September 6, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham resident Heather Sobko [cq], a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) nursing major and senior in the University Honors Program has been selected to present her research paper, “Concept Analysis of Concordance: Establishing a Working Definition for Heart Transplant Nurses and Recipients,” during the 41st National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) annual conference in Philadelphia in November.

Sobko started the project in the summer of 2005 as part of the requirements for the University Honors Program. She was familiar with the heart transplant unit at UAB and wanted to study the relationships that transplant nurses and recipients share.

“The project quickly took a life of its own,” Sobko said. “Those relationships are the reason why patients have faith in the hospital, better health and a higher quality of life. Their success relies on the trust they have with their nurses.”

A panel of honors administrators and faculty from colleges and universities nationwide chose the paper. After graduating in December, Sobko plans on staying at UAB to complete her doctorate in nursing. She hopes to continue working with the heart transplant unit at UAB as a nurse and researcher.