University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) student Jennifer Bail, BSN, RN, has been named the School's first recipient of the University’s Samuel B. Barker Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies.
Given since 1995, the award is named for UAB's first graduate dean Dr. Samuel Booth Barker and recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of one student at the doctoral level and one at the master's level who will graduate in the current calendar year. The winners are chosen by the dean of the UAB Graduate School from among a group of students nominated by the graduate program directors across campus.
| In addition to Jennifer Bail, 20 other students were also recognized at the University’s 2017 Honors Convocation March 30. These include: • Pauline Swiger, Dean’s Award, Doctoral Student • Susan Darby, Dean’s Award, Undergraduate Student • Curry Bordelon III, Outstanding Doctor of Nursing Practice • Kelli Borland, Outstanding MSN Student Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner • Lara Bradbury, Outstanding MSN Student Adult Acute Care Gerontology (First Assist Nurse Practitioner) • Brandie Burgess, Outstanding MSN Student Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Women’s Health Subspecialty) • Katie Danielson, Outstanding MSN Student Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner • Rachel Edenfield, Outstanding MSN Student Dual Pediatric Primary and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner • Alina Harper, Outstanding MSN Student Neonatal Nurse Practitioner • Jamie Hudgins, Outstanding MSN Student Nurse Educator • Tonya Judson, Outstanding MSN Student Nursing Informatics • Brandy Lackey, Outstanding MSN Student Family Nurse Practitioner • Olivia McCammon, Outstanding MSN Student Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner • Lance Murdock, Outstanding MSN Student Nurse Anesthesia • Eric Nguyen, Outstanding Undergraduate Student in BSN/Nursing • Lauren Roberts, Outstanding MSN Student Psychiatric-Mental Health Primary Care Nurse Practitioner • Blake Smith, Outstanding MSN Student Nursing and Health Systems Administration • Laura Stone, Outstanding Undergraduate Student in RN-BSN • Allison Strider, Outstanding MSN Student Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (Oncology Subspecialty) • Xiang Zeng, Outstanding MSN Student Adult Primary Care Gerontology Nurse Practitioner |
"When I first heard I was shocked, but when the shock wore off, there was just excitement at the fact that I am the first from the UAB School of Nursing to receive this award in its 22-year history," Bail said. "I am also very proud that this reflects so positively on the UAB School of Nursing."
Bail also believes the award is a tangible sign that the School’s PhD program curriculum, which underwent a major revamp from 2012 to 2014, is highly effective.
“I am in the first cohort that entered under the revised curriculum and I think not only my success but the success of our entire cohort is proof of the excellence that exists here,” Bail said. “Every course has a purpose and everything you learn builds on something else. The way the curriculum has been revised is so structured and focused that everything you need to be successful is provided.”
Bail has seen a number of achievements throughout her time as a full-time student in the School, which she also believes has been a tremendous benefit. Some of her milestones include:
- Receiving a prestigious American Cancer Society (ACS) Doctoral Degree Scholarship in Cancer Nursing. The grant, one of only six funded nationwide by the ACS for 2016, provides Bail a total of $30,000 of support over two years during the dissertation phase of her studies.
- Her selection as a Susan G. Komen Graduate Training in Disparities Research (GTDR) scholar. The GTDR is designed to establish and sustain a training program for graduate students seeking careers dedicated to understanding and eliminating disparities in breast cancer outcomes across population groups.
- Being named a “Rising Star in Nursing” by Sigma Theta Tau International, Beta Phi Chapter.
- Receiving a Gladys Farmer Colvin Memorial Fellowship from the UAB School of Nursing.
“Jennifer was a remarkable candidate for this prestigious award because she truly embodies the highest level of student achievement at UAB,” said Associate Dean for Research and Professor Karen Meneses, PhD, RN, FAAN, who is Bail’s mentor. “With her research focus on improving cognitive impairment among breast cancer survivors, she has made great strides in moving the science forward. Jennifer has the passion, dedication and capability to become an independent researcher and make many more significant contributions to this understudied research area.”
Bail expressed her appreciation to Meneses for the opportunity pursue her PhD at the UAB School of Nursing and for guidance throughout her time here. She also thanked the faculty, her fellow cohort members and her husband, Sumanth Bail, for all their help in making her dream of becoming a doctorally-prepared nurse and researcher come true.
“I did not receive this award by myself,” Bail said. “I have many people to thank starting with Dr. Meneses. The faculty and staff are amazing and my cohort -- the Sapsuckers -- have been absolutely amazing as well. Then there is my husband, who has been my No. 1 supporter. He has been there with me and done whatever it took to make this happen for me, and I couldn’t have done it without him.”
Now that she is the School’s first Barker Award recipient, she is optimistic she is the first of many more to come.
“I hope to see another representative from the UAB School of Nursing receive it next year and for many more years after that,” Bail said. “My receiving this award brings awareness of where we are and where we have come from in the nursing profession. People’s perception of nursing and respect for the profession really are changing, and I truly believe that is reflected in someone from the School being selected for this award.”
To see more scenes from the 2017 Honors Convocation, click here.
Some of the UAB School of Nursing students recognized at the 2017 Honors Convocation included, from left to right, Lauren Roberts, Brandy Lackey, Brandie Burgess, Allison Strider, Lara Bradbury, Curry Bordelon III, Eric Nguyen, Susan Darby, Laura Stone, Pauline Swiger and Jennifer Bail. 
