Kathleen G. Andreoli*, DSN, RN, FAAN

DSN 1979

Dr. Kathleen G. Andreoli is the Kellogg Emeritus Dean of Rush College of Nursing and former Vice President for Nursing Academic Affairs at Rush University Medical Center. During her leadership for the American Association of Physician's Assistant Programs, the first Physician Assistant program and coronary care unit in America was developed and implemented at Duke University Medical Center. While serving as faculty at UAB, she collaborated with others to develop and define one of the first national Family Nurse Practitioner programs. She has authored a coronary care textbook and has published countless articles on nursing education. Dr. Andreoli is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Nursing, and Sigma Theta Tau. She has served on national committees for the American Medical Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Board of Medical Examiners, Voluntary Hospitals of America, and the American Hospital Association. She was named an outstanding Dean by Sigma Theta Tau International, received the GE Healthcare American Association of Critical Care Nurses Pioneering Spirit Award and distinguished alumni awards from Vanderbilt and UAB Schools of Nursing. Dr. Andreoli passed away in 2022.

Lazelle E. Benefield, PhD, RN, FAAN

MSN 1978

Dr. Lazelle E. Benefield is Dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing. She holds appointments as Professor and Parry Chair in Gerontological Nursing and Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Her research and community outreach efforts bring together distance family caregivers, communication technologists, and nurse scientists to promote independence and improve quality of life, especially for older adults living at home with dementia. Dr. Benefield is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing where she serves on the Expert Panel on Aging, is co-founder of the Postdoctoral Geriatric Interdisciplinary Transience Research Institute at the University of Oklahoma, and collaborates with the Oklahoma Geriatric Education Center.

Judy L. Bezanson, DSN, CNS-MS, RN, FAHA

DSN 2000

Dr. Judy L. Bezanson is Senior Science and Medicine Advisor at the National Center of the American Heart Association (AHA). She is responsible for direction and guidance of the Cardiovascular Science Division, which staffs key committees, councils, and science subcommittees. She is engaged in the AHA science news production in digital and print formats, and collaborates with national and international leaders in the field of cardiovascular science. Prior to joining the AHA, Dr. Bezanson was engaged in cardiovascular nursing as an educator, entrepreneur, and clinical specialist. Her research focused on understanding patient characteristics contributing to prolonged mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. Her work has been published in the American Journal of Critical Care, Nursing Research, and the Journal of Nursing Measurement. She has been recognized by AHA for her science news reporting and received the coveted AHA staff Time, Feeling and Focus award. Dr. Bezanson is a Fellow of the AHA.

Deidre M. Blank, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1982

Dr. Deidre M. Blank, has served as Chief of the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Branch at the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH); Nurse Consultant with the Division of Nursing at Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA); and Nurse Consultant to the Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, Canada. In these roles, Dr. Blank developed policies and guided research in the field of nursing. Dr. Blank’s research interests include the mother-infant tenderness process; diet and taste interactions; sensory attributes of foods; and endogenous opioids and hypogonadism as related to human obesity. Dr. Blank volunteered with the Office of the Surgeon General’s Command Center during hurricane Katrina and has travelled to Lesotho, Africa to provide research leadership. Additionally, she has served on the review boards of several professional journals, including American Journal of Public Health and Issues in Mental Health Nursing. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, she has received numerous awards, including the Director’s Award from the NCNR, NIH; the Assistant Secretary for Health Award for exceptional achievement; the Thomas Jefferson University Alumni Special Achievement Award; and a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Ellen B. Buckner, PhD, RN, CNE

BSN 1975, MSN 1983, PhD 1987

Dr. Ellen Buckner is Professor at Samford University Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing. Prior to this role, she was Professer at University of South Alabama (USA) College of Nursing. Prior to her work at USA, she taught undergraduate nursing students for 34 years at UAB where she established the UAB School of Nursing Honors Program. During the nine years she served as coordinator for the program, it became one of the largest departmental honors programs at UAB with over 120 students graduating “With Honors in Nursing.” During her tenure as program coordinator and through her guidance, students published eighteen papers in peer-reviewed national nursing journals and over 75 presented to NCUR: The National Conference on Undergraduate Research and won numerous national and international awards. The program was particularly effective in encouraging students to pursue graduate education, with one-third of the honors graduates entering graduate study, including six who entered the BSN to PhD program at UAB. Dr. Buckner has received the UAB National Alumni Society Ingalls Award for Lifetime Achievement in Teaching and was named a Fellow in the Roy Adaptation Association for distinguished undergraduate mentoring. She is the former president of the Alabama Academy of Science and the chair of the Gorgas Scholarship Competition for outstanding high school seniors.

Leanne C. Busby, DSN, RN, FAANP

DSN 1999

Dr. Leanne C. Busby is the former Director of Nursing and Allied Health at the Tennessee Board of Regents and former Dean of the Jeanette Rudy School of Nursing at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee. Dr. Busby received funding in the late 80s and early 90s from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop primary care clinics and school-based nursing clinics for disadvantaged populations. Dr. Busby has worked closely with the Tennessee Board of Nursing to modify legislation which limited nurse practitioners’ prescriptive authority. As a volunteer for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, she served as a co-project director to develop national curriculum guidelines and regulatory criteria for family nurse practitioners seeking prescriptive authority. Dr. Busby is one of the founding Fellows of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP). Dr. Busby was named Tennessee Nurse of the Year in 2004 by the Nashville Tennessean, and one of the 100 Top Leaders in the 100 Year History of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Additionally, she received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching at Cumberland University in 2001.

Joyce C. Clifford*, PhD, RN, FAAN

MSN 1969

*Deceased

Dr. Joyce C. Clifford served as Senior Vice President and Nurse-in-Chief at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston for more than 25 years before establishing The Institute for Nursing Healthcare Leadership, Inc. (INHL) where she served as president and chief executive officer. Dr. Clifford was described as the architect of nursing’s professional practice model — a model that has been recognized nationally and internationally in hospital and out-patient/community settings. This practice model has been studied and emulated by nurses and health administrators around the world. She was a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), a former president of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association. Her awards and honors included Sigma Theta Tau’s Founder’s Award for Promoting High Professional Standards, the Award of Honor of the American Hospital Association, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the Marguerite Rodgers Kinney Award for a Distinguished Career from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, a Living Legend Award from the AAN, and the Living Legend in Massachusetts Nursing Award. She was named the UAB School of Nursing's first Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 1989. Dr. Clifford passed away in 2011.

Susan M. Cohen*, PhD, CRNP, APRN, FAAN

PhD 1983

*Deceased

Dr. Susan M. Cohen is an Associate Professor and a Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Pittsburgh. Previously, she directed the Adult, Family, and Women’s Health primary care nurse practitioner programs at Yale University School of Nursing. Through funding from the National Institutes for Health (NIH), Dr. Cohen, as Principal Investigator was the first researcher to conduct a clinical trial for cancer survivors who use acupuncture to reduce hot flashes. Additionally, she was Co-Principal Investigator on the first NIH acupuncture study to reduce urinary incontinence. Other grants awarded by the NIH have allowed her to explore meditation for menopausal symptom reduction and acupuncture for insomnia. Dr. Cohen served as a board member for the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and has been a central part of the support for the development of Doctor of Nursing Practice competencies at the national level. Dr. Cohen is a former president and board member of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, an international organization dedicated to promoting women's health research.

Debra C. Davis, PhD, RN

BSN 1975, MSN 1978, PhD 1984

Dr. Debra C. Davis is the former Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama (USA). She has extensive experience in baccalaureate and higher degree nursing education and serves as a consultant for other nursing programs in the areas of program development and accreditation. Dr. Davis’s areas of research and scholarship are numerous and include nursing education, nursing practice, women’s health, and gerontology. Considered an expert on emerging roles of nursing education, she has presented for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing on the role of the clinical nurse leader as well as to the American Colleges of Nursing on the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Through her leadership, USA has excelled in competing for external funding to support innovative nursing programs and projects through numerous grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Davis is an active member of the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and serves as a program evaluator and as a member of the Accreditation Review Committee. Dr. Davis was appointed by the Governor of Alabama to serve two terms on the Alabama Board of Nursing. Dr. Davis is an inductee in the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame.

Sharon A. Denham, PhD, RN

PhD 1997

Dr. Sharon A. Denham is a Professor at Ohio University’s School of Nursing. Dr. Denham’s research focuses on family health and Appalachian health disparities as evidenced by her work with the National Diabetes Education Program to develop Diabetes: A Family Matter. This culturally sensitive program and toolkit focuses on health promotion and type 2 diabetes prevention in the Appalachian region. Through her leadership, a newly awarded Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded project called Strengthening Communities to Prevent Diabetes in Rural Appalachia promises to bring almost $2.5 million over the next five years for prevention work in 11 counties in five states. She has held leadership roles in the Appalachian Studies Association, the National Council on Family Relations, served on the Board of Directors for the National League for Nursing’s Accreditation Commission, and served as president for the International Family Nursing Association. Her book entitled Family Health: A Framework for Nursing, a conceptual framework, suggests an ecological lens to understand the health needs of contextually embedded family households.

Joanne M. Disch, PhD, RN, FAAN

MSN 1976

Dr. Joanne M. Disch is a Clinical Professor and the Director of the Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership, and holds the Katherine R. and C. Walton Lillehei Chair in Nursing Leadership at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. She has extensive experience as an educator, chief nurse executive, researcher, leader, policy maker, and spokesperson. Dr. Disch has held numerous national leadership positions, including chair of the Board for AARP, president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), chair of the University Healthcare Consortium’s Chief Nurse Executive Council, chair of the American Nurses Association's Committee on Nursing Practice Standards and Guidelines, and president of the American Academy of Nursing. Currently she is a member of the Boards of Directors for the Aurora Health System and the National Center for Healthcare Leadership. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Disch has received numerous awards including two Founders Awards from Sigma Theta Tau International for Excellence in Fostering Professional Standards and Excellence in Leadership, Distinguished Alumni Awards from the UAB School of Nursing and the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing, the GE Pioneering Spirit Award from the AACN, the President’s Award from the AAN, and the Marguerite Rodgers Kinney Award for a Distinguished Career from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She currently serves on the UAB School of Nursing National Advisory Council.

Sandra B. Dunbar, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAHA

PhD 1982

Dr. Sandra B. Dunbar is the Associate Dean of Academic Advancement and holds the Charles Howard Candler Professorship of Cardiovascular Nursing at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. She is a cardiovascular nurse researcher and educator. Through funded studies by the National Institute of Health, Dr. Dunbar’s work focuses on testing integrated self-care approaches for persons with heart failure and diabetes and the testing of an intervention to improve outcomes for caregivers of patients with heart failure. She recently completed a study testing a family focused intervention to improve self-care by patients with chronic heart failure and conducted a clinical trial to test a psychoeducational intervention to improve outcomes of high risk arrhythmia patients treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Dr. Dunbar is an active volunteer for the American Heart Association‘s Council of Cardiovascular Nursing. She is a former president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and is a member of the editorial board of several major nursing journals including Heart and Lung and Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Heart Association, and received the Katherine A. Lembright award from the American Heart Association for her contributions to cardiovascular nursing research. She was named the UAB School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2011.

Lisa W. Eichelberger, PhD, RN

BSN 1975, MSN 1979, PhD 1986

Dr. Lisa Eichelberger is Dean and Professor of the College of Health at Clayton State University (CSU) in Morrow, Georgia.  Dr. Eichelberger, at the age of 35, became the Dean of the School of Nursing at Mississippi College (MC), making her one of the youngest nursing deans in the country.  She served as Dean at MC for eight years prior to coming to Clayton State in 1996 to help establish a Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing.  As Dean of the School of Nursing at CSU, she led the efforts to establish a Master of Science Degree for nursing in 2006 which is now fully accredited. Through research grants from Kaiser Permanente, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Advanced Nursing Education Project, Dr. Eichelberger has improved and expanded nursing education opportunities for students. She co-authored a textbook on nursing theory, using an artistic approach to help beginning students understand the complex subject.

Melissa S. Faulkner, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1991

Dr. Melissa S. Faulkner is currently an Associate Dean at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. Previously, she was the Gladys E. Sorensen Endowed Professor in Diabetes Research and Education at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. Dr. Faulkner has held appointments at Southeast Missouri State University, the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Arizona State University. She has extensive experience in child health, particularly pediatric diabetes. She has taught undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students, as well as interdisciplinary courses. Dr. Faulkner has an established program of research focusing on adolescents and the psychosocial and physiological alterations they may encounter, particularly the cardiovascular risks that are associated with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Dr. Faulkner’s research is aimed at the development and testing of a community-based, personalized exercise intervention for teens diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Dr. Faulkner is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Ellen Fineout-Overholt, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN

MSN 1985

Dr. Ellen Fineout-Overholt is currently the Mary Coulter Dowdy Distinguished Nursing Professor at the University of Texas at Tyler. Previously, she was a Clinical Professor and the Director of the Center for the Advancement of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) at Arizona State University. Dr. Fineout-Overholt is best known for promoting EBP with clinicians across the U.S. and worldwide, both in the hospital and in the community. Dr. Fineout-Overholt created and developed, with her colleague Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, the role of the EBP mentor, which is essential to sustained best practice and their Advancing Research & Clinical Practice through close Collaboration (ARCC) model. Evidenced-based practice mentors educated in programs created by Dr. Fineout-Overholt are making a difference in patient and systems’ outcomes all over the world. In addition, Dr. Fineout-Overholt’s innovative work to revise the foundation upon which nurses are educated to integrate EBP principles has been well received by faculty world-wide. Dr. Fineout-Overholt’s publications and research focus on helping clinicians, healthcare faculty and administrators improve practice through implementation and sustainability of EBP. She is co-editor the widely used book, Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice. Dr. Fineout-Overholt is a Fellow in the National Academies of Practice and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Carol Z. Garrison, PhD, MSN

MSN 1976

Dr. Carol Z. Garrison is former President of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and an alumna of the UAB School of Nursing. Previously, Dr. Garrison served as provost and interim president at the University of Louisville, and was a faculty member, department chair, dean and provost at the University of South Carolina. During her presidency at UAB, she also chaired the board of the UAB Health System, which includes UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic, and other of UAB's nationally-ranked patient care facilities. During Dr. Garrison's tenure, the institution enjoyed remarkable growth, both physically and academically. Dr. Garrison was named the UAB School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2013.

Anna Gawlinski, DNSc, RN, FAAN

MSN 1978

Dr. Anna Gawlinski is the Director of Research and Evidence-Based Practice at the Ronald Reagan University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center and Adjunct Professor at the UCLA School of Nursing. Dr. Gawlinski has developed and implemented an infrastructure that supports research and evidence-based practice initiatives in the Department of Nursing. Her clinical expertise coupled with knowledge of research methodology has provided Dr. Gawlinski with the unique ability to energize clinicians at all levels about their professional commitment to research and evidence-based care.This includes her research on accurate measurement of hemodynamic and oxygenation variables, as well testing interventions to improve nursing care and outcomes of advanced heart failure patients. Working collaboratively with UCLA’s Quality Improvement Teams, she has facilitated research-based practice in the care of cardiovascular patients. Her awards and honors include being named as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American Heart Association Fellow of the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. Additionally, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses honored her with their Excellence in Research Award and their Distinguished Research Lecture Award. She is a reviewer for many publications including Critical Care Nursing and the American Journal of Critical Care.

Susan J. Gennaro, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1983

Dr. Susan Gennaro is Dean and Professor of the Connell School of Nursing at Boston College. Prior appointments include the Florence and William Downs Chair in Nursing Research at New York University, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania where she was Director of the Doctoral Program and the Co-Director of the Center for Health Disparities. Dr. Gennaro’s research focuses on the improvement of perinatal nursing in the U.S., Malawi, and Uganda. Funded by the National Institutes of Medicine for over 20 years, she seeks to improve nursing education through innovative programs to increase the number of nurse scientists from a minority background trained to work with vulnerable populations. Dr. Gennaro is currently studying mechanisms underlying preterm birth in minority women, funded by the National Institute for Nursing Research. As the founder of the evidence-based practice program at the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing, her goal is to translate research into clinical practice internationally. Dr. Gennaro is the editor of Sigma Theta Tau’s Journal of Nursing Scholarship, a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, a McClure Scholar at New York University Medical Center, a lecturer at Harvard University’s Medical School, and a Distinguished Alumna at the UAB School of Nursing.

Sarah H. Gueldner*, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1983

*Deceased

Dr. Sarah H. Gueldner is the former Arline H. and Curtis F. Garvin Professor at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Gueldner is committed to improving health and well-being for individuals and families who are vulnerable because of their life circumstances such as limited education or diminished socioeconomic status related to poverty, gender, age, or ethnicity. Dr. Gueldner’s seminal contributions to global health are many, but perhaps her most important work is the development the simple Well-Being Picture Scale (WPS) designed to measure sense of well-being. The scale was most recently used to examine sense of well-being in community-dwelling individuals who were seeking health care at community-based clinics in Botswana, Africa. She has been named a Fellow in many organizations including the American Academy of Nursing, the National Academies of Practice, and the Gerontological Society of America. She is also a recipient of Sigma Theta Tau International’s Edith Moore Copeland Founders Award for Excellence in Creativity. Dr. Gueldner is author or co-author of more than 100 publications, including seven edited books and monographs. In addition, she has presented reports of her research at nursing and interdisciplinary conferences in 20 countries. Dr. Gueldner passed away in 2016.

Delois S. Guy, DSN

DSN 1980

Dr. Delois Skipwith Guy was the first African-American faculty member at UAB School of Nursing in 1969. Her tenure at UAB SON as a leader has spanned over four decades of teaching psychiatric, mental-health nursing, nursing theory, research, community health, and gerontological nursing. She now holds the title of UAB Professor Emeritus of Nursing. Dr. Guy served as the Co-Principal Investigator for a study entitled Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health (REACH). REACH, funded by the National Institutes for Aging and the National Institute of Nursing Research, was a multi-site, multi-disciplinary and multi-ethnic (African Americans, Cuban Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Whites) project designed to examine the effectiveness of social, behavioral, and technological interventions to strengthen family member capacities to care for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Dr. Guy’s awards include being named as an Alabama Delegate for the White House Conference on Aging, Minority Women in Mental Health Fellowship Award from the Kellogg Leadership Program, and the Ethnic/Racial Minority Clinical Fellowship Award presented by the American Nurses Association. Additionally, she has been as an advocate for elders, community liaison to African American churches and health organizations and presented at many national conferences on the topics of aging, caregiving, and post-doctoral opportunities. She currently serves on the UAB School of Nursing National Advisory Council.

James L. Harris, PhD, APRN-BC, MBA, CNL, FAAN

MSN 1982, PhD 1989

Dr. James L. Harris is currently a Professor of Community/Mental Health Nursing at the University of South Alabama (USA) College of Nursing and former Deputy Chief Nursing Officer of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Nursing Services where he was responsible for formulating national policies and activities that impact the largest employer of nursing personnel in the United States totaling over 70,000. Dr. Harris has countless experiences as an administrator, educator, consultant, and researcher. As coordinator for the National Clinical Nurse Leader Project, he promoted the development of this emerging role for nurses. He is a recognized expert and consultant on the Clinical Nurse Leader initiative and is a published author on this topic with a 2010 publication, Initiating and Sustaining the Clinical Nurse Leader Role: A Practical Guide. He is a member of countless national task forces and work groups for advancing nursing. A Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Harris has been recognized for his leadership by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sigma Theta Tau International Epsilon Nu Chapter, the Alabama State Nurses Association and Who’s Who in American Nursing.

Constance Smith Hendricks, PhD, RN, FAAN

BSN 1974, MSN 1981

Dr. Constance Smith Hendricks is the former Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor at the Auburn University School of Nursing. Previously she was a Professor of Nursing at Tuskegee University and Southern University, in addition to serving as Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing at Hampton University. Having served as the principal investigator and project director for many funded grants, Dr. Hendricks’s recent research primarily focuses on rural health and the adolescent lifestyle. She has published her findings in many peer reviewed journals including the Journal of National Black Nurses Association, the Online Journal of Health Ethics, and The Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health. Additionally, she has presented her findings at conferences at the international, national, regional, state, and local level. Dr. Hendricks has been recognized for her outstanding work in nursing by numerous groups and organizations and was featured on the cover of the Black PhD/EdD Magazine in the 2008/2009 edition. She was selected as an Outstanding Alumni by Concordia College-Selma, Alabama, a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, and as a Distinguished Alumna by the UAB School of Nursing.

Alice S. Hill, PhD, RN, FAAN

MSN 1975

Dr. Alice S. Hill is currently Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and John P. McGovern Distinguished Chair in the Healing Practices of Nursing and Director of the Nursing PhD Program at The University of Texas Medical Branch. As Program Director she received federal funding for student stipends and tuition which served as a catalyst for a dramatic increase of student applications. Her research focuses on feeding efficiency and growth of extremely low birth weight infants. She has received funding from National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research as well as foundations to support her work. Her findings have been reported in peer-reviewed journals and at professional meetings. She serves as a leader for many organizations including the Association of Black Nursing Faculty (ABNF) as a Board member and current chair of the Research Committee, and she is an active member of the National Association for Neonatal Nurses and the Academy of Neonatal Nurses. She has served on editorial review Boards for the NIH and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Additionally, she was honored by Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Delta Chapter with the Excellence in Mentoring Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Research from ABNF.

Mary H. Hill, PhD, RN

PhD 1999

Dr. Mary H. Hill is currently Interim Dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at Howard University. She was formerly Dean and Professor at Alcorn State University School of Nursing. Throughout academe, Dr. Hill has demonstrated a commitment to helping enhance success of disadvantaged students. In 2010, she was awarded a $1.5 million dollar grant from Health Resources and Services Administration for scholarships for disadvantaged students in nursing and allied health. She served as a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Patient Safety Task Force that developed Hallmark of Quality and Patient Safety: Recommended Baccalaureate Competencies and Curricular Guidelines to Assure High Quality and Safe Patient Care. She also served as a program evaluator and an Evaluation Review Panel member for the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. Currently, Dr. Hill has served as an on-site evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

Linda Hill, BSN, RN, RM

BSN 1988

Sister Linda Hill is a Consolata Missionary Sister in Vernaria Reale, Italy. Her duties include serving as an educator, mentor, counselor, and administrator. Sister Linda has worked in Kenya and Italy since graduating from the UAB School of Nursing in 1988. Her first assignment was to teach at Wamba Nursing School in Kenya, expanding the role of nursing. During 1993, she spent 10 months in Baragoi, Kenya where she led a small Mission Dispensary, caring for patients with malaria, pneumonia, and typhoid, as well as other tropical diseases common to Kenya. Later, she was stationed near the Chalbi Desert where the temperature averages above 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day treating many tropical diseases and illnesses. In 2006, she returned to where it all started, Wamba, Kenya. There, she assisted students at the the Diploma Registered Community Nursing Program to finish their Certificate with honors. Later, she helped to upgrade the program to a three and a half year course that prepares high school graduates to obtain their diploma as registered nurses.

Marcia M. Holstad, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

PhD 1996

Dr. Marcia M. Holstad is Associate Professor and Marcia Stanhope Professor in Public Health at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University and Assistant Director of Clinical and Social Science Integration at the Emory Center for AIDS Research. She is also Board certified as a family nurse practitioner providing primary care to HIV-positive women. She currently leads the Music Project, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study that is testing the efficacy of an audio music program aimed at educating and motivating people living with HIV to adhere to their antiretroviral medications. She served as Principal Investigator on another NIH funded behavioral trial called Keeping Health and Active with Risk Reduction and Medication Adherence (the KHARMA Project) to test the effectiveness of a nurse led motivational group intervention to promote adherence to antiretroviral therapy and risk reduction behaviors in HIV-positive women. She has also conducted a pilot project of KHARMA in Lagos, Nigeria. A Fellow of the American Academy for Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), she was also honored as the Georgia State Award winner for Excellence in Nursing by AANP. She was honored by Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society Alpha Epsilon Chapter with the Jean Thomas Award for Creativity in Teaching Health and she received the Health Care Heroes award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Phyllis N. Horns, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN

PhD 1980

Dr. Phyllis N. Horns is Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina. As Vice Chancellor, she is responsible for the Brody School of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina Heart Institute, William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library, and School of Dental Medicine. Previously, she served as Dean of the East Carolina University College of Nursing and was Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the UAB School of Nursing. Dr. Horns’s research focuses on nursing workforce challenges including the nursing shortage; exercise and pregnancy; and policies of nursing doctoral programs. Her findings have been published in many venues including: Proceedings of the 9th Congress of Health Professions Educators, the Journal of Nursing Outlook, the Journal of Professional Nursing and the Nursing Leadership Forum. Dr. Horns has been named an ECU Woman of Distinction, one of the 100 ECU Incredible Women, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She has served as Chair of the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, President of the Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing, SREB, and President of the NC Council of Deans. She was named the UAB School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2017.

Larry G. Hornsby, BSN, CRNA

BSN 1981, BS 1985

Larry G. Hornsby, BSN, CRNA is a highly recognized expert in the business of anesthesia. He is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Diversified Professionals, Inc. Prior to this role, he was Senior Executive Vice President of Operations for the AmSol division of NorthStar Anesthesia, which employs 2,000 nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists in 21 states. Mr. Hornsby is a Past-President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and received the organization’s highest honor in 2013, the Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment. Prior to his term as president, he served on the AANA Board of Directors for four years, holding the offices of Region 7 Director, Vice President, and President-Elect, respectively. Notably, he served as Chairman of the AANA Commission on Anesthesia Economics and Reimbursement and as Chairman of the Anesthesia Payment Advisory Panel to the AANA Board of Directors. He chaired the AANA CRNA Political Action Committee for six years, bringing in record-breaking contributions during his term. He also served on the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Ambulatory Professional Technical Advisory Council for six years. His most notable accomplishment during his AANA service was negotiating the federal supervision opt-out directly with the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, which now allows CRNAs in 17 states to work without any physician supervision requirements. Prior to his AANA service, he served the Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists (ALANA) as a member of its Board of Directors, serving two terms as president and chairing several committees. Mr. Hornsby is a member of the UAB School of Nursing’s National Advisory Council. He was named UAB School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2016.

Jean A. Kelley*, EdD, RN, FAAN

BSN 1956

*Deceased

Dr. Jean A. Kelley is Professor Emeritus at the UAB School of Nursing, where she dedicated her entire academic career to the growth and development of nurse leaders. During her tenure with the UABSON, she served as Assistant and then Associate Dean for the Graduate Program. Dr. Kelley pioneered the advancement of graduate nursing education throughout the South and the nation through her curricular innovations and ongoing consultation to support innovative programs at the master’s and doctoral level. She personally drove a large motor home van to deliver a cooperative outreach master’s education throughout Alabama and the Deep South to improve access to graduate nursing education. Dr. Kelley also helped found and establish the first doctoral nursing program at UAB, in the Southeast, and one of twelve nationwide. Dr. Kelley is an inductee into the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame as well as the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame and a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Because of her lifelong commitment to nursing education, the Jean A. Kelley Endowed Lectureship at the UAB SON was established in 1989. She has also received the UAB SON Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Kelley passed away in April 2018.

Marguerite R. Kinney Handlin, DNSc, RN, FAAN

BSN 1961, MSN 1967

Dr. Marguerite R. Kinney Handlin is Professor Emeritus at the UAB School of Nursing and a nationally recognized expert in cardiovascular surgical nursing. An award winning researcher, Dr. Kinney has studied the risk factors for premenopausal African-American women, the quality of life issues for cardiac patients as well as the professional nursing care as perceived by critically-ill patients. For more than 30 years, Dr. Kinney has been instrumental in establishing initiatives that showcase better patient outcomes through the demonstration of efficacy of health care when nursing and medicine work as colleagues. Her awards and honors are numerous and include the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and induction into the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame. The American Heart Association honored her as one of four Pillars in the Field of Cardiovascular Nursing and presented her the Katharine A. Lembright Award for Excellence in Research. Having served as president for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the organization established an award which bears her name. A noted author, she served as editor of Focus on Critical Care for many years and editor-in-chief for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ publication Clinical Reference for Critical-Care Nursing and Andreoli’s Comprehensive Cardiac Care. She was named the UAB SON Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 2000.

Wipada Kunaviktikul, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1994

Dr. Wipada Kunaviktikul is a Professor and the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. She is the Director of Nursing Policy and Outcome Center and the Head of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Development. Dr. Wipada received her doctoral degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA, and was a research fellow at the Harvard University School of Public Health, USA for one year. In 2013, she was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Wipada has over two decades of research experience, specifically in the areas of nursing administration, policy, health care system, and quality of care. She has served as the Chair of the Master Degree Program in Nursing Administration for the past 10 years and is Chair of Graduate Studies and a member of the Doctoral Administrative Committee at the Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University. Her publications have been widely published in Thai and international journals, and she is a much sought after speaker throughout the region and across the world. She has delivered talks on health promotion, nursing education, research, partnership, leadership and administration. She has received several national and international awards e.g. 2011 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame award from Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing, USA, The UAB School of Nursing’s Visionary Leader award, and 2010 National Distinguished Professor in Health Science Award. Most recently she was awarded the 2018 Outstanding Professional Women Leaders Award from the Federation of Business and Professional Women of Thailand. She received the UAB School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018.

Lora Lacey-Haun, PhD, RN

BSN 1977, MSN 1980

Dr. Lora Lacey-Haun is former Dean and Professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Nursing. In addition, she has been active in providing leadership opportunities for faculty and staff at the University of South Africa in Cape Town. Dr. Lacey-Haun has conducted research addressing issues in family functioning and has worked exclusively in settings providing care to underserved populations. At the UMKC SON, she has focused on increasing minority enrollment in the BSN and PhD programs, and enhanced scholarship awards for students. In addition, she has led the SON through a 3 year faculty and staff development program to increase the skills and knowledge needed to provide an accessible environment. Through funding from Health Resources and Services Administration, she maximized the use of technology and expanded access to nursing education by developing distance education programs using a variety learning technologies that offer quality graduate education across the state and nation. Dr. Lacey-Haun is listed in Who's Who in American Nursing for the Society of Nursing Professionals and received the Purdue Frederick Fellowship Award.

Kathleen A. Ladner, PhD, MSN, RN

MSN 1974

Dr. Kathleen A. Ladner’s nursing career spans over four decades. She is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Nursing at the UAB School of Nursing for the Clinical Nurse Leader and Nursing Health Service Administration programs. Previously she served as Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer at four complex acute care facilities in the southeast. Additionally, she is retired from the US Navy having served as a Captain in the Navy Nurse Corps. Dr. Ladner’s current research is funded by the Department of Human Resource Services Administration to study cultural competency of nurses who practice in the role of clinical nurse leader. Her previous research and clinical interests focused on academic partnerships, curriculum alignment, nurse professionalism, cultivation of evidence-based nursing, patient safety, streamlining nursing documentation and workflow, and Nurse Manager/CNO development. Dr. Ladner is president-elect of the Alabama Hospital Association and has served on the Alabama Board of Nursing. She was named a Fellow by the Johnson and Johnson Nursing Leadership Program at the Wharton School on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, and she received the Janet S. Awtrey Distinguished Nursing Leader Award from the University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing. Dr. Ladner is also an inductee in the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame.

Martha G. Lavender, PhD, RN, FAAN

MSN 1984, PhD 1988

Dr. Martha G. Lavender currently serves as President of Gadsden State Community College.  She is a former Professor and Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Jacksonville State University, where she directed the development of a 33-member interdisciplinary research team, resulting in securing a $3.2 million cooperative agreement for the study of health effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) exposure on the citizens of Anniston, Alabama. Dr. Lavender served as a leader in the emergency response training program with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Domestic Preparedness with particular focus on curriculum development for healthcare professionals and was appointed by Governor Riley to serve on the Alabama Board of Nursing. Dr. Lavender has served in a variety of professional elected positions including the national president and treasurer of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN). She has received numerous awards for excellence in nursing education, including the AWHONN’s 2004 Distinguished Professional Service Award for contributions to the care of women and infants and to the nursing profession. She is an inductee in the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and serves on the UAB School of Nursing National Advisory Council.

N. Genell Lee*, MSN, RN, JD

BSN 1975, MSN 1979

*Deceased

Genell Lee is the former Executive Officer for the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN). Her previous professional experience includes practicing as an attorney in Alabama, serving as the Nursing Director for emergency medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles Medical Center and Director of Emergency Services at UAB Hospital. Through Ms. Lee’s leadership over the past decade, the ABN established a Center for Nursing Research, established an online format for offering continuing education (CE) courses, and developed online programs for licensed nurses to maintain their CE record through the Internet. Through her collaboration with the identified testing service for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®), nursing graduates can now receive NCLEX® test results within 24-48 hours via electronic transmission. Ms. Lee served as the legal editor for the American Journal of Nursing, served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Trauma Nursing, and as a consulting editor for the Journal of Emergency Nursing. Her awards and honors include Sigma Theta Tau International, Nu Chapter’s Excellence in Nursing Practice Award, the Alabama Hospital Association’s Special Merit Award and the Nursing Education Award by the national Emergency Nurses Association.

Judy W. Lott, PhD, NNP-BC, FAAN

PhD 1992

Dr. Judy W. Lott is considered an expert in the nursing field of neonatology. She is the former Dean at Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing and was an international Visiting Professor at Yonsei University in South Korea where she taught and coordinated the first Neonatal Nurse Practitioner onsite clinical course. With funding from the National Institute for Nursing Research, the American Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing, Dr. Lott’s research focus is in the field of neonatology. Her findings have been published in many nursing journals including the Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing and the Journal of Pediatric Nursing. Additionally, she has presented her findings at the international, national, regional, and state level. She serves as a consultant to numerous colleges and departments of nursing for the development and implementation of neonatal nurse practitioner programs. She was named as the Woman of Distinction by Baylor University Women’s Council and was invited to participate in the Academic Round Table on Women’s Issues at Oxford University, United Kingdom. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Fuld Leadership Award for Academic Nursing Programs.

Alfred E. Lupien, PhD, CRNA, FAAN

MSN 1989

Dr. Fred Lupien is Director and Professor of the Nurse Anesthesia Program at Mount Marty College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is a retired Major in the US Army Nurse Corps where he earned his certification in anesthesiology and served as an Army critical-care nurse and nurse anesthetist throughout the United States and Europe. Dr. Lupien was the founding director of the only nurse anesthesia program in Georgia, located at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. With close to $2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he pioneered the integration of high-fidelity patient simulation into nursing education. He authored manuscripts describing the conceptual and technical bases for simulation and developed a simulation-intensive curriculum where nurse anesthesia students gained experience in customizable learning environments without jeopardizing patient comfort or safety. His interdisciplinary collaborations include development of the Combat Trauma Patient Simulator. Dr. Lupien is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and a member of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation’s Scientific Evaluation Committee. He received the Outstanding Service to Veterans Award from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia and the Meritorious Service Medal by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. He received the Program Director of the Year Award from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in 2013.

Nancy L. McCain, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1983

Dr. Nancy L. McCain is the former Nursing Alumni Endowed Professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing. Additionally, she was the Director of the Biobehavioral Science Core of the Center of Excellence in Biobehavioral Approaches to Symptom Management funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research. With $8.5 million received in grant funding from numerous sources including the National Institute of Nursing Research, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Health, National Cancer Institute and private foundations, her research has focused on stress management in persons with HIV infection and women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Through this work, Dr. McCain has significantly contributed to the advancement of knowledge related to biobehavioral mechanisms, measurement systems, and patient outcomes as well as biobehavioral focused nursing interventions. Dr. McCain is a sought after presenter at the state, national, and international level and her honors include being named the 2008 Distinguished Alumna of the Decade from the University of Mississippi and the 2004 Distinguished Alumna from the UAB School of Nursing. Named as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing she also was honored as the Southern Nursing Research Society Distinguished Researcher in 2008.

Norma K. Mobley*, EdD, MSN

MSN 1958

*Deceased

Dr. Norma K. Mobley was Dean and Professor Emerita at the Capstone College of Nursing at the University of Alabama located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her contributions significantly impacted healthcare policy, clinical practice, and academia. Her initiatives for nursing education focused specifically on expanding the capacity of nursing programs through faculty development, recruitment and retention, and the transformation of nursing curricula. Prior to her work at Capstone College of Nursing, Dr. Mobley held a variety of positions at the UAB School of Nursing including professor, Chair of the Department of Maternal-Infant Nursing, and Assistant Dean of the Baccalaureate program. She led curriculum innovations that solidified the School’s national position among baccalaureate programs. This included a preceptorship to assist students in transition to practice, improved the quality of healthcare for rural Alabamians, and she encouraged graduates to seek employment in critical nurse shortage locations. Dr. Mobley was a former president of the Alabama State Nurses Association and served on the Legislative Committee. She was a member of the board of directors for the Alabama League for Nursing and served on the Southeastern Regional Council on Nurse Midwifery. She was also a Charter member of Sigma Theta Tau, Nu Chapter. Dr. Mobley passed away in 2014.

Karen H. Morin, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

PhD 1987

Dr. Karen H. Morin is Professor Emerita at The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Areas of expertise include maternal-infant nursing, nursing education, and leadership. She is the first Canadian to serve as President of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International. She has had funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Division of Nursing, and from nursing organizations to conduct research. She has held numerous professional organization leadership positions including President of the Delaware Nurses Association, board member of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), co-chair on the program committee for the AWHONN National Convention. She has served as a grant reviewer for the American Nurses Foundation and Sigma Theta Tau International. Her award and honors include being named a Fellow in the Academy of Nurse Educators; Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing; the National Excellence in Teaching Award from the National League for Nursing; and the National Excellence in Nursing Education Award from the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, National Honor Society Recognizing Leadership and 8 chapters of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society.

Linda D. Norman, DSN, RN, FAAN

DSN 2001

Dr. Linda D. Norman is Dean at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and is best known for her contributions in the area of curriculum development in nursing and in interprofessional education. Dr. Norman has been responsible for over $6 million of federal training grants funds and she is a co-investigator for a Josiah Macy Foundation grant to develop a longitudinal curriculum for a Fellowship in Interprofessional Learning that involves nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and social work students. She was chosen as one of two nurses on the coordinating team for the first Institute for Healthcare Improvement Interdisciplinary Professional Education Collaborative and she developed the curriculum and initiated a model partnership nursing program between Vanderbilt University, Lipscomb University, and Fisk Universtiy Schools of Nursing. She was awarded the Trailblazer Award from the National Black Nurses Association for the novel collaborative partnership with Fisk University, a Historically Black University. Currently she serves as a member of the nursing workforce research team Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Johnson and Johnson Media Campaign and is the project evaluation coordinator for the Robert Wood Johnson/Northwest Health Foundation Partners Investing in Nursing’s Future initiative. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Marie L. O'Koren*, EdD, MSN

MSN 1958

*Deceased

Dr. Marie L. O’Koren was Dean Emerita at UAB School of Nursing. Her nursing career spanned over 40 years, during which time she changed the landscape of nursing education in the state of Alabama. She joined UAB’s nursing faculty in 1964 as Assistant Dean and Chair of the Graduate Program. As dean of UAB School of Nursing, Dr. O’Koren found the resources to increase the number of master’s degree tracks and the development of the first doctoral program in nursing in the Southeast, thereby raising the UAB School of Nursing’s national prominence as a top 20 nursing school in the country. Dr. O’Koren was a charter member of the UAB School of Nursing Alumni Chapter and was instrumental in its growth. The Marie L. O’Koren School of Nursing Alumni Association Scholarship was endowed at UAB in 1996. Dr. O’Koren received many honors including an inductee in the Alabama Hall of Fame and the Leaders in Education Award; being listed in Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in Health Care, Who’s Who of American Women; the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award; the Exemplary Service Award; the Distinguished Alumni Award; and the Outstanding Achievement Award. Dr. O'Koren passed away in 2012.

James C. Pace, PhD, MDiv, ANP-BC, RN, FAAN

PhD 1986

Dr. James C. Pace is Senior Associate Dean for Academic Programs at New York University School of Nursing. Previously, he was Professor and Coordinator of the Adult Nurse Practitioner Program with a palliative care focus at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. This program was awarded a four year advanced education nursing grant by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Resources and Services Administration. Dr. Pace is an Episcopal priest who serves the Episcopal Diocese in various roles and capacities. Dr. Pace's research and scholarly activities lie in the areas of spirituality/religion and health, palliative/hospice care, and HIV/AIDS and spirituality. A Fellow in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Pace has been involved with many professional organizations including the American Nurses Association, the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, and he served as president of Sigma Theta Tau International, Alpha Epsilon chapter. He serves on the editorial boards for Geriatric Nursing, the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Palliative Practices: An Interdisciplinary Approach, and the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.

Ann R. Peden, PhD, CNS, RN

PhD 1991

Dr. Ann R. Peden is Professor and Dean of Nursing at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. Previously, she was a Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing. Her research funding includes grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research and focuses on decreasing negative thinking in individuals at risk for the development of depression. The intervention has been tested with college women, low-income single mothers, pregnant women who smoke, and individuals with heart failure. The intervention continues to be refined and used with a variety of clinical populations. She has presented her findings at the international, national, state, and local level. She received the Best of Journal of Nursing Scholarship Award for the Clinical Scholarship category from Sigma Theta Tau International. Additionally, she received an Honorary Award from Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali of Thailand at the International Conference on Health and the Changing World in Bangkok, Thailand.

Bonita A. Pilon, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN

PhD 1988

Dr. Bonnie A. Pilon is Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Practice and Community Partnerships at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and serves as Chief Operating Officer for University Community Health Services, Inc., a nurse managed Federally Qualified Health Center cluster that is a significant partner to the School of Nursing. She is Program Director for the Health Systems Management specialty and is board certified in Nursing Administration, Advanced. With funding in excess of $2.5 million from numerous sources including the American Cancer Society, the Bureaus of Primary Care and Health Professions at the Health Resources and Services Administration, her work focuses on access to care and improved clinical models of care delivery. As a consultant, Dr. Pilon has assisted institutions with development of clinical integration strategies and tools, redesign of organizational structure to optimize quality and efficiency, preparation for The Joint Commission, outcome measurements, design/redesign of clinical pathway, and case and disease management systems. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and received the 2010 Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from Vanderbilt Medical Center.

James L. Raper, PhD, CRNP, JD, FAANP, FAAN

PhD 1994

Dr. James L. Raper is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Nursing; the Director of the HIV Outpatient, Research and Dental Clinics; a Scientist in the Center for AIDS Research, and a Scholar in the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Raper’s leadership in nursing and men’s health care spans two decades, and is evidenced through his sustained contributions at the national, state, and local level . Dr. Raper translates his scholarly program of collaborative research and advanced clinical practice through his evidenced-based work with HIV clinical populations. His efforts have been recognized by public and private funding agencies that include the National Institute of Health, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Center for Disease Control, as well as many private foundations. Dr. Raper’s sustained leadership has resulted in improving the standards of care for HIV populations. He has been recognized by medicine and nursing, through appointments to interprofessional health policy groups. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, a member of the Alabama Bar Association, and serves as the co-chair of the steering committee of the Ryan White Medical Providers Coalition of the HIV Medical Association. He is an inductee in the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame.

Nena F. Sanders, PhD, RN

BSN 1976, MSN 1979, PhD 1985

Dr. Nena F. Sanders serves as Vice Provost for the College of Health Sciences at Samford University. Previously, she served as Ralph W. Beeson Dean and Professor of the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing (IVMSON) at Samford University. She has extensive experience in clinical, administrative, consultative, and organizational aspects of nursing and health care delivery and is considered an expert for the development, implementation, and evaluation of nursing educational programs. Through her leadership at the IVMSON and with support from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Nurse Anesthesia program was developed and established. Additionally, the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program has also been established. She was also instrumental in securing a grant from the Veteran’s Administration to evaluate and expand the Nursing Administration master’s program at the UAB School of Nursing. Active in health care policy development at the national level, Dr. Sanders has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Nursing Administration Research and the Journal of Critical Care Nursing. Dr. Sanders has served on the committee for research for the American Organization of Nurse Executives; she reviews grants for the National Center for Nursing Research and National Institutes of Health and is an on-site evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. She is an inductee in the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame.

Maurita Soukup, RSM, PhD, RN

MSN 1975

Dr. Maurita Soukup, a Sister of Mercy, serves as a Health Trustee for two medical centers in Iowa, and Nurse Consultant/Researcher in critical care and evidence-based practice for health systems and hospitals nationally. Sister Maurita’s life ministry has focused on clinical excellence for critically ill patients, families and multidisciplinary colleagues. Significant contributions and accomplishments include: co-developing a cardiac surgical program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and serving as founding Director of the Center for Advanced Nursing Practice at BryanLGH Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. As Vice President of Mercy’s Iowa Heart Hospital at Des Moines, the hospital became nationally recognized for leading-edge initiatives, exceptional performance in clinical outcomes, reduced mortality, cost avoidance and responsible stewardship. Dr. Soukup is an established author having served as co-editor for the first Methods in Critical Care: The AACN Manual, and as a guest editor to Nursing Clinics of North America. Dr. Soukup is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including being named one of 100 Great Iowa Nurses and receiving the first Dr. Teresa Christy Award from the Iowa Nurses Association for her work in integrating nursing practice, education, and research.

Karen J. Stanley, MSN, RN, AOCN, FAAN

BSN 1983

Karen J. Stanley is the former Program Manager for the Pain and Palliative Care Service at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut. She is nationally and internationally known for her leadership in oncology and end-of-life issues. For over 27 years she has been a clinician in cancer and palliative care, serving in multiple clinical, administrative, educational and organizational roles. She has testified at the state and federal level on behalf of oncology, pain management, and end-of-life care issues and led two oncology nursing delegations to China and South Africa. Ms. Stanley has served on the board of the Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative and was honored for her outstanding contribution to the relief of cancer pain. A former president of the Oncology Nursing Society she has also served on the board for the California Coalition for Compassionate Care. Additionally, Ms. Stanley co-founded a Community Coalition focused on end-of-life care in Claremont, California; served as consultant to the “Bill Moyers Dying In America” series; and was a panelist on the PBS Fred Friendly show Before I Die: Medical Care and Personal Choices. Her achievements have been recognized with many acknowledgments including her selection as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Patricia L. Starck, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1979

Dr. Patricia L. Starck is the former John P. McGovern Endowed Professor and Dean at the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing at Houston. She was a member of a seven-dean delegation that started the first master’s program in China and in her later work on pain and suffering, she was the first to declare that undertreatment of pain is a medical error. With her strong foundation in clinical doctoral education, she created a unique model for faculty practice, first at Troy State University and later at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Today, the Houston practice generates $3,000,000 per year and contributes to health care in the larger community. Dr. Starck has provided leadership to initiate many new programs, including the first on-site graduate nursing program in the Rio Grande Valley. Over the years, Dr. Starck has raised millions of dollars to support nursing, including funds for a $58 million building, scholarships, endowed professorships/chairs, and other needs. She has published 47 articles, 7 book chapters, and co-authored the book The hidden dimension of illness: Human suffering. Dr. Starck developed the Meaning in Suffering Test (MIST), used by students from various disciplines around the world. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Elizabeth Stullenbarger, PhD, RN

MSN 1982, PhD 1984

Dr. Elizabeth Stullenbarger is former Professor and Associate Dean of the UAB School of Nursing. She also serves as Senior Scientist in the Minority Health and Research Center at UAB. Her research focuses on the expansion of understanding the meta-analysis process and integrative research review. She was a co-recipient of one of the first grants from the National Institute for Health and National Institute of Nursing Research to systematically conduct a meta-analysis of oncology in an effort to guide the development of comprehensive nursing interventions. As an educator, Dr. Stullenbarger served as a consultant in Thailand, China, Russia, Moldova, and St. Lucia to assist in refinement of their healthcare curricula. In America she created nurse-managed centers for students to expand their horizons and assist in the development of culturally competent care by taking nursing to under-served, low-income neighborhoods and leading the development of distance accessible learning environments. Dr. Stullenbarger has garnered in excess of $9 million to support, expand, and create culturally competent nursing programs that address the need to eliminate health disparities. Dr. Stullenbarger is past president of the Alabama Board of Nursing and has co-authored respected monographs on nurse educator competencies and clinical resources essential for academic nursing programs.

Surpora S. Thomas*, MBA, BSN, RN, FAAN

BSN 1985

*Deceased

Surpora S. Thomas is Chief Nurse Executive Emerita at Children’s Health System in Birmingham, Alabama, having served in that position for 27 years out of her four decade career. She has been a vanguard for exceptional pediatric nursing services and enhancing the health of underserved urban and rural communities which led her to faith-based activities using a community nursing approach.  She has moderated and produced a weekly radio program serving seven Appalachian counties and inner-city Birmingham. Ms. Thomas’ innovations in patient acuity models have revolutionized nursing and health care in Alabama, nationally and internationally. Results of this work framed the thrust for evidence-based practice in nursing. Because of her many innovations, the Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees and Executive Administration Staff named and dedicated The Surpora Thomas Pediatric Nursing Education Research Center in her honor. Honors also include establishment of the Surpora Thomas Nursing Excellence Fund to support Nursing Research and the Surpora Thomas award to recognize nursing excellence. In 2007, she led Children’s Health System to attain the American Nurse Credentialing Center Magnet Designation for Nursing Excellence. Additionally, she is an inductee into the Alabama Pediatric Nursing Hall of Fame, Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame and the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame.

Patricia E. Thompson, EdD, RN, FAAN

MSN 1971

Dr. Patricia E. Thompson retired in 2017 as Chief Executive Officer and past president of Sigma Theta Tau International. Previously she served as Associate Dean for Academic Programs at the College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, Arkansas. Her research focusing on initiatives that improve student success received $3 million in funding from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration as well as the Little Rock Workforce Investment Board as part of the US Department of Labor. She has published her findings in numerous journals including MEDSURG Nursing and Nurse Educator and presented at the international, national, and state level. Her awards and honors are numerous and include being named a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Additionally, she was inducted into the Northwestern State University Hall of Distinction as an Outstanding Alumni and was named a Honorary Alumni of UAMS College of Nursing. She was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame at the Louisiana State Nurses Association and was named a Distinguished Alumna at the UAB School of Nursing.

Sue Ellen Turner, MSN, USAF, NC

MSN 1981

Brigadier General (R) Sue Ellen Turner is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Entering the Air Force as Second Lieutenant, General Turner rose to the top of her profession during a time in history when only two percent of the general officers were women. As Director of the Nurse Corps, she represented nearly 23,000 nurses who provided care on the ground and in the air during both times of peace and times of war. As Chair of the Federal Nursing Chiefs Council, she articulated the interests and concerns of nearly 100,000 nurses serving in the federal system to professional groups and the U.S. Congress. The general founded a consulting firm after her retirement from the Air Force utilizing her more than 40 years of experience in the professional management of people, programs, and issues. She has consulted with hundreds of individuals and their organizations to create workplaces that attract and keep the very best people, compete favorably in today’s competitive environments, and make a difference in their communities. General Turner holds the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster. She has presented lectures, seminars, and conferences across the U.S. and 12 foreign countries. She was named the UAB SON Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 1993.

Anne Turner-Henson, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1992

Dr. Anne Turner-Henson is a Professor at the UAB School of Nursing; an Adjunct Professor UAB School of Public Health, Maternal Child Health Division; and an Associate Professor UAB School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. Through the interplay of her interdisciplinary research, programmatic development, grassroots and community empowerment and policymaking efforts, she has focused on the national and state level to improve the lives of children and families.   She has conducted research to test innovative models of care for children with asthma, exposure reduction of secondhand smoke and household chemicals. Her work resulted in the adoption of programs in various Alabama communities, local school districts, child care programs and community-based organizations. Dr. Turner-Henson is project director of UAB School of Nursing’s Leadership Education in Child-Health Nursing program, funded by Maternal Child Health Bureau, Department of Health and Human Services. This program seeks to prepare the next generation of nursing faculty leaders in child-health nursing education and biobehavioral research. As an advocate for children’s health, Dr. Turner-Henson serves on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee.She is vice-president of the Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS). She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Claudette G. Varricchio, PhD, RN, FAAN

PhD 1983

Dr. Claudette G. Varricchio is an expert in the field of oncology nursing. She taught in the graduate program for nursing at Loyola University in Chicago and collaborated with colleagues to establish the doctoral program curriculum at that institution. As a Program Director at the National Cancer Institute and as Associate Director at the National Institute for Nursing Research, she developed and promoted the research programs in symptom management, quality of life and survivorship. She co-authored the seminal publication The Nurse and Radiotherapy: A Manual of Daily Care published in 1979. She has authored numerous articles, book chapters and other publications related to symptom management, quality of life and research related to oncology nursing. She has co-edited issues of Seminars in Oncology Nursing which focuses on quality of life as well as the Oncology Nursing Society’s Study Guide for the Core Curriculum for Oncology Nurses. Dr. Varricchio is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and served on the National Institutes for Health expert panel at the State of the Science Conference on Smoking Cessation. She has been an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society having served as chair for the Nursing Professorship and Scholarships Committee.

Joan M. Vitello-Cicciu, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAHA, FAAN

MSN 1982

Dr. Joan M. Vitello-Cicciu is Dean of the Graduate School of Nursing at UMass Medical School. Previously, she served as Executive Director for Perioperative Nursing and Clinical Services at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 30 years of experience in hospital settings, she previously was the Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer for Hallmark Health System. Dr. Vitello-Cicciu has extensive experience as a clinical specialist and healthcare executive. She has presented papers around the world on topics ranging from leadership, emotional intelligence, appreciative inquiry, and organizational change, to cardiovascular, emergency, and professional issues in nursing. Her extensive accomplishments as an author are evident with published articles having appeared in Focus on Critical Care, the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, Critical Care Quarterly, Heart & Lung, Nursing Management, and the Journal of Nursing Administration. For ten years she has served as the co-editor of the Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. Dr. Vitello-Cicciu is a former president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the world's largest nursing specialty organization. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and a Fellow of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and has traveled to Honduras to provide humanitarian care for women and children. She was named UAB SON Distinguished Alumni Award recipient in 1996.

Connie White-Williams, PhD, RN, FAAN

MSN 1991, PhD 2009

Dr. Connie White-Williams is an expert in the field of heart transplantation. As an Assistant Professor at the UAB School of Nursing, she serves as the Director of the Center for Nursing Excellence at UAB Hospital. As a consultant, Dr. White-Williams works with other medical centers to develop competent organ transplant programs and she consults with nursing administrators at other institutions to achieve their quest for Magnet certification. Through funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Center for Nursing Research as well as public and private organizations and foundations, Dr. White-Williams’s research generates new information from ongoing research. She is a dedicated clinician and continues to present and publish research results at the local, national and international level about quality of life outcomes for cardiac patients and other nursing issues involving evidence based practice, education and health policy. Dr. White-Williams is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. Additionally, she was honored to receive the Clinical Excellence Award from the UAB Advanced Practice Council for Nursing and the International Heart and Lung Transplantation Society’s Nursing and Social Science Research Award.

Sharon B. Wyatt*, PhD, RN, CANP, FAAN

BSN 1970, MSN 1971

*Deceased

Dr. Sharon B. Wyatt was a Professor in the Schools of Nursing and Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and was the Harriet Williamson Endowed Chair in Nephrology Nursing. Her clinical practice was in the Division of Hypertension where she developed the first interdisciplinary practice and education model at UMMC for nurse practitioner, medical, and pharmacy students to care for persons with metabolic syndrome. Dr. Wyatt was best known for her research related to cardiovascular health disparities and innovative community-driven solutions to reduce disparities. With funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, she served as the co-principal investigator for the landmark Jackson Heart Study, to identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease in African Americans. She served as principal investigator for the National Children’s Study, Hinds County Study Center with over $12 million in funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Children’s Health. Her interdisciplinary approach to health equality resulted in her appointment as the co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease where she led the health policy development and implementation for Mississippi’s State Plan to reduce disparities. She was a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Wyatt passed away in 2015.

Janet S. Wyatt, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAANP

MSN 1974

Dr. Janet S. Wyatt served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, Inc. (PNCB). She has spent more than 40 years in nursing education, practice, and administration as an adult nurse practitioner, faculty member, and department head in graduate nursing programs. Her career also includes service as a Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Nurse Corps Reserves. As the CEO of the PNCB, she led the expansion of certification and continuing education programs for advanced and general practice pediatric nurses, quadrupling certification enrollment over 10 years. Dr. Wyatt also led the establishment of several organizational initiatives in support of quality healthcare.   Through her leadership, the Institute of Pediatric Nursing (IPN) was established to unite the collective voices of pediatric nursing leaders in an effort to strengthen quality care to children and families.  Dr. Wyatt also helped lead the establishment of the first Geriatric Evaluation and Management Unit (GEMU), a collaborative project of the University of MD and the Baltimore VA Medical Center providing rehabilitation services for functionally impaired elderly. Dr. Wyatt is a volunteer member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence, the Board of Directors of the Arthritis Foundation, and is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.