, developed thearea of Caring Sciencewhile at this campus. Shealso initiated theNightingale Awards forExcellence in HumanCaring as a tribute to theprofessional excellence ofColorado’s registered nurs-es, which is now under thesponsorship of the ColoradoNurses Foundation and cel-

ebrated its 20th anniversary in 2005.Loretta Ford, EdD, FAAN, for-

mer SON faculty and dean emeritaof University of Rochester SON,Rochester, New York, and col-leagues created and established anew form of primary care practiceleading to the opening of the firstNurse Practitioner (NP) program inthe U.S., in 1965. Since then, theclinical education and practice ofNPs has spread worldwide.

Our MS program began here in1950, the PhD program was estab-lished in 1978, our ND program in1990 and, most recently, we initiatedthe DNP degree program in 2005.

While we are making final prepa-rations to move to AMC, our HealthSciences Center and DowntownDenver campuses are continuingwith their merging process, and ourchancellor of the combined campus-es, M. Roy Wilson, MD, MS, hasbeen undertaking a “branding”process to simplify the complexname of our consolidated University.After conducting a series of commu-nity, student, faculty and staff sur-veys to choose the new name,Chancellor Wilson has justannounced our new name:University of Colorado Denver, andhas sent the name forward forapproval by the University’s Boardof Regents.

Our new home in Ed2 is locatedon the east side of the AMC campus,a beautiful, naturally lit, and state ofthe art, wireless facility with muchlarger classroom space, more com-puter labs, and numerous small andlarge capacity meeting rooms.

We also look forward to welcom-ing our students to the new campuswhen Spring Semester 2008 beginson January 22.

Please stay tuned for an OpenHouse announcement in the spring!

Along with all these changes, twoindividuals from the PublicRelations office, who have workedon the SON News for some years, are

moving on to new opportunities.Mike Cobb, the PR art director, hastaken a position as Director ofCommunications at the School ofDental Medicine. Kenna Bruner,managing editor of the SON News,has been appointed Director ofCommunications and AlumniRelations at the School of Pharmacy.We thank them for their creativeservice to the SON, which hashelped preserve our important linkwith the campus, our alumni, andnursing schools throughout thecountry, and we wish them all thebest in their new endeavors.

Dean Patricia Moritz

PhD, FAAN

Saying goodbye

Communications specialist Kenna Bruner, who has been writingarticles for the School of Nursing’s newsletter for more than three years,has accepted the newly created position of Director of Communicationsand Alumni Relations for the School of Pharmacy.

During her time working with the SON, Bruner has won numerouswriting awards. Most recently she received a national first place awardfor articles she wrote about social issues. One of those articles featureda study conducted by Lauren Clark, PhD, FAAN, former associate deanfor research and intramural affairs, on the obesity epidemic amongHispanic children and the influence of culture on food habits and therole of women in nutrition.

Bruner was a member of the UCDHSC Public Relations staff andwrote for the schools of nursing, pharmacy, medicine and dentistry.

SON joins national nursingquality and safety project

The School of Nursing has been selected as a pilot school for the currentphase of the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project, alongwith only 14 other schools nationwide.

The overall goal of the QSEN project is to boost commitment to Instituteof Medicine quality and safety competencies among pre-licensure nursingprograms. This phase will determine what resources, faculty developmentand change strategies will aid the development of those competencies.

Pilot schools will be supported in their curricular change efforts in sixbroad areas, including patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration,evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety and informatics. Theymust produce a curriculum that integrates those six domains; develop andevaluate teaching strategies for classroom, clinical and simulation labs; anddocument challenges met during the processes of curricular change.

Each school will receive $20,000 for the first year (July 1, 2007 throughJune 30, 2008) and an additional $5,000 for a final quarter (July 1, 2008through Sept. 30, 2008) to fund their individual project designs, according toSON Project Director Amy Barton, PhD, associate professor and AssociateDean for Clinical and Community Affairs.

Strategies and results will be shared on the official QSEN Web site,www.qsen.org.

56612UCHSC_NL 11/5/07 11:32 AM Page 2

NewsSCHOOL OF NURSINGPAGE 3Fall 2007

Jessica Breese, MS, has joinedthe SON, effective Aug. 3 in theNurse Midwifery Faculty Practice.She came to the school from theColorado Nurse Midwives. She hassix years of Certified Nurse

M i d w i f e r y(CNM) expe-rience. Breesereceived herBA degreefrom theUniversity ofWisconsin inanthropologyand women'sstudies. Fromthe State Uni-versity of

New York (SUNY) in Brooklyn, shecompleted her nurse midwifery mas-ter’s degree in 2001. She has innercity experience in high risk practicesand has specialized in peri- and post-menopausal care. She also serves asthe nurse liaison at Building Bridgesfor Peace, a camp for young women,15-21 years old, from Palestine,Israel and the U.S.

Jennifer Disabato, MS, has beenappointed as the school’s new coor-dinator of the National Primary CareNurse Practitioner Symposium.

Disabato is a graduate of theSON with an MS degree in ParentChild Nursing. She has practiced asa Pediatric Nurse Practitioner formore than 20 years at The Children’sHospital (TCH) in Denver where shehas been employed since 1981.

She also has been involved withthe Nursing CE Program at TCHsince 2003 and has been a clinicalscholar for CU undergraduate nurs-ing students and lectured in both the

BS and gradu-ate programs.

Disabato isa member ofthe nationaland localchapters ofthe AmericanAssociation ofNeuroscienceNursing andthe Societyfor Pediatric

Nursing. She is a fellow of theNational Association of PediatricNurse Practitioners.

After starting her new position atthe SON, Disabato will continue towork at TCH, spending a fifth of hertime in clinical practice as a PNPwith the Perioperative ServicesDepartment while devoting the restof her time to her new position at theSchool.

“I’m excited to be involved withsuch a high caliber nationally recog-nized nurse practitioner continuingeducation program,” Disabato stat-ed, “I look forward to combining myclinical practice and nursing CEbackground to enhance the programto reflect the changing face of NPpractice.”

Clinical scholar for theUniversity of Colorado Hospital,

Jessica Breese

Jennifer Disabato

New faculty continued from front page.Kathy Foss, MSN, has joined theSchool of Nursing as the clinical sitedevelopment coordinator. Foss willbe working with the faculty of boththe graduate and undergraduate pro-grams to develop new and non-tradi-tional sites across the Denver Metroarea to facilitate the clinical compe-tency achievement of the SON stu-dents.

Foss has focused the past eightyears of her nursing career on clini-cal instruction, working to improve

the care andm e n t o r s h i pfor the stu-dents workingat Universityof ColoradoH o s p i t a l(UCH). Herjob at UCHinvolved closecollaborationwith SON fac-ulty. Now she

is looking forward to working withthem at the school itself.

“Looking at the University ofColorado programs and implement-ing them within the hospital systemhas been fun,” says Foss. “I’m tryingto figure out how I can incorporateother agencies in the Denver MetroArea, if not in a wider range, into theSON program, because I think thisschool is great, the students aregreat, and nursing is the best profes-sion there is.”

Kathy Loebel, MS, has joinedthe School of Nursing's NurseMidwifery Faculty Practice. Shecame from Swedish CovenantMedical Associates in Chicago, Ill.,where she had been the director ofMidwifery Services for approxi-mately six years. She has a servicehistory with 25 years of commitmentto maternal and child health care inclinical, academic, and administra-tive roles. Kathy received her BSNfrom Northern Illinois Universityand an MSN at the University ofIllinois. She also will be employed atDenver Health Medical Center.

Bonita “Bonnie” Nieto, MSN,has been appointed instructor ofnursing in the school’s ClinicalTeaching Track. She will be associ-ated with the SON Division ofHealth Outcomes, Populations, andEnvironments (HOPE), with respon-

sibilities as acertified nursemidwife in theschool’s grad-uate NurseM i d w i f e r yProgram andPractice.

N e i t oreceived herBSN fromC o l o r a d oW o m e n ’ s

College, an MA degree in counselingpsychology from the University ofNorthern Colorado, and a SchoolNurse Practitioner Certificate fromthe University of Colorado. She also

received a certificate in nurse-mid-wifery from the University of NewMexico, and an MSN degree fromCase Western Reserve University, inCleveland, Ohio.

Nieto was most recently on thenurse-midwifery research faculty atthe University of South FloridaSchool of Nursing, in Tampa, Fl.She also has had a full scope nurse-midwifery practice in Florida andColo., since 1992.

Gwen van Servellen, PhD,FAAN, has been appointed the inter-im associate dean for Research andExtramural Affairs at the School ofNursing. Coming from the

University ofCalifornia atLos AngelesSchool ofNursing, Dr.van Servellenwill be theassociate deanfor six monthswhile the fac-ulty at theSON searchesfor a perma-

nent associate dean.Van Servellen spent 27 years at

the UCLA SON in a variety of lead-ership and administrative positions.Her research interests are in the areasof adherence and systems of care.Her funded research has includedprograms to enhance treatmentadherence among Latino men andwomen living with HIV/AIDS. Shealso is interested in the organizationof outpatient services and the selec-tion of nursing care delivery meth-ods in acute care settings. She has anextensive body of peer reviewedpublished research and is currentlyrevising a textbook on communica-tion for the health professional, con-cepts, practices and evidence.

“I am delighted to serve as inter-

im associate dean for Research andwill assist in the advancement ofresearch and grant writing at theSchool with the ultimate aim toimprove patient care,” commentedvan Servellen.

Joyce A. Verran, PhD, FAAN,has been appointed a visiting profes-sor at the School of Nursing for the2007-08 academic year. Her respon-sibilities include consulting activi-ties on doctoral level courses in thearea of health systems and out-comes; mentoring new faculty andcurrent faculty and students in theoutcomes area; and teaching a grad-uate course.

Verran received her BSN and MSdegrees at the University of Arizona,in Tucson. She earned her PhDdegree in Clinical Nursing andResearch/Statistics, also from theUniversity of Arizona. She comes tothe School of Nursing from theCollege of Nursing at University of

A r i z o n awhere she wasprofessor ofnursing anddirector of theN u r s i n gS y s t e m sDivision.

D u r i n g2006, she wasthe HelenD e n n eS c h u l t e

Visiting Professor at the Universityof Wisconsin, School of Nursing inMadison. She has an impressiverecord of service as a consultant andon grants and advisory boards. Herelection as a fellow in the AmericanAcademy of Nursing and theAmerican College of NurseMidwifery is an indicator of hernational reputation and achieve-ments.

Kathy Foss

Bonita Nieto

van Servellen

Verran

SON Dean Patricia Moritz, back row, far right, was joined at the 2007

Nightingale Awards banquet held May 12, by SON faculty, staff, stu-

dents, and guests, at the Seedworks Table, a gift from Susan

Hagedorn, PhD, a recently retired faculty member. Attendees joining

Dean Moritz are, left to right, back row: Madeline Vogt, Sammie Nelson-

Marten, Paula Nelson-Marten, PhD; Ngoc Schmidt. Front row: Irene

Ochoa, Jodie Fuller, MS; Laraine Guyette, PhD; Karen Marks, and

Marilyn Krajicek, EdD, FAAN. Photo credit: © Lou Costy Photography

2007 Nightingale Awardsfor Nursing Excellence

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 3

News Fall 2007PAGE 4 SCHOOL OF NURSING

Name: ________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________City: _________________________________State: __________ Zip:__________________E-Mail Address: ______________________________________Phone: _______________________________

Donor Information:

� Enclosed is my check. Please make payable to University

of Colorado Foundation. (Note: On the memo line of your check, please designate to which fund you are giving.)

� I would like to charge my gift of $_____________ to: ___ Visa ___ MasterCard ___ American Express ___ Discover

Acct. No.: ___________________________________Exp. Date ___________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________

Please designate my gift for:

� Loretta Ford Nurse Practitioner Faculty Endowment � Endowed Professorship in Mental Health Nursing� “Touched By A Nurse” Fund, supporting evidence-based

clinical practice and research� MS to DNP or PhD Student Fellowships to prepare

nurse educators� Student Scholarships� General support to the SON� Other ________________________

For further information, or to discuss your gift, please contact:

Terry Biddinger, RN, BSNDirector of External RelationsUC Denver School of Nursing, Rm.19124200 E. Ninth Ave., Box C288-22, Denver, CO 80262Telephone: 303-315-0768 or Terry.Biddinger@uchsc.edu

Please use the enclosed envelope to mail this form with your gift.

How to Make a Giftto the UC Denver School of Nursing

THANK YOU!Your Support is Greatly Appreciated!

Development and fund raising updateWith our move to the Anschutz

Medical Campus looming this falland winter, it gives the School ofNursing an opportunity to reviewour financial needs and our fundingpriorities.

We need to address the problemof the nursing shortage that is pre-dicted to occur as "baby boomers"retire and the need for nursesincreases. This, in fact, is alreadyhappening as the national averageage of nursing faculty is 57. We also

want you to know that, as the appli-cant pool continues to rise, the nurs-ing faculty shortage is the maincause of the crisis.

Most nurses must work whilecompleting their graduate studies tocover costs. Many students are pri-mary breadwinners. This can pro-long the time it takes to receive aPhD, by several years.

We are trying to address thisproblem with student fellowshipsand public/private partnerships to

financially assist the above men-tioned students. The School ofNursing has educated and continuesto educate the largest number of doc-torally prepared faculty in the stateof Colorado.

We have a critical need for men-tal health faculty professorships,which will allow us to restart thePsychiatric/Mental Health Nursingoption in our Master's Program.

We continue to ask you for sup-port to our Touched by A NurseProgram, which assists PhD studentsin completing their doctoral educa-tion and we appreciate your help andsupport of this program. We againwish to thank Erna Butler, who gavethe first gift to the Touched by ANurse Program, for an additionalgenerous gift to the program fromthe Butler Family Foundation, which

has brought this fund to more than$50,000.

Our heartfelt thanks also go toKarl Hess IV for his endowed fel-lowship to the PhD program inmemory of his wife, Joanne DukesHess, PhD, class of 2001.

Terry Biddinger, BSN

Director of External Relations

303-315-0768 or

terry.biddinger@uchsc.edu

By Jenni ProsserOffice of Public Relations

The School of Nursing received a full re-accreditation for the nurse-mid-wifery master’s program option this summer.

The 10-year accreditation was awarded by the Board of Review of theDivision of Accreditation of the American College of Nurse-Midwives(ACNM) following a site visit and review of the materials submitted byJennifer Hensley, CNM, WHCNP, EdD, chair of the Accreditation SteeringCommittee and coordinator of the nurse-midwifery master’s program option,including a self-evaluation report.

Applying for re-accreditation is a complicated process and involves meet-ing six competencies outlined by the ACNM. “Writing the accreditationreport meant collecting information from the president’s office down to theperson who changes the bed sheets in the call room,” says Hensley.

To meet the competencies, the nurse-midwifery option works diligently touphold the ACNM code of ethics by educating students about issues such associal justice.

School of Nursing programs are accredited by the National League forNursing Accrediting Agency and the Commission on Collegiate NursingEducation. In addition, the nurse midwifery option of the master’s programmust be accredited by the American College of Nurse Midwives.

“Nurse-midwives partner with women and empower them to make self-determined choices related to their health care from the onset of menstrua-tion, during their childbearing years and into menopause,” said Hensley.

Some members of the ACNM Accreditation Steering Committee cele-

brating the good news, left to right: Drs. Vicki Erickson, Kathy Magilvy

and Jennie Hensley, and Erica Schwartz, MS.

Accreditation is cause to celebrate

Nurse Midwifery Programreceives full re-accreditation

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 4

SCHOOL OF NURSINGALUMNI NEWS

Eve L. Hoygaard (MS, ’89) and Sarah FischlerAlumni News Coordinators/Editors

CU School of Nursing AlumniAssociation Board of Directors

Carol J. Alexander (MS, ’66) – President

Karren E. Kowalski, PhD, FAAN (MS’71)

— Past President

Jana Berryman, ENS (ND, ’04)Carol A. Brautigam (MS, ’71)Katharine B. Harris (MS, ’84)Evelyn L. Hoygaard (MS, ’89)Karen Johnson, BS Student RepPatricia A. Lambert (BS, ’56)Mary McMahon (MS, ’84)Elizabeth Pace, Honorary AlumnaS. Clare Sandekian (MS, ’69)Martha Stoner (PhD, ’82)

Ex-officio membersKathy Magilvy, PhD, FAAN (PhD, ’82)

Associate Dean, School of Nursing

Patricia Moritz, PhD, FAANDean, School of Nursing

Sarah FischlerDirector, Office of Alumni Relations

Office of Alumni Relations4200 E. Ninth Avenue, A-080Denver, CO 80262303-315-8832 or 1-877-HSC-ALUMFAX: 303-315-7729

Email: alumni@uchsc.eduWeb site: www.uchsc.edu/alumni

PAGE 5Fall 2007 ALUMNI NEWSSCHOOL OF NURSING

President’s Message - Sparking ActionAs the new president of the

Nursing Alumni Association, I amissuing a “call to action” to those ofyou who want to make a differenceto the School of Nursing that enabledeach of you to discover and developyour talents as competent caregiversand innovative leaders. It is time to“pay it forward” to the new genera-tion of students and faculty who willcontinue to create the preferredfuture for the profession of nursingjust as we have done in the past orare currently doing. You ask, “But,what can I do? I can’t set the worldon fire.” Yes, you can ignite a flameby generating a magical momentwhen an idea or cause that youchampion will spread like wildfireand benefit your colleagues.

Alumni are the right people whocan trigger action that can lead toinnovative solutions, programs,and/or outcomes. For example, fourmembers of the Alumni Associationvolunteered to meet with nursingstudents at the school during Nurses’Week to share highlights from theircareers, emphasizing that the “sky isthe limit” in terms of diverse path-ways and choices available to nursesin today’s healthcare market. Thestudents relished the tips each pre-senter gave for pursuing successfulcareers and valued the candidresponses to questions about thrivingversus surviving in the profession.

In turn, the alumni membersenjoyed the opportunity to mentorthe next generation of nurses. Aboveall, the “gift of wisdom” wasshared—a talent all alumni, includ-ing you, possess.

We welcome your willingness tovolunteer to serve on the Board ofDirectors or any of the committeesof the Alumni Association, such asStudent Activities, ReunionCommittee, Communications andPublications, Awards, and HistoryCommittee. If your time is limited,let us know your expertise. We arealways looking for volunteers to rep-resent us at special events and/or

speaking engagements. Finally, wevalue those of you who financiallydonate to the annual AlumniScholarship or to other critical edu-cational priorities as identified in theSchool of Nursing’s Newsletter.Joining the Nursing AlumniAssociation by contacting SarahFischler, Director of AlumniRelations, at 303-315-6916 or via e-mail at alumni@uchsc.edu, allowsall of us collectively to achieve

results that are critical to the ongoingprogress of our profession.

In conclusion, I and other mem-bers of the Alumni AssociationBoard of Directors welcome yourinput as we engage in strategic plan-ning for the upcoming year. Whatinitiatives would you like us to pur-sue on behalf of the School ofNursing, especially as the schoolmoves to its new home, the AnschutzMedical Campus? Send me your

ideas through the above alumni e-mail address. Let’s be on the cut-ting-edge this year with causes andprograms that you believe willadvance the well-being of theschool. Remember, together, all ofus can spur meaningful action.

Sincerely, Carol AlexanderPresident, School of Nursing AlumniAssociation

Alumni Profile – Kate Livingston, BS ‘03At age 4, Kate Livingston, BS

‘03, was diagnosed with type 1 dia-betes. Twenty-five years later, Katecompeted in the Lake PlacidIronman Triathlon on July 22, 2007.In addition to swimming 2.4 milesthrough pristine Mirror Lake, biking112 miles through the AdirondackMountains, and running 26.2 scenic,hill-filled miles, Kate raised $29,000for the Juvenile Diabetes ResearchFoundation, surpassing her goal by$4,000. Participating in this eventhelped Kate celebrate her 25thanniversary of diagnosis and 25years of good health.

Kate’s experience with diabetesstarted with her first memory in life,wetting her pants in her parent’s car.Unbeknownst to her parents, thiswas an early sign of diabetes andKate was quickly admitted to thehospital and diagnosed with the dis-ease. Kate remembers riding her redtricycle up and down the halls ofLutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge,Colo., noisily pulling her intra-venous pole and bag of fluid behindher. For Kate, this was a sign ofthings to come, “That was 24 yearsago. Diabetes did not stop me fromracing the halls of Lutheran Hospitaland it does not stop me from racingin long distance triathlons or anyother activity I choose to participatein.”

For her 20th anniversary, Katebiked across the country, again in

celebration of her health. Throughher work as a pediatric nurse withThe Children’s Hospital of Denverand personal experience with a chal-lenging and life-threatening chronicdisease, getting to such milestones isimportant for Kate.

Kate approaches her diabeteswith a positive and inspiring attitude,“I am grateful to have this disease.Nearly every good or great thing inmy life can be attributed to my dia-betes.” This includes her career as anurse, “Every day I have the oppor-tunity to help sick kids. I became anurse because of the nurses whohave helped me achieve my besthealth possible and I would reallylike to repay their efforts by helpingothers.”

Kate again experienced kindnessand caring from another nurse dur-ing the Ironman run, “At mile 22, myblood sugars began to drop. I beganstumbling and another competitorcame up and asked me if I was okay.I was slurring my words and my skinwas cool and clammy.” Judy, theother competitor, lives in Denver andhad seen a story about Kate onDenver’s Channel 9 News.Knowing Kate’s story, Judy quicklyrecognized that Kate needed medicalattention. The paramedics whoassisted Kate with energy bars andsoda strongly encouraged Kate toquit the race. As can be expectedfrom a woman with such tenacityand drive, Kate’s determination tofinish the race prevailed.

Soon thereafter, Judy and Katecrossed the finish line together.Without Judy’s intervention andhelp, Kate believes that she would

not have been able to finish the race.Kate adds, “"It is people like Judywho make me proud to be a nurse.Not only do nurses have the trainingto appropriately intervene whenmedical crises arise, they have thecaring attitude and heart to under-stand that there is more to eachpatient than just the label of a diag-nosis.”

In addition to Judy, Kate creditsher parents, her sister Ami, herbrother-in-law Alex and her coachWendy for providing the love andsupport necessary to achieve whatmost people never could.While participating in the Ironman

represented an immense personalaccomplishment for Kate, crossingthe finish line also meant helpingothers without the same type of sup-port system, “By raising this moneyfor the Juvenile Diabetes ResearchFoundation, I hope to help patientsthat do not have a family like I haveand help ensure that they have thesupport needed to live with thischronic illness.”

In addition to raising money,Kate hopes that sharing her lifeexperiences can help her patients andothers with chronic illnesses see thatit is possible to thrive, live an excep-tional life and overcome immensepersonal challenges. While she isnot sure what is in store for her 30thanniversary, Kate hopes to competein another Ironman competition withJudy and possibly other diabetics.Until then, Kate will continue inspir-ing her patients, one at a time, bysharing her story and by doing whatnurses do best – caring, teaching,and helping to heal.

Carol Alexander, MS'66, president of the Nursing Alumni Association

Board of Directors, right, with nursing students, left to right, Caroline

Turpen, Karen Johnson, and Carolyn Boszak, who participated on

the Student Panel at the Nursing Alumni Reunion held Sept. 28 in the

Skaff Common Room, School of Pharmacy building.

By Sarah Fischler, Director of Alumni Relations

56612UCHSC_NL 11/6/07 3:09 PM Page 5

PhD program silverThe 25th anniversary of the School of Nursing’s PhD program was

celebrated April 21 with a recognition dinner held at the Grand HyattHotel in Denver.

The event also served as a fund raiser for the PhD AlumniFellowship Endowment, which will provide fellowships to PhD stu-dents at the School of Nursing. Co-chairs of the event were DoriBiester, PhD, ’94, and Eileen Breslin, PhD, ’92.

Welcoming guests and faculty were Dean Patricia Mortiz, PhD,FAAN, and UCDHSC Chancellor M. Roy Wilson, MD, MS.

Speakers included Jean Watson, PhD, FAAN, the Murchison-Scoville Endowed Chair in Caring Science, a distinguished professorand former SON dean; Maureen Keefe, PhD, ’84, dean and professor

at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center School of Nursing;and Sean Reed, MS, ’05, a PhD student.

Special recognitions were presented by Kathy Magilvy, PhD, ’82,FAAN, professor, associate dean for Academic Programs and PhDprogram director.

Linda Campbell, PhD, president of Sigma Theta TauInternational, Alpha Kappa Chapter-at-Large, was presented with acertificate of appreciation for the organization’s generous donation tothe event.

Karl Hess IV was honored for his endowed fellowship to the PhDProgram in memory of his wife, Joanne Dukes Hess, PhD, from theclass of 2001.

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 6

anniversary celebrated

On May 25, graduating students gathered with family and friends for theSchool of Nursing’s annual convocation held in the campus quadrangle.

The convocation was a bittersweet event, as this was the last SON con-vocation to be held at the Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard campus.Convocations will now be held at the Anschutz Medical Campus.

Of the 209 nursing graduates:• 148 were in the BS program• 44 were in the MS program• Nine were in the DNP program• Three were in the ND program• Five were in the PhD program

Student Leadership Awards were presented to graduates from each degreeprogram. Those receiving an award were Terry Shelton Schumaker, BS;Lalena Herrington Wolff, BS; Molly Wenger, MS; Taynin Kay Kopanos,DNP; and Sharon Pappas, PhD.

Faculty members honored for their teaching excellence were JamesSampson, PhD, recipient of the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award;Teresa Sakraida, DNS for the Chancellor’s Teaching Recognition Award;Joan Nelson, DNP, and Ginger Raterink, DNSc, who each received a Dean’sAward for Excellence in Teaching.

Roxie Foster, PhD, FAAN, was selected to receive the school’s presti-gious Elisabeth H. Boeker Faculty Excellence in Research Award (see relat-ed article on page 11).

Final convocation held on Ninth Avenue campus Live neither in the past nor in the future, but

let each day's work absorb your entire energies,and satisfy your wildest ambition.

Sir William Osler (1849-1919)

Dr. James Sampson

Dean Patricia Moritz, Dr. Roxie

Foster and Dr. Lauren Clark

Convocation marshall and faculty

enter the Quad

Dr. Teresa SakraidaDr. Ginger Raterink

Dr. Joan Nelson

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 7

PAGE 8 Summer 2007ALUMNI NEWSSCHOOL OF NURSING

C l a s s N o t e s1960s

A note on SON ’63 GraduatesEli Haar Maes stopped by the

home of Alice Selch Stephensonafter Thanksgiving last year. Eli livesin Gilbert, Ariz. and Alice recentlymoved to Cornville, Ariz. (nearSedona). It was fun catching up andsharing news of another recent visitAlice had from Becky Taylor Geilerwho lives in Prescott, Ariz. This lastsummer, Alice and her husband Johnvisited in the Lewiston, Idaho homeof Judy Herr Hanby.

1970sEugene Buehl, BS, ’71, writes,

“I have retired from both the UnitedStates Navy and the KaiserFoundation Hospital in San Diego.”

Lou Ann Machanowicz Bueke,BA, BS, ’79, writes, “I have beenworking in the Children FirstProgram in Tulsa, Okla. as a PublicHealth Nurse since 1998.”

Patricia J. Connell, RN, MS,’72, PhD, of Oak Harbor, Wash.,writes, “I am a 1972 graduate fromthe master’s program in communityhealth nursing. I completed my PhDat the University of Florida andretired in 2003 from the Universityof Central Florida School ofNursing. I spent almost two yearswith my husband cruising the inlandrivers of the United States andCanada on our 39 foot trawler. InJune of 2006, we moved to WhidbeyIsland in Washington. I am active inthe American Holistic NursingAssociation and Nurse-HealersProfessional Associates. I teach aHolistic Nursing course for UCF anddo presentations on holistic nursingand therapeutic touch.”

Nikki Hagen, BS, ’70, ofWadsworth, Ill., has four children,Heather, Erin, Christopher, andKevin, and she is a professor at theCollege of Lake County inGrayslake, Ill. She also became aBoard Certified Adult NursePractitioner in 2001 and a CertifiedNurse Educator in 2005.

1980sSusan Tow Ellis, BS, ’82, of

Muscatine, Iowa, writes, “I haveenjoyed the challenges of being anER nurse for the past 18 years andhope to continue in that field untilretirement. I completed my MSN atthe University of Iowa in 1998 andwork as a pediatric nurse practition-er in a clinic that serves low incomechildren. I am married to a physi-cian and have three sons who are allin college. When my husband retiresin two years, we will be moving toOregon.”

Eric Rivedal, BS, ’87, has beenawarded a CHIMSS HealthInformation Technology ScholarshipAward for Leadership. Rivedal is a

clinical analyst for McKessonProvider Technologies where hedesigns clinical applications for theinpatient setting. He is currentlyenrolled in the MS program in thehealth care informatics specialty atthe School of Nursing.

1990sLinda Rener-Mundorff, MPH,

MSN, ND, BS, ’93, CNC, CTN, is aBoard-Certified Traditional Naturo-path, and the author of dozens ofpublished articles and three books.The latest, Take Control: A Guide toHolistic Living (ISBN 0-595-40149X), is available now in book-stores. Her passion is self-advocacyin health care and she is currently inlaw school. Upon completion, she

plans on focusing her efforts inhealth care reform.

2000sDonnean Thrall, RN, ND, ’04,

of Wilton, N.Y., writes that her NDresidency research, “AssessingHealth Literacy in Veterans withDiabetes,” has been accepted forpublication in the FederalPractitioner’s October 2006 issue.

In MemoriumPatricia McAtee, MSN, ’62,

PhD, passed away on June 18, 2007,at the age of 76. Dr. McAtee’s careerincludes serving as an assistant pro-fessor of Pediatrics at the Universityof Colorado School of Medicine,

teaching public health nursing tonursing students, working as a publichealth nurse for Tri-County HealthDepartment, and as a school nursefrom 1958 to 1961.

Dr. McAtee was the only womanfrom Colorado and one of only 39female affiliates to be elected to theNational Academy of SciencesInstitute of Medicine. Patricia’s sis-ter Kathleen and son Kevin precededher in death and she is survived bybrother Jerry Rooney and sistersMaureen Rooney-Lausen, MonicaRooney-Nielson, and MargaretRooney-Crockett. Dr. McAteedonated her body to science.Donations may be sent to LutheranHospice.

Would you like to receive the Schoolof Nursing News electronically?

Starting with the next issue of the School of Nursing News, we will be offering the optionto receive it electronically. If you would like to take advantage of this, please send your e-mail address and contact information to alumni@uchsc.edu. You will help save paperand save money on printing and postage costs, thus helping us to devote our resourcesto programs that serve alumni and current students.

Members of the Class of 1957 toured the Anschutz Medical Campus

during the School of Nursing Reunion held Sept. 28.

Welcome back Class of 1957

Dear School of Nursing Alumni –

I would like to take the opportu-nity to introduce myself as the newDirector of Alumni Relations. In thisrole, I will be responsible for work-ing with each of the Health SciencesCenter alumni associations, includ-ing the School of Nursing AlumniAssociation (SONAA).

I come to this position from theSusan G. Komen Breast CancerFoundation, where I directed theDenver Affiliate’s grant awards pro-gram. In this role, I helped distributealmost $10 million in grant fundingto local nonprofit organizations pro-viding services to medically under-served women in need of breast can-cer-related services.

In awarding grants through theKomen Foundation, I was fortunate

Message from your alumni relations director

to meet many inter-esting, accomplishedSchool of Nursinggraduates. My rela-tionships with theseindividuals helpedme decide to acceptthis position, and Ihave been verypleased to find theywere representativeof the people I ammeeting each day inthis new role.

During my firstyear in this position,I hope to work withthe SONAA board todevelop strategic and communica-tion plans for the organization with astrong focus on building upon thesuccesses of the past in hopes of

developing a solidfoundation for futuregrowth. Thinking bigand setting our goalshigh, from my per-spective, will help theSONAA complementthe world-class edu-cation provided bythe School ofNursing. With themove to the AnschutzMedical Campus andthe possibility ofestablishing an alum-ni heritage center, thisseems like a perfecttime to reengage

alumni and reignite a passion for theSchool of Nursing.

To accomplish these goals, theSONAA needs to hear from alumni,both about what has gone well andwhat could be improved. The Officeof Alumni Relations will be conduct-ing a formal alumni survey next yearand I ask that you take the time toshare your feedback when youreceive the survey.

Your comments will help deter-mine the future course of theSONAA. In the meantime, I lookforward to hearing from alumni andmeeting as many of you as possible.

Please contact me at 303-315-6916 or sarah.fischler@uchsc.edu, ifyou would like to become moreinvolved or share your thoughts.

Sincerely, Sarah FischlerDirector, Office of Alumni Relations

Alumni Relations Director

Sarah Fischler

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 8

NewsSCHOOL OF NURSINGPAGE 9Fall 2007

The School's Nursing History Center Committeemembers are diligently working to pack up all theSchool's memorabilia and archival papers for themove to the new SON home in the Education 2-Northbuilding on the Anschutz Medical Campus, in Aurora.

After setting up historical displays in the newspace, the Committee, headed by Corinne Koehler,BS'61, MPA, which has worked tirelessly for morethan 15 years to preserve the School's history, will bedisbanding.

The Nursing History Center Committee needsmembers who will continue to carry the School's his-tory forward, through development of historical dis-plays, maintenance of donated memorabilia, preserva-tion of archival records and donated papers from fac-ulty, alumni, retired faculty, and friends of the School.

To find out more information about becoming amember of the History Center Committee, please con-tact Diane Lenfest in the SON, atDiane.Lenfest@uchsc.edu or 303-315-4330.

WE NEED YOU ! - to join the Nursing History Center Committee !

WE NEED YOU ! - to join the Nursing History Center Committee !

Saying goodbye to faculty & staff who have left the School

Congratulations and

best wishes to:

Lauren Clark

After 16 years at the School ofNursing, associate dean for researchand intramural affairs and tenuredassociate professor Lauren Clark,PhD, FAAN, has left Colorado andjoined the University of UtahCollege of Nursing.

Among her many accomplish-

ments, Clark has worked as a quali-tative methodologist and as a scholarin the health of developing familiesand the health of young Latino chil-dren. She also facilitated the devel-opment of the school’s new Doctorof Nursing Practice (DNP degree)program.

“I can't think of a better place tohave started my academic career,”says Clark. “It was a time of tremen-dous growth for me personally and atime of success for the school.”

Denise Webster

Tenured professor Denise“Denny” Webster, PhD, has retiredto Peachtree City, Ga. with her hus-band to be close to two of her chil-dren and five of her grandchildren.

During her 20 years at the Schoolof Nursing, Dr. Webster has servedas chair of acute and long term careand chair of the Division of HealthExperience and Technology. Shealso was coordinator of the psychi-atric mental health option of themaster's degree program. In 1996,she was named a President'sTeaching Scholar, an honor she con-siders to be the greatest achievementof her time at the university.

“My greatest accomplishmentswere not mine, but those of the stu-dents in the graduate program in psy-

chiatric-mental health nursing,” shesaid.

Cathy Futch

Program assistant Cathy Futchwants to be remembered for her con-tributions to the SON and for hersupport of the faculty as they taughthundreds of future nurses andimproved health care after leavingthe SON this summer.

“I loved the celebration for eachstudent's accomplishment,at convocation,” Futchsays, “and feeling that per-haps my role was construc-tive in that individual'sachievement.”

Mary Lepley

Senior Instructor MaryLepley, MS, ’74, has been apart of the SON facultysince 1975, but her experi-ence at the campus predatesthat — she was a staff nursein the NICU from 1972-74.During her career she

taught BS and MS nursing studentsin the fields of Obstetrics, Pediatricsand Women's Health.

Lepley was director ofAdmissions and Student Supportfrom 1998 - 2001 and Women'sHealth Care Nurse Practitioner

Option coordinator from 1998 -2003. She served on numerous SONcommittees and was active in vari-ous professional organizations in thecommunity. Lepley was known as anexpert in her field and often consult-ed within the nursing community.

Her publications focused on her spe-cialty field.

Even after retiring from theschool last summer, Lepley stillintends to be involved in nursing buton “a more limited basis.”

“I enjoyed all of my years at theSchool of Nursing,” Lepley says. “Ihad wonderful students, patients,and colleagues in nursing, medicine

and other health care fields. I learnedso much from each of them.

“Nursing is just a great profes-sion and being a faculty member atthe University of Colorado hasbeen a great career.”

Susan Hagedorn

Associate professor SusanHagedorn, PhD, FAANP, hasretired from the SON and is nowpursuing a certificate in documen-tary media at the New School inNew York City. She then plans tocomplete her master’s degree inDocumentary Media.

Hagedorn also will continue herinvolvement with the health careprofession. She and Victoria

Erickson, PhD, associate professorand director of the MS and DNP pro-grams, are making a documentaryabout Advanced Practice Nurses(APN) in Colorado. The documen-tary, funded by the Colorado NursesAssociation, will be released in

anticipation of anAPN practice billthat is being re-introduced in theColorado legisla-ture this spring.

Reflecting onher time at theSON, Hagedornsays she is mostproud of theFaculty PracticeProgram that she

and other PNP faculty developed aswell as designing the curricularframework.

“One of my best experiences atthe SON was mentoring many stu-dents who were interested in provid-ing nursing care to underserved andvulnerable kids, teens and women,”said Hagedorn.

Eileen Rollo

After serving for many years innumerous administrative positions atthe SON, Eileen Rollo has retired.

“I took great satisfaction beingable to say with pride that I workedfor the University of ColoradoDenver School of Nursing,” Rollosaid. “It was always wonderful tohave faculty comment that I did myjob well. I hope to be remembered assomeone who could be dependedupon to work independently and do agood job, and as someone who wastrustworthy and helpful to otherstaff.”

Rollo fulfilled the role of admin-istrative support for a series of pro-grams and people including theNurse Administrative Grant, theDean's Office and the HOPEDivision.

She now plans to spend her timewith family, working on her hobbies,and enjoying each day.

Former and current faculty, staff and friends gathered at the School ofNursing on May 14 to bid farewell to colleagues who have retired or left theschool for new positions at the close of the spring semester. The Retirement/Farewell Celebration was held in Humphreys Lounge. Division chair andassociate professor Gene Marsh, PhD, served as mistress of ceremonies.

Retiree Dr. Denny Webster with

SON faculty Dr. Vicki Erickson.

Retiree Cathy Futch with her

husband Ralph.

Departing faculty member Dr. Lauren Clark

with her family, husband Dr. Mark Morse,

daughter Rachel, Lauren, and son Heber.

Retiree Eileen Rollo, 2nd from right, with daughters

Julie and Rachel, Eileen, and her husband Joe.

Jeanette Regas with retiree Dr.

Sue Hagedorn.

Retiree Mary Lepley, MS, second

from right, with SON faculty Dr.

JoAnn Congdon and SON faculty

emerita Dr. Margaret Kinneer.

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 9

News Fall 2007PAGE 10 SCHOOL OF NURSING

Cassandra Balent has joined theSON Office of ProfessionalDevelopment, Extended Studies and

Office ofClinical Affairsas an adminis-trative assistant.

Before com-ing to the SON,Balent workedas the assistantdirector for theUndergraduateH o n o r sProgram at theUniversity ofDenver.

Amy Barton, PhD, associate dean forClinical and Community Affairs, wasinducted as a fellow into the Western

Academy ofNursing at theawards lunch-eon of theW e s t e r nInstitute ofNursing meet-ing in thespring. In addi-tion, shereceived theDorothy M.Sm ith NursingL e a d e r s h i p

Award in Education from the Universityof Florida in Gainesville, Fla.

Judith Igoe, MS, FAAN, has beenelected chair of the Health SciencesCenter Faculty Assembly. She looks for-ward to working with the Denver campusFaculty Assembly. Given the consolida-

tion agree-ment betweenthe two cam-puses, manyfaculty areinterested inbeing involvedin the discus-sions andd e c i s i o n srelated tochanges in theorganizationalstructure of

their assemblies. “Plenty of faculty participation is real-

ly the key to a successful outcome,” Igoeexplained.

Judith Franco has joined the school'sHOPE Division in an administrative staffposition. Judith received her associate'sdegree in Medical Administration from

Parks College inAurora, and iscurrently anonline BS stu-dent in businessadministrationat ColoradoT e c h n i c a lUniversity. Inaddition to hermany computerskills, she is pro-ficient in med-ical terminology

and transcription, and is bilingual(English and Spanish).

Carla Johnson, MBA, has joined theSchool of Nursing as budget and financedirector. She comes to the school withmore than 12 years of experience in budg-eting and financial management at UCDand more recently, at the Colorado

C o m m u n i t yCollege System.While at UCD,she held posi-tions in theSchool ofN u r s i n g ,F a c i l i t i e sOperations andthe consolidat-ed universityBudget Office.Carla receivedher BS in

Finance and MBA from the University ofColorado.

Ernestine Kotthoff-Burrell, PhD, anurse practitioner faculty member, suc-

cessfully defend-ed her disserta-tion and com-pleted her doc-torate in highereducation andadult studiesfrom the Uni-versity of Den-ver's, MorgridgeCollege ofE d u c a t i o n .K o t t h o f f -Burrell's disser-

tation was entitled NP Faculty Views onCritical Thinking in Graduate NursingEducation . She was awarded the 2007,Alan Pfnister 's Academ ic ExcellenceAward for her work.

Anne Marie Kotzer, PhD, was select-ed to be a Fellow in the AmericanAcademy of Nursing (AAN) and will beinducted into the Academy in November.

“I am trulyhonored - andhumbled - to berecognized byand selected forfellowship intothe AmericanAcademy ofN u r s i n g , ”Kotzer said. “Ilook forward toworking withcolleagues ofsuch distinction

and for whom I hold the highest regard.”Kotzer is an adjunct associate profes-

sor in the School of Nursing and hasworked as a researcher at The Children'sHospital (TCH) for the past 20 years. Shealso serves as a member of the graduateand research faculty in the DNP and PhDprograms.

A s s o c i a t eprofessor LindaKrebs, PhD,FAAN, hasbeen appointedto the advisoryboard of theCenter forGlobal Health(CGH). Krebshas had previ-ous experiencein global healthsettings, having

worked in service delivery to individualsin vulnerable populations at risk of can-cer, and will represent the SON on theadvisory board for an indeterminate peri-od of time.

Julie Rollo, a volunteer in the SONHuman Resources Department, "retired"from the school in July.

At a farewell lunch held for her onJuly 26, she commented, "I am very sad to

leave the SON and enjoyed volunteeringfor over the past seven plus years."

Dr. Krebs

Dr. Kotzer

Dr. Kotthoff-Burrell

Carla Johnson

Dr. Barton

Judith Igoe

Balent

Judith Franco

F a c u l t y a n d s t a f f b r i e f s :

Quilla Dean Bell, PhD, passed away at her home in Austin Texas, on May 20,2007, of complications related to diabetes. She was born May 17, 1943, in Pawnee,Okla., to Cornelius and Venita Bell. She married Dewell E. Turner, Jr. and theyhad three children: Tracey Turner (Pittsburgh, Pa.); Shannon Turner (Shirley,Mass.); and Dewell Turner, III (deceased). They later divorced.

She was assistant professor from 1985 to 1992 at the SON, where she wasknown as Dr. Quilla Bell Turner. Bell had a passion for education and a devotionto nursing. She attended the University of Oklahoma, receiving her BS degree innursing and a master’s degree in Maternal Child Health. In 1984 she received herPhD in Nursing Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Pittsburgh.

She also was an assistant professor at other nursing schools including theUniversity of Pittsburgh and Indiana State University, where she served as the act-ing chair of the Department of Health.

Bell is survived by her two daughters; sister Lois Powell and brothers Chris andJosh Bell all of Wichita, Kan.; and two granddaughters.

A memorial mass was held at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church inBoulder.

Maxine R. Berlinger, who served on the faculty of the School of Nursing from1955 through 1986, died Aug. 30, 2007, in Denver, Colo.

She was born April 10, 1930, in Denver, and attended Loretta Heights Collegeand The University of Chicago, where she began her career in maternal childhealth.

During her distinguished career at the SON, she created a strong graduate pro-gram in pediatric and maternity nursing. Her 31-year commitment to the HealthSciences Center included the responsibilities of chairperson of maternal-childnursing, acting assistant dean of graduate affairs, assistant dean of undergraduateprogramming, coordinator of student affairs, and associate director of inpatientservices.

She also was an associate professor at the University of Hawaii. For her manycontributions she was recognized by the School of Nursing as an OutstandingGraduate Teacher and received the Jo seph Addison Sewall Award in 1986. Shewas named as Woman o f the Year in 1959 by Loretta Heights College, as anOutstanding Educato r by Who 's Who , and received an Outstanding ServiceAward from the University of Hawaii.

Survivors include: sisters Jennie Negri, Rose LaBate,and Alex Berlinger; their families, 11 nieces andnephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

A Christian burial mass was held September 7, 2007,at the Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary.

Donations to the Kempe Center are appreciated(1825 Marion, Denver, CO 80218 or kempecenter.org).

Barbara F. Fuller, PhD, FAAN who served for 34 yearson the faculty of the School of Nursing, from 1969-2003,died Sept. 23, 2007 after a long battle with cancer.

Dr. Fuller was born on Feb. 29, 1936, and lived inGolden, Colo. She was a 1966 charter member of theAlpha Kappa Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International,

the honor society in nursing. “A highlight of her nursing career was being elected a Fellow in The American

Academy of Nursing,” according to professor Marilyn Krajicek, EdD, FAAN. Shewas a dedicated and outstanding teacher, researcher, and faculty member at theSchool of Nursing.

Dr. Fuller’s research ranged from the thyroid activity of English sparrows to thereproductive physiology of parakeets, to help interpret the meaning of soundsinfants make when they cry. She had almost continuous funding from theNational Institute for Nursing Research from 1986 until her retirement in 2003.During her years at the SON, she developed methods and measures for assessinginfant and child pain and just before her retirement was testing the model for useby nurses in the clinical setting.

Dr. Fuller also was committed to community service and provided pro bonowork at such organizations as La Clinica Campesina, the Salvation Army Center,

and the Denver Free Clinic. In addition, she co-foundedthe Jeffco Action Center, in 1968.

At her retirement reception held at the SON in 2003,faculty hailed Dr. Fuller as a “researcher par excellence,”it was noted that her publications and research appearedin a wide range of professional journals. Commentedretired faculty Ruby Martinez, PhD, at the time, “Dr.Fuller is one of the most celebrated researchers the schoolhas ever had and I was privileged to study with her dur-ing my doctoral program.”

Dr. Fuller is survived by: her husband, Gill Fuller, herchildren, Joseph and Julie, five grandchildren, two step-children, and two step-grandchildren. A memorial serv-ice was held on September 29 at Aspen Lakewood

Chapel. Memorial contributions can be sent to the Hospice of St. John, 1320Everett Court, Lakewood, CO 80215.

In Memoriam

Maxine Berlinger

Barbara Fuller

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 10

NewsSCHOOL OF NURSINGPAGE 11Fall 2007

Diane Skiba recognizedfor informatics expertise

Professor DianeSkiba, PhD, FAAN, hasbeen recognized for herefforts to prepare nursesto practice in theincreasingly technologi-cally-driven health carearena.

She has been askedby the Department ofHealth and HumanServices SecretaryMichael Leavitt to serveon the National Advisory Council onNurse Education and Practice (NAC-NEP), which operates under thePublic Health Service Act.

The NACNEP provides adviceand recommendations to the secre-tary and to Congress on policy mat-ters arising in the administration ofTitle VIII regarding the nursing work-force and delivery of health services.

The NACNEP also makes specificrecommendations regarding pro-grams administered by the Divisionof Nursing as a means of enhancingthe health of the public through thedevelopment of the nursing work-force.

Skiba has also been presentedwith the Rutgers Annual RecognitionAward for Advancement ofComputer Technology in HealthCare from Rutgers State UniversityCollege of Nursing during the 25thAnnual International NursingComputer and TechnologyConference held last June in SanFrancisco. At the conference, Skibapresented the endnote presentationtitled Exploring the Present andPredicting the Future.

Skiba has received two grantsfrom the Health Resources andServices Administration (HRSA) inthe US Department of Health andHuman Services to help faculty inte-grate applied informatics and tech-nology-based education into nursingcurricula in order to prepare studentsto practice in an informa-tion/technology driven health caresystem.

One of the grants, which fundsThe I-Collaboratory: Partnerships inLearning, is a three-year continuationof a current grant. The other grant isfor a faculty development collabora-tive and partners the SON with the

nursing schools at theUniversity of Kansas,Indiana University, and theUniversity of Maryland, andthe National League forNursing.

“What we're trying to dois bring together the socialand intellectual capital ofnursing organization alongwith informatics organiza-tions to move an agenda toensure that nurses and

future nurses are prepared to practicein an informatics-intensive and con-

Program gives high school students a look into the future

Jenni ProsserOffice of Public Relations

Convincing high school students tospend eight weeks of their summer inan educational setting may seem like ahuge undertaking, but the students inthe School of Nursing (SON) HighSchool Intern Program are enthusias-tic about devoting their holiday to theclassroom and clinic. In fact, this yearthere were twice as many applicants asthe program could accommodate.

After receiving a Robert WoodJohnson Executive Nurse Fellowship,Amy Barton, PhD, associate professorand associate dean for clinical andcommunity affairs, started the pro-gram to enhance diversity in the healthprofessions' workforce, recruiting stu-dents from the UCDHSC pre-colle-giate program.

High school sophomores who are either an under-rep-resented minority, socio-economically disadvantaged orwill be first generation college students, are invited to par-ticipate in the pre-collegiate program, which gives themexposure to various health care fields and study skills ses-sions during the academic year. These are accompanied byenrichment classes the summer following the students'sophomore year and college level English composition,math and science courses the summer following their jun-ior year.

Barton works with the Office of Diversity to recruit stu-dents from the college level classes for her three-week pro-gram. Those selected for the High School Intern Programundergo a week of orientation, during which they tour theNinth Ave. and Anschutz Medical campuses, take coursesin cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, OccupationalSafety and Health Administration and the HeathInsurance Portability Accountability Act and learn aboutthe health professions and health disparities. Followingorientation, the students spend two weeks shadowing

health providers in areas such as day surgery, School ofDentistry clinics, Certified Nurse Midwifery clinics andthe medical intensive care unit.

The program has been supported by a number of fac-ulty and staff at University of Colorado Hospital. It givesthe students an opportunity to see how the health profes-sion actually works and see which area appeals the most tothem.

“With the shadowing program, the students see notonly what health professionals do but also how they dealwith issues that occur in health care, such as ethical con-cerns,” says Barton. “It gives them a sense of what they cantolerate and what they can't, which is something that does-n't come out of a career mapping exercise. It's obviouslybroadened their perspective on what a health profession-al's career is about.”

The students are paid a stipend based on minimumwage, but according to the students the experience isabout much more than the money.

“The program has been an incredible experience forme,” says student Shahd Abdon.

Back row, left to right: Alhassan Kamara; Emilia Cabeza de Baca;

Gerald Ung; Nomuun Enkhbat; Shahd Abdon; and Isaiah Kakule. Front

row: Unique Flores; Jackie Chavez; Dr. Amy Barton, program director;

and Mari'yam Floyd-Berot. (Missing: Chloe Rankin)

Retired SON faculty gathered for a luncheon

Back row, left to right: Dort Gregg, Dr. Anne Harrison, Marge

Bomgartner, Dr. Sylvia Lewis, Dr. Marty Stoner, Colette Kerlin; and

front row, left to right: Margaret Ball, Mary Farley, Jeanne Kearns,

and the late Maxine Berlinger (seated).

At the May Convocation, RoxieFoster, PhD, FAAN, was awardedthe 2007 Elisabeth H. Bo ekerExcellence in Research Award forher work in pediatric pain care.

Foster is an associate professorin the School of Nursing (SON)and holds The Children’s Hospital(TCH) Endowed Chair of PediatricNursing. She is also the vice presi-dent for Nursing Research andEducation and co-director of thePain Service at TCH.

The Boeker award is given tofaculty to promote and rewardexcellence in faculty research at the

School of Nursing. Selection crite-ria include recognition nationallyor internationally for significantsubstantive contributions to knowl-edge development in a focused arearelevant to nursing discipline, asustained record or peer-reviewedpublications and presentations,influence on the work of otherscholars and evidence of researchfunding.

Foster has dedicated nearly 40years to the study of children’spain, working with children andfamilies coping with chronic painacross four states. Foster has

worked in acute care pediatric set-tings, home care, and as an instruc-tor in nursing with teaching andclinical practice responsibilities inpediatric settings. Foster joined theSON faculty in 1990. Her researchhas been supported through fund-ing from the National Institutes ofHealth, the American NursesFoundation, The Children’s

Hospital Research Institute andothers. She is the editor-in-chief ofJournal fo r Specialists in PediatricNursing.

The $8,000 that Foster receivedfrom the Boeker award will be ded-icated to her continuing explo-ration of physiologic correlates ofchildren’s self-reported pain.

See photo on page 7.

Roxie Foster receives 2007 Elisabeth H. Boeker Award

Dr. Skiba

56612UCHSC_NL 11/1/07 9:05 PM Page 11

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By Jenni Prosser

Through the locker room doors

of the Sheridan Middle School

gymnasium

you

won’t

find a

changing area for children. Instead,you’ll find som

ething quite differ-ent: a nurse-m

anaged health servic-es clinic for the underinsured.

Sheridan Health Services pro-

vides primary care for children and

adults, with around 1,000 visits

from children a year. The clinic

cares for them from

birth until their21st birthday, providing such serv-ices as w

ell-child care, imm

uniza-tions, sports and physical exam

s,nutrition counseling and m

entalhealth counseling.

The care given at SheridanH

ealth Services is unique. Well-

child checkups are scheduled for anhour, and alm

ost always take the

full 60 minutes. This gives nursing

students enough time to conduct the

exam, but it also gives the staff tim

eto connect w

ith their patients.“The children have so m

uchgoing on in their lives w

ith vio-lence, dom

estic abuse, and addic-tion,” says pediatric nurse practi-tioner

Victoria

Erickson, PhD

,associate professor and M

S/DN

Pprogram

director. “They really needm

ore attention because they’re gen-erally high need.”

To achieve this, the clinic isexpanding a m

ental health programw

ith SO

N

social w

orker Am

yPickett, LCSW

. The program w

illcreate special groups to help secondgeneration gang m

embers – the

children of gang mem

bers who are

expected to continue their family’s

legacy – find alternative ways of

life.

Co

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ity c

linic

ben

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patie

nts

an

d s

tud

en

ts

with the introduction of the Sm

artH

eart Cart, a program developed by

SON

assistant

professor Lynn

Gilbert, PhD

, and her colleagues.The Sm

art Heart Cart is a touch-

screen com

puter program

that

allows parents to enter health infor-

mation about their children and

then produces a printout containinginform

ation and suggestions onhow

to improve their children’s

health. The Sm

art Heart Cart is only

one example of the types of clini-

cally based research that takesplace at Sheridan H

ealth Services,but there are restrictions to theam

ount the faculty and staff canachieve because of lim

ited funding.The center is funded by a five yeargrant from

the Health Resources

Service Adm

inistration, Bureau ofH

ealth Professions and is under thedirection of A

my B

arton, PhD,

associate professor and associatedean for Clinical and Com

munity

Affairs.

Sheridan Health Services also

serves as an opportunity for SON

students to see another aspect ofhealth care.

“It is really important for all

health care providers to be educatedin w

orking with different segm

entsof the population,” says Erickson.“The clinic helps students learnhow

to work w

ith a wide variety of

patients.”A

bout 60 BS students a yearrotate through the clinic.

The SON

officially took overSheridan H

ealth Services two years

ago, but it has been affiliated with

the clinic through its partnershipw

ith The Children’s Hospital for

the 11 years it has been in exis-tence.

Am

ong the wide range of serv-

ices that the clinic offers, Ericksonplaces em

phasis on nutrition andfighting childhood obesity, w

hichshe says is a big problem

in theH

ispanic comm

unity. Erickson’sw

ork towards im

proving nutritionam

ong her clients has been helped

Dr. V

icki E

rickso

n w

ith B

S s

tud

en

t Nin

a R

ob

inso

n.

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