The UAB Graduate Programs in Health Informatics has announced a new scholarship, dedicated to the memory of Eta S. Berner, Ed.D., University Professor Emeritus. Berner touched many lives throughout her career, and her scholarship is a testament to the impact she had on others. Fellow faculty, colleagues, and former students came together to make the endowment possible.

Berner, who taught in the Master of Science in Health Informatics, the Clinical Informatics Certificate, and the AMIA 10x10 programs passed away in late 2023. She was a renowned educator and the director of the UAB Center for Health Informatics for Patient Safety/Quality (CHIPS-Q). Her tenure at UAB spanned from 1986 to 2022, during which she left an indelible mark on both her students and the field of health informatics.

“Dr. Berner’s impact to the health informatics profession has a sphere of influence far beyond what we saw in our day-to-day lives with her here at UAB,” said Sue Feldman, RN, Ph.D., FACMI. “Her fundamental principles that were the cornerstone of much of what we do in, and how we view health informatics, continue to evolve. Eta Berner was a colleague, a confidant, a mentor, and a really good teacher. While she is deeply missed, this scholarship enables us to ensure that her impact and influence live on and continue to grow.”

In 2020, Berner was honored with the Joseph F. Volker Award, recognizing her as the top faculty member in the School of Health Professions (SHP). Known for her innovative approach to education, Berner was one of the first faculty members to embrace online teaching. In 2015, she achieved a milestone as the first in SHP to have an online course certified by Quality Matters. She also became the first at UAB to receive the Provost’s Award for Transformative Online Courses, an accolade celebrating best practices and innovation in online education. 

The scholarship, established in Berner’s name, aims to honor her contributions to the health informatics profession and her commitment to students and academic excellence. Over her distinguished career, Berner mentored numerous students, leaving a lasting impact on their professional and personal lives. It will be most fitting tribute to her legacy to award a scholarship to a health informatics student each year.  

For more information about the scholarship and how to apply, please visit the UAB Health Informatics program’s website.