By Pareasa Rahimi
Several University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing faculty recently received an Alabama League for Nursing, with two others receiving scholarships to help fund their doctoral education. The award and scholarships were presented at the 2025 ALN Annual Conference and Meeting.
ALN is an affiliate of the National League for Nursing, a national organization committed to excellence in nursing education.
The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes exemplary educators for the development and implementation of innovative teaching strategies employed in a variety of settings.
Assistant Professor Somali Nguyen, DNP, CRNP, AGACNP-BC (BSN 2010, MSN 2014, DNP 2019); Assistant Professor Hiboombe Haamankuli, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC (MSN 2010, DNP 2016); Assistant Professor Sabrina Kopf, DNP, CRNP, ACNP-BC (BSN 2009, DNP 2017); Assistant Professor Tracie White, DNP, CRNP, ACNP‐BC, CNOR, CRNFA, CHSE (MSN 2010, DNP 2017); Instructor Jennifer Ledlow, PhD, RN, CCRN, CNL, CNE, CHSE (BSN 2014, MSN 2016, PhD 2024); and Instructor Rebekah Day, DNP, CRNP, AGACNP‐BC (MSN 2015, DNP 2024), received the award for their project, “Interprofessional Collaboration in Telehealth: Enhancing Social Determinants of Health Recognition Through Simulation.”
The project included a dynamic three-part program for Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner students to build collaborative skills and clinical expertise. Through certification, live collaboration and realistic simulations, the program equips students to deliver holistic, well-coordinated patient care in their future practice.
Haamankuli, a student in the School’s PhD Program, also is the recipient of a $1,000 Doctoral Scholarship grant to help support his project focusing on exploring the adverse outcomes associated with prostate cancer treatments and their impact on the quality of life among Black men. This includes examining challenges in reporting adverse outcomes to inform the development of a program of research to help understanding and addressing these challenges, ultimately enhancing treatment compliance, quality of life and survivorship.
Instructor Victoria Bria, MSN, RN, has also been awarded a $1,000 Doctoral Scholarship to support her project as part of the School’s Post-MSN to DNP Pathway. Over the next 18 months, she will collaborate with UAB Medicine's Department of Interprofessional Practice and Training to plan and implement a quality improvement initiative at UAB Hospital-Highlands campus.
“Our faculty's dedication to teaching excellence and scholarship has earned well-deserved recognition,” said University Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Linda Moneyham, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Their contributions are not only preparing future nurses to lead in their field but also driving enhancements in health care and improving the well-being of communities.”