The summer is off to a busy start here at Rush University College of Nursing. We have much to be proud of this year and even more to look forward to in the months ahead.
On April 27, 2019, we welcomed 76 students into our College of Nursing alumni family at Rush University’s 47th commencement ceremony. On behalf of the entire college, I extend sincere congratulations to our class of 2019 MSN, DNP and PhD graduates. I wish you all the best as you take the next step in your nursing careers and know you will continue to serve as wonderful ambassadors for the College of Nursing.
I’m pleased to share two new nursing leadership appointments. First, we are excited to welcome Michelle Collins, PhD, CNM, RNC-EFM, FACNM, FAAN, to the College of Nursing as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Dr. Collins joins us from the School of Nursing at Vanderbilt University where she was a professor and director of the Nurse-Midwifery program. Earlier this year, Dr. Olimpia Paun, professor in the College of Nursing, accepted the position of Nurses Alumni Association Chair in Health and the Aging Process. Dr. Paun is only the second person to hold this prestigious endowed position. Additionally, we are in the midst of a national search to recruit a new chairperson for the Department of Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing.
Rush University College of Nursing recently received top honors at the Midwest Nursing Research Society’s (MNRS) Conference in Kansas City. Nine students from the college participated in the student poster presentation. I’m proud to share that two of our students took second and third place in the DNP poster competition. Learn more about the great work being done by our nursing students, educators, clinicians and researchers in the latest issue of Nursing in Action.
Lastly, I invite you all to share your insights on how to advance the nursing profession at the National Academy of Medicine’s Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Town Hall event on June 7th at Malcolm X College.
The focus of this Town Hall is on how nurses contribute to the health of the nation, particularly around the social determinants of health. Rush is one of only three sites nationally to host these Town Halls. This is an exciting opportunity for Rush alumni to have input in the report being developed to help chart a path for the future decade of nursing.
I hope you enjoy the news and announcements in this edition of News & Views. Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to meeting alumni at our upcoming events this fall.