Update from Dean Roux

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

9-22-2014

Campus Unit

College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines

Abstract

Greetings to all Faculty and Staff,

What a wonderful first two weeks I have had here at UND. I have had the pleasure of meeting with faculty, staff, and students from many departments. I continue to be impressed at your dedication to improve the health and wellbeing of our community and beyond. There is no doubt in my mind that this college is equipped to be a leader in the state, region, and nation in health care and human services.

I would like to take a moment to introduce myself to those of you who have not yet had a chance to meet with me. I recently arrived from Texas to work collaboratively with the outstanding administrators, faculty, and staff of the college. I grew up in Iowa (hence I am not as afraid of the winters as a Texas native would be!), and I spent time in both Nebraska and Texas while earning my nursing degrees. My husband and I enjoy bike riding and cross-country skiing, so we plan to take advantage of the outdoor activities here. We recently went to Itasca State Park to explore the bike trails, Headwaters, and Wilderness Area. We greatly appreciated the beauty of the park and region.

I am committed to serve the students, faculty, staff, and extended community of the CNPD. As we make decisions and strategic plans together, we will be mindful of our mission of service as educators, health professionals, scholars, and researchers.

Below are some important recent achievements in the CNPD:

(1) Yee Han from the Department of Social Work has successfully defended her dissertation. Congratulations to Yee Han!

(2) The Department of Social Work's Phi Alpha student organization has been awarded the chapter national service award for the second time in three years. Special recognition should be given to George Jirout, former Phi Alpha President, and Barb Kramer, the faculty club advisor. Their work to improve our community goes above and beyond normal.

(3) Sigma Theta Tau has awarded Bridget Thompson the Excellence in Nursing Education award and Lucy Heinz was recognized with the Caring Award. We are truly fortunate to have such committed faculty in our program.

(4) The Adult Gerontology and Family Nurse Practitioner Classes of 2015 were on campus September 8th through the 12th. While here they attended lectures and participated in skill sessions and clinical exams.

(5) Congratulations to Dawn Denny, who successfully defended her Ph.D. Dissertation on September 10th, "Subsyndromal Delirium and Postoperative Pain in Older Adults."

(6) Deb Wilson and Barb Anderson (RAIN Program) attended the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) 31st Annual Consumer Conference in Albuquerque, NM September 8-10, 2014. NIHB is a non-profit organization which provides a variety of services for healthcare to tribal nations across America. Our RAIN representatives were at a booth sharing information on our University, CNPD and the RAIN Program. Deb participated in a session regarding the Affordable Care Act and health insurance for our American Indian students. They also visited the Indian Health Service in Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Indian Center and several area tribal health care centers including Acomo-Canoncito-Laguna Pueblo, Santa Ana Health Center, Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Inc, Zia Pueblo and the Isleta Pueblo. A Pueblo is an American Indian community in the southwest.

(7) Congratulations to Chris Harsell, Maridee Shogren, Angela Muhs, Jackie Roberts, Thomasine Heitkamp, and Joe Miller for their project Interprofessional Training & Dissemination of SBIRT in ND which was awarded $556,231

(8) Phi Alpha Social Work Honorary Society for Social Work Students has achieved a great success. The chapter received a national award for their dedication and service to the community. It is an award given to a Phi Alpha chapter that demonstrates the ability to effectively live out the mission of Phi Alpha as well as the mission of social work as a whole. Congratulations Social Work!

(9) Nursing PhD students were on campus for their Fall Intensive session, September 15 – 17th. The PhD program in Nursing is a distance-delivered program, and students are required to some to come together once a semester for an "intensive" session, either on campus or at a regional or national research meeting. During these Intensives, students have the opportunity to attend presentations and seminars, on a variety of topics related to becoming a nurse scientist, that enhance the knowledge they gain through their regular coursework.

Share

COinS