By Sarah Morgan Johnson
The Alabama State Nurses Association honored University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing alumni and faculty at the annual convention in October. The ASNA represents more than 82,000 registered nurses across all specialties and practice settings, and its 2,750 members work to advance nursing and health care in Alabama.
Meritorious Service Award
Associate Professor D’Ann Somerall, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP (BSN 1995, MSN 1999, DNP 2011), received the inaugural Meritorious Service Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made a sustained impact through excellent leadership and community engagement and who has bettered the organization.
Somerall is an associate professor and her clinical and research interests include women’s health and social determinants of health. Her research can be found in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Nursing Education. She has previously served as the ASNA Interim Executive Director and President of the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama. Somerall is a member of the National Association of Family Nurse Practitioners Advisory Council and has been selected to serve as co-chair of the Advocacy Committee.
Lifetime Service Award
Madeline Harris, MSN, RN (BSN 1975, MSN 1990), received the Lifetime Service Award which honors a nurse who continues to make invaluable contributions to nursing and health care following retirement.
Harris is an oncology nurse, a certified breast cancer nurse and the former director of Women’s Breast Health Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. She is one of the founders of Contenu Healing, where she also serves as president of the board. In December, she will retire from her position as manager of senior services at the Mary Ellen Ester Senior Community Care Center. Harris was an inaugural member of the School’s National Advisory Council and was named one of the School’s 70 Visionary Leaders in 2021. She previously received the School’s Jo Ann Bennett Award for Compassionate Care and the American Cancer Society Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award for oncology nurses who demonstrate compassionate and expert care. In 2016, Harris and her family generously named the Callans’ Legacy Luke 14:11 Suite in the School of Nursing Dean’s office during The Campaign for UAB: Give Something; Change Everything.
Lillian Holland Harvey Award
Valerie Jones, RN, BSN, MSM (BSN 1988), received the Lillian Holland Harvey Award. This award honors an individual who works to provide high quality care to economically and culturally underserved groups.
Jones has been a nurse for more than 35 years and currently works as an advanced utilization specialist at UAB Medicine. She has previously served as chair of UAB Hospital’s Women’s Employee Resource Group and is the current chair of the ASNA’s Equity, Ethics and Engagement Committee. Jones is passionate about serving underserved communities and regularly volunteers with the healthcare ministry at New Rising Star Church and with the MCH H.O.P.E.S Pipeline, a program that provides mentorship to high school students interested in a health care career.
Cindajo Overton Outstanding Educator Award
Marlena Barginere Smith, DNP, RN-BC, LSSGB (BSN 1999, MSN 2005, MSN 2013, DN 2021), received the Cindajo Overton Outstanding Educator Award. This award recognizes nurse educators who impact the quality of health care through teaching.
Smith has been an adjunct clinical instructor at the School since 2022 and has served as the nurse residency program coordinator for UAB Medicine since 2020. She has 25 years of nursing experience in a variety of settings including medical-surgical rehabilitation and long-term care. Smith has also done consultancy work regarding evidence-based practice and accreditation guidelines.
Louise Barksdale Outstanding Nursing Practice Award
Aimee Rothe, BSN, RN, CBN, CEN, TCRN, NHDP-BC, AFAA-CGFI, NASM-CNC (BSN 2007), received the Louise Barksdale Outstanding Nursing Practice Award. This award recognizes an individual who uses their nursing knowledge to help patients and communities reach optimal levels of health and activity.
During her 16 years as a nurse, Rothe has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including trauma intensive care, the burns unit, emergency nursing and obesity medicine. She currently serves as the director of obesity medicine and bariatric surgery at UAB St. Vincent's. Rothe is an active member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the Obesity Action Coalition and The Obesity Society.
Outstanding Nursing Administrator Award
Frankie Wallis, DNP, RN, COI, received the Outstanding Nursing Administrator Award for his outstanding leadership and mentorship. This award honors an individual who works in administration at a nursing school or health care organization.
Wallis is an associate vice president at UAB Medicine and an adjunct instructor at the School of Nursing. He is currently teaching forensic nursing and men’s health. He has previously served as the senior director of emergency services at UAB Medicine. Wallis has a passion for mentorship and teaching and has been an associate professor at the Samford University Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing since 2014.
