By Hunter Carter
In celebration of its 70th anniversary, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing is honoring 70 alumni who are leaders in the field of nursing, nurse anesthesia and health care with the Visionary Leader distinction. They join the first 60 Visionary Leaders named in 2010 for the School’s 60th Anniversary.
The Visionary Leader distinction recognizes outstanding UAB School of Nursing graduates for exemplary service in education and research, exemplary leadership, innovation, and far-reaching impact on nursing and health care on state, national, and international levels. Recipients were nominated by fellow graduates, colleagues and peers in their respective fields for their outstanding achievements and leadership.
“As we mark the 70th anniversary of the UAB School of Nursing, we honor and celebrate our alumni who have been integral in distinguishing the School in state, national and international circles and in shaping the field of nursing and health care," said Dean and Fay B. Ireland Endowed Chair in Nursing Doreen C. Harper, PhD, RN, FAAN. “There are so many well established and accomplished alumni from the School of Nursing that narrowing down to just 70 visionary leaders was an extremely difficult task for our peer evaluation selection committee.”
Well over 100 nominations were submitted by colleagues, mentors, mentees and fellow graduates. The nominations were reviewed in a highly selective peer-reviewed process. The selection committee, comprised of a diverse and well-recognized group of nursing and health care leaders, carefully scored each nomination packet based on achievements, service, leadership and impact on health care. Scored nomination packets were then ranked and recipients were determined from the rankings.
In addition to the 70 Visionary Leaders, a posthumous award will recognize Patricia Goode Culpepper, MD, MSN, who passed away in November 2020. Culpepper, who earned her MSN in 1977, worked as a nurse before going on to earn her Doctor of Medicine degree from the UAB School of Medicine. She was a well-known clinician, educator and researcher in geriatric medicine.
Visionary Leader award recipients will be honored during a series of virtual events held in April 2021, where the School will celebrate their success and accomplishments. Recipients will also have their names and bios added to the Visionary Leaders digital display in the School building. The School began its 70th anniversary celebration in 2020, but in-person events to mark the occasion were postponed due to COVID-19.
The Visionary Leader award recipients are:
Marsha H. Adams, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN – BSN 1977, MSN 1983, PhD 1992 — Professor and Dean, University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing
Janet S. Awtrey, PhD – PhD 1980 — Dean and Professor Emeritus, Capstone College of Nursing, University of Alabama
Dawn M. Aycock, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAHA, FAAN – PhD 2012 — Associate Professor and PhD Program Director, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University
Natalie R. Baker, DNP, CRNP, ANP-BC, GNP-BC, CNE, GS-C, FAANP – BSN 1985, MSN 1990, DNP 2010 — Associate Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Connie Barden, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, FAAN – MSN 1982 — Chief Clinical Officer, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Thomas W. Barkley, Jr., PhD, ACNP-BC, ANP, FAANP – PhD 1994 — President, Barkley & Associates Inc.
Velinda J. Block, DNP, RN, NEA-BC – DNP 2010 — retired, Chief Nurse Executive, HCA Healthcare TriStar Division
Elizabeth V. Carlson, PhD, RN – MSN 1976 — retired, Chair, Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing, Rush University
Eileen R. Chasens, PhD, RN, FAAN – PhD 2000 — Professor and Chair, Department of Health & Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Caroline V. Coburn, DNP, MS, APRN, ANP-BC – DNP 2013 — Associate Clinical Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Jennifer J. Coleman, PhD, RN, CNE, COI – BSN 1976 — Professor, Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, Samford University
Ann Connor, DNP, RN, FNP-BC – BSN 1977, MSN 1980, DNP 2013 — Associate Professor Emeritus, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Cindy Cooke, DNP, FNP-C, FAANP – DNP 2013 — adjunct faculty, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND
Norma G. Cuellar, PhD, RN, FAAN – PhD 1997 — Professor, Capstone College of Nursing, University of Alabama
Rt. Rev. Glenda S. Curry, PhD – MSN 1979 — Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
Sheila P. Davis, PhD, RN, FAAN, NP-C, LSM-BC – MSN 1984 — Co-owner and provider, A Natural Way Family Health Clinic, Byram, Miss.
Tearsanee C. Davis, DNP, APRN-BC, FAANP – DNP 2010 — Director, Clinical and Advanced Practice Operations, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Martha A. Dawson, DNP, RN, FACHE – BSN 1976, MSN 1984 — Associate Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Joy P. Deupree, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC – BSN 1994, MSN 1997 — Professor and Associate Dean for Practice Innovation, Partnerships, and Policy, University of South Carolina College of Nursing
Elizabeth Downes, DNP, MPH, MSN, FNP-C, CNE, FAANP, ANEF, FAAN – DNP 2013 — Professor and Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Programs, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Gregory S. Eagerton, DNP, RN, NEA-BC – BSN 1985, MSN 1991 — Associate Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Rear Admiral Joan M. Engel, MSN, RN, FAAN – MSN 1981 — retired Director, Navy Nurse Corps
Pamela S. Fahs, PhD, RN – PhD 1991 — Professor and Dr. G. Clifford and Florence B. Decker Endowed Chair in Rural Nursing, Decker School of Nursing, Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Binghamton University
Juanzetta S. Flowers, PhD, RN – BSN 1966, MSN 1983, PhD 1985 — Associate Professor Emerita, UAB School of Nursing
Pamela N. Fordham, PhD, RN, FNP, FAANP – MSN 1976, PhD 1989 — retired Chair, Family/Child Health and Caregiving Department, UAB School of Nursing
Linda Gibson-Young, PhD, ARNP, FNP-BC, AE-C, FAANP – MSN 2003, PhD 2011 — Associate Professor, Auburn University School of Nursing
Teresa N. Gore, PhD, DNP, FNP-BC, CHSE-A, FSSH, FAAN – DNP 2009– Professor, Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing, Nova Southeastern University
Kelly A. Goudreau, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN – PhD 2000 — Associate Director of Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive, Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Deborah F. Grimes, BSN, RN, JD, MSHQS – BSN 1986 — Chief Diversity Officer, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, Louisiana
Melanie Gibbons Hallman, DNP, CRNP, CEN, FNP-BC, ACNP-BC, ENP-C, TCRN, FAEN – BSN 1983, MSN 1990, MSN 1995, DNP 2012 — Assistant Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Pandora Hardtman, DNP, CNM, MSN, FACNM – DNP 2012 — Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics
Lindsey M. Harris, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC – MSN 2011, DNP 2016 — Inpatient Nurse Practitioner, UAB Hospital
Madeline G. Harris, MSN, RN – BSN 1975, MSN 1990 — retired Director of Women’s Breast Health Funds, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Kristi A. Henderson, DNP, FNP, ACNP, FAAN, FAEN – DNP 2010 — Senior Vice President, Teleheath & Innovation, Optum Health
Cristina C. Hendrix, DNS, GNP-BC, FAAN – MSN 1996 — Associate Professor, Duke University School of Nursing
Ashley L. Hodges, PhD, CRNP, WHNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN – MSN 1997, PhD 2008 — Professor and Associate Dean for Graduate Clinical Programs, UAB School of Nursing
Aimee C. Holland, DNP, MS, CRNP, WHNP-BC, FNP-C, FAANP – DNP 2012 — Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Graduate Clinical Education, UAB School of Nursing
Carthenia W. Jefferson, Esq., JD, BSN, RN – BSN 1985 — Senior Attorney, Jefferson Law Firm LLC
Carolynn Thomas Jones, DNP, MSPH, RN, FAAN – BSN 1986, DNP 2013 — Associate Professor, Ohio State University College of Nursing
Rebecca R. Keck, DNP, RN, NEA-BC – DNP 2014 — Assistant Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Administration and Operations, and Chief Administrative Officer, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Loretta T. Lee, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC – MSN 1991, PhD 2012 — Associate Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Sheila D. Melander, PhD, APRN, ACNP-BC, FCCM, FAANP, FAAN – PhD 1990 — Professor and Associate Dean of MSN & DNP Faculty Affairs & Practice, University of Kentucky College of Nursing
Nancy B. Moody, PhD – PhD 1991 — retired President, Tusculum University
Tonya Moore, PhD, RN – PhD 2012 — Executive Director of Leadership and Workforce Development, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Lisa B. Muirhead, DNP, APRN-BC, ANP, FAANP, FAAN – DNP 2009 — Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Rose Chalo Nabirye, PhD, MPH, ADHSM, RN/M – PhD 2010 — Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Busitema University, Uganda
Louise C. O’Keefe, PhD, CRNP, CNE, FAANP, FAAOHN – PhD 2013 — Associate Professor, University of Alabama in Huntsville College of Nursing
Arwa Oweis, DNSc, RN – MSN 1991 — Regional Adviser for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health, World Health Organization
Donna R. Packa, DSN, RN – MSN 1976, DSN 1986 — Professor Emerita, Capstone College of Nursing, University of Alabama
Sara C. Paul, DNP, FNP, FAHA, CHFN, FHFSA – MSN 1986 — Director, Heart Function Clinic & Heart Failure Initiatives, Catawba Valley Health System, Conover, NC
Terri L. Poe, DNP, RN, NE-BC – BSN 1986, DNP 2013 — Chief Nursing Officer, UAB Hospital
Carol J. Ratcliffe, DNP, RN, COI, FACHE – MSN 1995 — Professor and Chair, Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics, School of Public Health, Samford University
Cynthia S. Selleck, PhD, RN, FAAN – PhD 1987 — Professor Emerita, UAB School of Nursing
Larry Z. Slater, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, FAAN – BSN 2008, PhD 2011 — Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Loewenberg College of Nursing, University of Memphis
Blake K. Smith, MSN, RN – MSN 2017 — Senior Clinical Documentation Analyst, Nebraska Medicine
D’Ann W. Somerall, DNP, MAEd, CRNP, FNP-BC, FAANP – BSN 1995, MSN 1999, DNP 2011 — retired Assistant Professor, UAB School of Nursing
Marcia K. Stanhope, PhD, RN, FAAN – PhD 1981 — Professor Emerita, University of Kentucky College of Nursing
Linda A. Streit, PhD, RN – PhD 1991 — Professor and Dean, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, Mercer University
Helen M. Taggart, PhD, RN – PhD 2000 — Professor, Georgia South University School of Nursing
Michele H. Talley, PhD, ACNP-BC, FAANP – MSN 2005, PhD 2015 — Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Clinical and Community Programs, UAB School of Nursing
Stacey A. VanDyke, DNP, CRNA – DNP 2013 — Assistant Professor and Nurse Anesthesia Program Director, Florida State University-Panama City
Diane M. Von Ah, PhD, RN, FAAN – PhD 2003 — Professor and Associate Dean of Academic Operations, Indiana University School of Nursing
Cathy R. Ward, PhD, RN, NEA-BC – BSN 1977 — retired Chief Nursing Officer, UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center and Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA
Penni I. Watts, PhD, RN, CHSE-A – PhD 2015 — Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Simulation & Training, UAB School of Nursing
Deborah E. Wesley, MSN, RN – MSN 1986 — retired, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Children’s of Alabama
Ronald C. Whorton, MNA, CRNA – BS 1985, MNA 2008 — President, AnPro Services LLC
S. Brian Widmar, PhD, ACNP-BC, CCRN, CNE, FAANP – BSN 2003, MSN 2005 — Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Academics, Advanced Nursing Practice, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Kelly A. Wolgast, DNP, RN, FACHE, FAAN – DNP 2012 — Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Outreach and Professional Development, Pennsylvania State University College of Nursing
Kathryn A. Wood, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN – MSN 1984 — Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Geraldine Q. Young, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CDCES, FAANP – DNP 2010 — Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Frontier Nursing University
