Lifelines Spring/Summer 2016

LIFELINESMUSC College of Nursing’s

Spring | Summer 2016

Taking Nursing to a Higher Levelwww.musc.edu/nursing

Meet 11 alumni who are changing what's possible in nursing at home and around the world

Making an Impact

ONE GENERATION PLANTS THE TREE,

ANOTHER GENERATION ENJOYS THE SHADE.

WAYS TO GIVE TO THE MUSC COLLEGE OF NURSINGCash | Bequests | Retirement assets | Savings bonds | Life insuranceAppreciated stock | Real estate | Payroll deduction (for MUSC employees)

FOR MORE INFORMATIONLaurie Scott | Director of Development

843.792.8421 | [email protected]

takenursinghigher.musc.edu

CHARITABLE GIFT

ANNUITY

DONOR GIVES: cash, securities, other property

DONOR RECEIVES: income tax deductions,

fixed payments

MUSC RECEIVES: remaining assets

DONOR

Leave a legacy with a gift that gives back.

Through a charitable gift annuity you can enjoy a fixed income for life regardless of how the stock market performs in the future.

Your gift will not only support the MUSC College of Nursing, but you can benefit by receiving

permanent income tax savings and an immediate income tax deduction.

Our alumni are the ripples in our College of Nursing pond of

excellence. Actually we are much more like an ocean of influence

rather than a pond! Thus it is fitting and perhaps overdue that this is

the first issue of Lifelines that has turned the spotlight on some of our many

amazing graduates and shared their profiles with you. Of course it is hard

to capture the careers of just a few, so in the future we will look to highlight

and celebrate other alumni who also are making us proud.

In our 132 years as the

MUSC College of Nursing,

we have seen health care

issues rise and fall, grow

and morph, and enhance

and sometimes sadly

diminish the lives of our

patients, their families

and communities. Our

graduates have always

been there focused on one

charge – patient care first

and foremost.

We have had graduates who have worked in wards, battlefields, intensive

care units and community shelters. We have had graduates who have

excelled as clinicians, educators, researchers, corporate executives,

missionaries and policy makers. We have had graduates who changed lives

large and small on the local, national and international stage. We are proud

of them all and celebrate their contributions.

Given this diversity of people, career paths and impact you may be asking

is there a unifying theme to all of these nurses? I propose that indeed there

is. The common thread is that here at MUSC we do not intend to be all

things to all nurses. Rather we are focused on educating nurse “careerists”

who are the nurse leaders of today and tomorrow, and we expect them to

express their leadership where they stand in place – wherever that might be.

So I have a question for you. What do you want your own health care

provider to be like? If you want a compassionate, competent, and respectful

health care clinician then we have a nurse for you – a MUSC College of

Nursing nurse. I hope you will, therefore, read their profiles and swell with

pride for our ripples in the pond and waves in the ocean.

Gail W. Stuart, PhD, RN, FAAN

Dean and Distinguished University Professor

Medical University of South Carolina

Gail W. Stuart,Dean

Jo Smith,Editor

Beth Khan,Design & Production

Josh Goodwin,Photography

Laurie Scott,Director of Development

Susannah Netherland,Development Associate

A publication of the Medical University of South Carolina

College of Nursing

PUBLISHED BY

HAVE FEEDBACK? SEND COMMENTS TO:

Jo Smith

Lifelines EditorMUSC College of Nursing

99 Jonathan Lucas St., MSC 160Charleston, SC 29425-1600

[email protected](843) 792-3941

99 Jonathan Lucas StreetCharleston, SC 29425

www.musc.edu/nursing

TAKING NURSES HIGHER

POSTMASTER: Send corrections to Lifelines, MUSC College of Nursing, 99 Jonathan Lucas St., MSC 160, Charleston, SC 29425-1600. © Copyright 2016 by the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nurs-ing. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced without permission from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing.

Volume IX, Issue 1 • Spring/Summer 2016

LIFELINES

DEAN’S COLUMN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEATUREMAKING AN IMPACT .....................4 MUSC College of Nursing alumni make their mark in the world of health care

DEPARTMENTSDEAN’S COLUMN .......................... 1

AROUND THE COLLEGE .............16

FOCUS ON FACULTY .................. 21

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT ................23

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS ........... 28

GIVING BACK ..............................32

LINES OF LIFE .............................36

In December 2015, six ABSN students traveled to India to explore the culture

and gain an understanding of the health care system in the world’s second-most populous country.

Read more on p.24

4 LIFELINES Spring | Summer 2016

Making an Impact

W ith over 6,600 alumni, the MUSC College

of Nursing has extended its arms of caring

and curing across the boundaries of time, place

and space. The results are at times subtle and

at other times highly visible, but they are always

impactful. On these pages meet 11 graduates

who are focused on patient care, educating the

21st century nursing workforce, exploring areas

of new knowledge, and expanding the role and

contributions of nurses worldwide.

HISTORY OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONAccording to “The School of Nursing of the Medical College of

South Carolina: Its Story” written by Ruth Chamberlin, RN, MA,

the Nursing Alumni Association began in 1907 as the Graduate

Nurses Association (GNA) with the purpose of providing a

certification system for nurses.

This network was sought after by other South Carolina

nursing schools who joined the GNA to form the Roper Hospital

Alumnae Association around 1910, when licensure began in

South Carolina. According to Miss Chamberlin, in 1945, the

group's name changed to the Alumnae of the School of Nursing

of the Medical College of the State of South Carolina (MCSC). It

was at this time that graduates began to stitch the letters MCSC

on the brims of their nursing caps, to demonstrate a “growing

appreciation of the Medical College.”

In the 1950s there was a move to combine the alumni

associations for all graduates of the Medical College of South

Carolina, which included alumni from the medical, nursing

and pharmacy schools. Years later, as the three colleges of

dental medicine, graduate studies, and allied health (now health

professions) were formed and university status was achieved,

the combined effort grew in size. In the early 1980s, the Joint

Alumni Board was created with representation from each

college, and a new constitution and by-laws were adopted.

Today, there are six alumni associations with one central

office lead by an executive director. The groups continue to

grow their memberships in support of MUSC’s programs.

The College of Nursing Alumni Association remains one

of the university’s most active alumni groups. In addition

to sponsorship of alumni events and recognition of alumni

achievement, the association awards four student scholarships,

and provides career mentoring programs for current nursing

students.

WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR NURSING CAREER TO DATE?

As a first generation college graduate, I am a dedicated lifelong learner. Every one of my

graduations has been a career highlight for me. With each degree, I realize how much more I

need to learn.

My experience as the president of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society for Nursing,

was an opportunity that exceeded my wildest dreams. During my term, I met hundreds of nurse

leaders from around the world; and I gave presentations on six different continents in two years.

WHAT IMPORTANT CAREER LESSON DID YOU LEARN AT MUSC?

Dean Stuart taught a course on family dynamics, that expanded my understanding of the impact

of family history and childhood experiences on adult behaviors, interactions, and coping strategies.

These insights have been very useful to me in understanding my own family, as well as understanding

patients, students, and coworkers.

Dr. Jeanette Hartshorn also was a great mentor. The first time she gave me feedback on a paper, I

was so embarrassed and upset that it made me physically ill. She taught me how to accept constructive

feedback as a gift, and she helped me advance my writing skills to the next level. Dr. Hartshorn also

taught me the value of active engagement in professional organizations both locally and nationally.

ANY ADVICE FOR A MUSC COLLEGE OF NURSING STUDENT?

Get as much education as you can, as soon as you can. If you wait to get more clinical experience

before continuing your education, it will be more difficult to return to the student role. Obtaining an

advanced degree at a young age makes a significant positive impact on your career advancement potential.

SuzanneP R E V O S T

[ MSN '86 ] THE SCHOLAR

Q+A

I used to play basketball and volleyball. I love collegiate athletics and I feel incredibly blessed

to be in a leadership role at the University of Alabama, where I get to attend championship

level athletic events year round.

FunFact

From 2011 through 2013, as president of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI),

Dr. Prevost was instrumental in expanding the honor society’s global presence,

including the establishment of a satellite office in South Africa. She also led

its Board of Directors in crafting a new mission, vision, and strategic plan, and

promoted international collaboration among members throughout six global

regions, which led to membership into the Economic and Social Council of the

United Nations. She is known for leading academic-practice partnerships and

chaired both the National Research Utilization Task Force for the American Association

of Critical Care Nurses and the International Evidence-Based Practice Task Force for

STTI. Dr. Prevost has served as editor of Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America

and Nursing Clinics of North America and has co-authored the palliative care projection

for the IOM Report on the Future of Nursing.

Suzanne Prevost, PhD, RN, FAAN Dean and Professor, Capstone College of NursingUniversity of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL



Becoming the first nursing president of the Pakistan Nursing Council, the

regulatory body for license and curriculum approval was clearly a highlight.

I also am the founding president and developer of the first Sigma Theta Tau

International chapter (Rho Delta) in the Muslim world.


Dean Stuart is the visionary who saw me as an important future leader of my

country. She understood the specific needs for my learning and provided me

with the opportunities to hone my professional skills in various aspects of human

relations and nursing administration with real life scenarios.

The faculty’s warmth, friendliness, knowledge, understanding of cultures, and

hospitality really stood out to me. Surely all these aforementioned aspects became

characteristics of my life and today I am successful because of them. I continue to

employ these with my students, colleagues and other health care providers.


Never give up. Challenges will come. Obstacles will be there, but you move on. Be

persistent. Even if you can make a difference in one family’s or an individual’s life that

will be a great achievement.

[ MSN ’94 ]

RafatJ A N

Q+A

> I watch several food channels, but only cook what is known to me. > I love watching Disney movies.> I never shy away from starting new things.

Fun Facts

THE CHANGE AGENT

She is the first nurse to serve as president of the Pakistan Nursing Council. Dr. Jan

has worked with federal and provincial governments for the strategic direction

of nursing and midwifery and advocacy for higher education, establishing full

competencies for midwives to improve maternal and neonatal health; has

provided expert opinion for education and regulation; has developed short

courses for governments for nurses and midwives; and has recommended a

higher grade in services structure.

She is president of the Midwifery Association of Pakistan and developed

the first higher education program in midwifery in the Pakistan and the South

Asian region. Through her efforts, the first and only chapter of Sigma Theta

Tau International in the Muslim world (Rho Delta Chapter) was created to

enhance and promote scholarly connectivity and scholarship of Pakistani

nurses. Providing leadership for the first time from nursing within the

Higher Education Commission, she also helped to develop a prototype

BSN curriculum.

Rafat Jan, PhD, MSN, BSN, RM, RN Professor, School of Nursing & Midwifery Aga Khan University | Karachi, Pakistan


Highlights of my nursing career include identifying my “call” to nursing at

age 9 while assisting my mother in caring for her elderly aunt, who was

blind and a double-amputee. As a new leader, I was given the challenge of

reorganizing nursing support services and providing essential services to

positively impact patient’s lives.

Lastly, as an alumnus of HCA’s Executive Development Program and

now, chief nursing officer, I have gained invaluable knowledge, built lasting

relationships, and have been afforded the opportunity to impact the lives of

so many people – my peers, my community, my family, my future colleagues, and

ultimately, my patients.


A career lesson I learned while studying at MUSC is that patient care is paramount.

Further, when making decisions, always do so with the patient as the priority and the

right decision will be made every time.


My advice would be to find their passion, live it and seek opportunities to grow so they

will provide exceptional patient care and influence others to do the same.

[ MSN ’96 / BSN '89 ]

Q+A

Lynn Singleton, MSN, RN Chief Nursing Officer | Summerville Medical Center | Summerville, SC

For the past nine years, she has been the chief nursing officer (CNO) of the 94-bed

acute-care Summerville Medical Center (SMC) in SC. Prior to that position,

she served as the assistant vice president of patient care support services

at Trident Medical Center (TMC). Ms. Singleton has spent her health care

career at Hospital Corporation of America, Inc., one of the leading providers

in health care services and parent company of SMC and TMC. She has over

27 years of experience in health care and 21 years in progressive leadership

roles and is affiliated with several national and local organizations including

the American Heart Association, SC Organization of Nurse Executives,

Susan G. Komen Foundation, Trident Technical College Nursing Advisory

Board, Charleston Southern University Nursing Curriculum Advisory

Board, Charleston Organization of Nurse Leaders and MUSC’s College

of Nursing Education Committee. Ms. Singleton is actively involved in

her church. She is a well-known motivational speaker for community,

civic and faith-based organizations.

I perform as a stand-up Christian comedian. I'm privileged to have performed in several areas

throughout SC, other Southeastern states and aboard a cruise ship.

FunFact

S I N G L E T O NLynn

THE CNO


For me it would be being selected to lead the Air Force Nurse Corps in 2012 and being tapped

as the deputy surgeon general in 2015. I am honored to work with an incredible group of airmen

leaders whose dedication to duty ensures the Air Force Medical Service provides trusted care,

anytime, anywhere.


One is too small a number to achieve greatness. Health care is a team sport. All members have

different capabilities that when performed synergistically ensure the highest of safe, quality

patient care – something every patient deserves.


Study hard. The more you learn in this environment the better prepared you will be when you

get your first job. Practice your critical thinking skills where there are people around to help you

hone those skills. Build relationships with others who have strengths you don’t have. These people

will be available when you need advice on a complex patient care issue. Don’t forget to get their

contact information before you leave school.

Q+A

DorothyH O G G

[ MSN ’97 ]

To relieve stress I quilt. I enjoy watching the pattern come to life and giving them away to friends and family. I also enjoy spending the summers with my six grandkids, at least the

ones who can talk and pee on the potty.

FunFact


Major General Dorothy A. Hogg, USAF, NC, MSN Deputy Air Force Surgeon General & Chief of the Nurse Corps, Office of the Surgeon General | U.S. Air Force | Washington, DC

She not only directs the operations of the Air Force Medical Service which is composed

of a $5.9 billion, 44,000-person integrated health care delivery system serving 2.6 million

beneficiaries at 75 military facilities world-wide, but she also coordinates its operations

through major commands, Joint Service agencies, the Assistant Secretary of Defense,

the Defense Health Agency and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, she

oversees the daily functions of the Air Force Surgeon General’s office with offices in

Maryland, Virginia, Texas, and Washington, DC.

As chief of the Nurse Corps, Maj. Gen. Hogg is responsible for the recruitment,

accession, training and education of 18,000 total nursing force airmen (active duty,

reserves and Air National Guard). She oversees policy and program development which

ensures the highest standards for patient centered, evidence-based nursing practice for

all eligible beneficiaries.

Maj. Gen. Hogg, a board certified women’s health nurse practitioner, entered the Air

Force in 1984 and has commanded at the squadron and group level and served as the

deputy command surgeon for two major commands. She has been deployed in

support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

THE MAJOR GENERAL


Graduating from MUSC's DNP program is an accomplishment that I have

been dreaming of since completing my BSN in 1996.

A second highlight was my assignment as a Navy Nurse Corps

Officer at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan where I served in a

variety of roles including: labor and delivery/postpartum division officer,

department head for maternal-child nursing, one of four sexual assault

nurse examiners on the island, and family nurse practitioner. These

opportunities established the clinical and leadership abilities I have today.


At MUSC, I came to value the collaborative relationship between the DNP

nurses and the PhD nurse researchers. The DNP curriculum included a

course to model the DNP and PhD student collaboration that facilitated

post-degree teamwork. This invaluable experience established the

expectation and understanding of how DNPs can use their practice

and PhD prepared nurses can use their research expertise to improve

population health outcomes.


Speak up. Speaking up can be viewed in two capacities – as a patient advocate or

collaborating for patient safety. As a patient advocate, we are in a prime position to

serve as a liaison between patients, families, and the health care team. To maximize

our role, we must be knowledgeable about and involved in every aspect of the

patient's care and have a positive working relationship with other team members.

Additionally, we all have a role in making health care safe. Be confident. You are

obtaining the education to successfully prepare you to be an advocate in any role.

I enjoy the challenge of putting together Bev Doolittle puzzle prints.

[ DNP '13 ]

FunFactQ+A

Commander Angela Y. Stanley, PhD, RN, PMP Associate Director for Primary Care and Branch Health ClinicsNaval Medical Center | Portsmouth, VA

As a commander in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, she has served in various roles providing

support in the promotion of health to women and newborns within the military

community including as department head of Maternal-Child Nursing at the U.S.

Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan, the largest overseas hospital in the U.S. Navy.

Dr. Stanley was hand-selected to serve as a primary consultant for Maternal-

Child Services at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and Walter Reed National

Military Medical Center in Washington, DC. In 2011, she was assigned to the

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) as the administrative officer to

the Surgeon General of the Navy and Chief, BUMED.

S TA N L E YAngela

THE COMMANDER

Q+AWHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR NURSING CAREER TO DATE?

The first was the day my CNO told me that our organization had achieved the ANCC

Pathway to Excellence designation. Only four years earlier, we became the nurse

leaders of an organization that was a blank slate with a nursing staff eager to advance

the professional practice of nursing. Together we built a high performing nursing

department and I am proud to say I had the opportunity to know each nurse.

The second was being the keynote speaker at a Midwestern university's Nursing

Research Day. It was an honor to present my dissertation work on nurse billing and

share examples with over 300 nurses and nursing students of how to translate

research findings into every day nursing practice. After the address attendees were

waiting in line to talk more about their work and how we could collaborate. To me, it

was like being on the red carpet — it was my 90 minutes of "nursing fame."


Faculty members are not just your assigned course instructors, they invest in you

and are life long career collaborative colleagues if you allow them to be. I regret

when I didn’t take time to connect with a faculty member or a fellow student, I

missed an opportunity to know their heart, mind, and spirit. Stay LinkedIN.


Never give up! Read, ponder, analyze, reflect and expand your understanding of

what I like to call the important work of nursing (iWON). It will make you a better

version of yourself as a nurse and a person.

LaurieZ O N E-S M I T H

[ PhD ’07 / MSN '91]

I try to replicate the voice of Julie Andrews and sing my favorite hymns a bit too loudly at mass.

Parishioners have said, “You should join the choir,” but I think they are secretly hoping I’d sit

in the balcony instead of the pew.

FunFact

THE MENTOR

Laurie Zone-Smith, PhD, RN, NE-BC Executive Director of Nursing Practice, Education, and ResearchMission Health | Western parts of NC

She offers support to nurses across Mission Health’s seven hospitals in western North Carolina.

Previously, Dr. Zone-Smith was the associate chief nursing officer for professional

practice at Naples Community Health System in Naples, FL. She mentors many

students completing honor’s research coursework, master’s level practicum,

doctoral capstone projects and administration residency programs. For more

than 25 years, Dr. Zone-Smith has authored numerous publications and

collaborated on research projects with interdisciplinary colleagues and peers.

Her research has had a significant impact on the economic value placed on

work performed by an RN. Her research also has shown the importance of

matching the right nurse, with the right patient, with the right bed to get

the right outcomes.



I would have to say it is making a difference in the lives of critically ill infants and their

families in the neonatal intensive care unit where I have worked for the last 30 years. I

hope that in some small way I have made the arduous road of having a critically ill infant

easier for families, whether I assisted them to feel brave enough to hold their infant who

weighs just over a pound or provided comfort when their child died. Making a difference

in the lives of your patients is the greatest accomplishment of any nurse’s career.

The proudest moment of my career was wearing my graduation robe and walking

to receive my PhD diploma from MUSC. It changed my life and I will never forget the

support and knowledge I received from the faculty at the College of Nursing.


I learned to love research. It honestly had not been my intention to be a researcher

when I began the PhD program. I wanted to continue to teach and needed a

doctorate to fulfill that goal. Because of my experiences at MUSC, especially the

contagious enthusiasm of Dr. Teresa Kelechi, I became enamored with nursing

research. It completely changed my career trajectory and now my work revolves

around caring for critically ill infants and researching interventions to improve their

short and long-term health.


Aim high and work hard. If you take this path, you will have tremendous success.

However, this path will also lead to obstacles and disappointment. When these

“failures” occur, take them as an opportunity. Spend a bit of time pouting, crying

and being disappointed. Then pick yourself up, learn from the experience and

move on. Each success and failure should be taken as a learning experience.

If you never take the risk, you will never reap the rewards.

Q+A

[ PhD ’10 ]

Leslie Parker, PhD, ARNP (NNP-BC) Clinical Associate ProfessorCollege of Nursing | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL

She has been a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP) since 1990 and continues to practice

as a NNP in the NICU at Shands at the University of Florida. Dr. Parker teaches in the NNP

program where she was the tract coordinator of the program from 1992-2011. She is

currently funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research to investigate strategies

to increase lactation success in mothers of very premature infants, and to determine the

risks and benefits of the routine evaluation of gastric residuals in very premature infants.

Her work has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and

published in both medical and nursing journals.

FunFactI’m a kickboxing enthusiast. Perhaps the punching and

kicking helps me deal with all the ups and downs of a career in nursing research – it surely makes me feel better!

LesliePA R K E R

THE ACADEMIC

Phot

o by

Jes

se S

. Jon

es /

Uni

vers

ity o

f Flo

rida



Caring for patients and families as an emergency nurse in the U.S. Air Force is a true highlight.

As part of my service, I was honored to be a member of the trauma team for the United Nations

Operation Provide Promise during the conflict in the Balkans. We cared for U.N. soldiers from 43

different countries. This experience expanded my understanding of the politics of war and how

people from different cultures perceive and receive nursing care. Ultimately, my work in military

and civilian emergency departments generated my interest in all forms of violence which eventu-

ally led to my research interest in elder abuse.

Another highlight was coming to Platt College as a part-time faculty member in 2005. Entering

a nursing program that was new allowed me to shape all aspects of a baccalaureate program.

I was challenged to refine and develop a curriculum, as well as the structures and processes

required for the daily operations of a nursing education program and college. I was given the

opportunity to complete my doctoral education due to the generosity of Jerald Sirbu, president

of Platt College. His belief in me has enabled me to reach my dreams of becoming a nurse scientist

and an experienced leader in higher education.


Learning from MUSC’s nursing faculty was truly a privilege that made me a better thinker and a well-prepared

scientist. Receiving my doctoral education was an inspiring, collaborative, and transformative process. I was

surrounded by extremely gifted nursing faculty and fellow doctoral students. The faculty and leadership treated

us as peers and were very committed to our success. I feel that learning from MUSC nursing faculty was truly a

privilege that made me a better thinker and well-prepared scientist.


I tell nursing students that nursing is a wonderful profession because we have so many options to explore

and ways to reinvent ourselves during the course of a career that we should never get bored. No matter

what you do, there should always be something new in nursing that excites you or makes you curious.

Go find it!

Q+A

[ PhD ’13 ]

HollieC A L D W E L L

When I was 14 I provided cosmetology services on the deceased in my uncle’s funeral home.

FunFact

THE DEAN

Hollie Caldwell, PhD, RNDean, School of Nursing | Platt College | Aurora, CO

As a certified emergency nurse for 11 years, and a sexual assault nurse examiner, she has

taught a variety of nursing courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels for the last

18 years. In 2013, Dr. Caldwell was appointed to dean of Platt College School of

Nursing. She is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and was appointed by Colorado

Governor Hickenlooper to serve as a member of the Colorado Board of Veterans

Affairs in 2015. She also serves as a program evaluator, team chair, and commissioner

for the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Photo by David Bliss


My nursing career feels like one long highlight reel. My acceptance as a

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellow has been a

life-changing experience. My growth in terms of leadership ability and

understanding of my own leadership tendencies, especially in adverse

situations, has been amazing.

A second highlight is assuming my current position. As CNO, I have the

ability to impact nursing practice, reimbursement, policy, education, and

outreach under the very wide umbrella of health information technology

on a national stage.


The BSN to PhD program was a challenging exercise in persistence and

perseverance. I learned what is truly important and how to prioritize my time

and attention. The most important career lesson I learned from my studies was

to listen to my own voice and do things on my own terms, as much as possible

– while surrounding myself with an amazing support system, especially my wife,

Laura, and my advisor, Dr. Marilyn Laken. There is always light at the end of the

tunnel – make sure you get there with your best version of yourself intact; as

selfish as that sounds, your work is usually improved as a result!


Always do the best thing for your patient. Patients are counting on you to

acquire as much knowledge and experience as you can, so you can provide

the best possible care and guidance to them. This is an amazing time to

be a nurse – in terms of technology, workforce, quality and value-based care

teams, and interdisciplinary work. Rethink old traditions and consider new ways to

advance nursing in the health care arena. MUSC will give you the tools – make sure

you use them to change your world!

RebeccaF R E E M A N

[ PhD ’13 / BSN '08 ]

Q+AI’ve ridden a camel in Egypt and Morocco.

Rebecca Freeman, PhD, RN, PMP Chief Nursing OfficerOffice of the National Coordinator for Health IT | Washington, DC

She is a nurse leader who provides Health IT enabled patient care for comprehensive

initiatives that focus on nursing practice, administration, research, and partnerships. Dr.

Freeman also serves as a liaison to internal and external communities and provides responses

to draft legislation ensuring expert nursing opinions and input on key proposals and inquiries.

Her first career was in the field of information technology before making a career

change to nursing. She previously held positions at the Hospital Corporation of

America (AVP, Epic National Nurse Champion) and at the MUSC Medical

Center (CNIO, Manager of Nursing Informatics).

THE INFORMATICS GURU

FunFact



I was a new nurse in the cardiothoracic ICU when the chief of that

unit said to me one day, “The most important thing you’ll ever learn

I’m telling you now: Never forget that your patient is someone’s parent,

spouse, sibling.” That had a major impact on how I cared for patients.

One day, in my current role, I was bemoaning the fact that I was tired of pushing

paper and missed patient care. My manager said to me, “Never underestimate what

we do here. You might see 30 people in the ED on a shift, but what you do today

has the potential to impact thousands of lives if we are successful in bringing an

innovative drug to patients in need.” It was an instant attitude adjustment!


Take advantage of the opportunity to attend conferences. Think of every paper as

a potential abstract for presentation. No one’s work – even a student’s – is ever too

insignificant to be disseminated.


For me, it was all about the journey. Enjoy the journey. I was a full-time working mother

of three children under the ages of 14, and I was having a ball. I loved learning. It was my

thing. This is a charmed time in your life, when you have access to world-class faculty, a

stellar library, and people that want you to succeed. Enjoy the ride – because it’s over (at

least for me) way too soon.

There is a Nelson Mandela quote I shared with my incredible advisor and dissertation

chair, Dr. Susan Newman, that was sage advice, “It always seems impossible until it’s done."

Never give up and never give in.

[ PhD ’15 ]

SusanF L A V I N

Q+A

FunFactI’ve completed 5ks, a 10k, and two

half-marathons, and I'm training for my second triathalon in June. I run three

to four days a week, and cycle and swim the other days. I’m considering

competing in a full marathon in the fall and a half-Ironman in 2017.

Susan K. Flavin, PhD, RN Director, Immunology Clinical Research Janssen Research & Development | Spring House, PA

After receiving her initial nursing education at a hospital-based diploma program in

suburban Philadelphia, she held positions in cardiothoracic intensive care units, the

emergency department and as a flight nurse. In 1997, Dr. Flavin entered the pharma

industry in research and development and has been with Johnson and Johnson

for the past 14 years focusing first on pulmonary drug development before

moving to dermatology last year.

THE RESEARCHER

Photo by Elliot S. Barnathan


The first would be providing anesthesia for the separation of conjoined twins. For me,

this was an amazing opportunity to really influence the lives of two individuals in a

profound and meaningful way.

The other was sharing my nursing school graduation with my late grandmother. She

is the only other nurse in our family and was an amazing inspiration to me. She is the

reason I became a nurse. She told me that she wanted to become a CRNA as well but

was unable to attend anesthesia school because of World War II.


Stay connected—always. My PhD committee chair told all of us very early on to take

note of the names of people presenting at meetings and writing in your field of study. I

did that from day one and now it’s really paying off. It’s amazing the number of times I

have reached out to my colleagues from school, my faculty, and others I met along the

way. I have had opportunities that have been made possible by these connections.


For those in the PhD program, I would say stay determined. It’s not an easy process,

but the end is near and all of the hard work really pays off. Don’t try to conquer the

world with your dissertation. Make it robust and rigorous but manageable.

[ PhD ’15 ]

R I D D L E

Q+A

Dru

FunFactI’m addicted to CrossFit – it keeps me

sane and healthy. In fact, my next research project is focusing on genetics,

nutrition, and athletic performance. It’s incredibly interesting!

Following a stint as a paramedic, Dr. Riddle began his nursing career with the

goal of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist. He earned a BSN

and went directly into a critical care internship program and worked in the

ICU at a medical center in Newport News, VA. In 2002, he received a master’s

and CRNA certification and moved to Pensacola, FL to work as a CRNA with

Sacred Heart Hospital. Following several active duty Army deployments, Dr. Riddle

relocated to western Tennessee and was a partner in an all-CRNA practice serving

many isolated communities. When he and his wife discovered they were going to be

parents, he relocated back to his home in Fort Worth, TX where he joined the faculty

of Texas Christian University. For the past 10 years, he has been a CRNA with NorthStar

Anesthesia at Baylor All Saints Medical Center where he maintains an active

clinical anesthesia practice.

Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA Assistant Professor of Professional PracticeAssociate Director, TCU Center for Evidence Based Practice and Research: A Collaborating Center of the Joanna Briggs InstituteTexas Christian University School of Nurse Anesthesia | Fort Worth, TX

THE TRIPLE THREAT

Phot

o by

Gle

n E.

Ellm

an

Last fall Dean Gail Stuart, PhD, RN, FAAN,

president of the Annapolis Coalition of

the Behavioral Health Workforce, was the

keynote speaker at the 31st Annual Rosalyn Carter

Symposium on Mental Health Policy where

she showcased strategies to combat behavioral

health issues in today’s workforce. The two-day

symposium discussed several potential solutions to

address the gaps in the behavioral health workforce

that have resulted from a surge in demand, along

with the field’s shift toward integrated care and

population health.

Dr. Stuart’s presentation challenged the

attendees to consider whether the behavioral

health workforce needs more evolution, a

transformation or a true revolution. Revolutionary

strategies were identified in relation to the settings in which we provide care, whom we consider to be behavioral health

providers, the focus of our care and how we educate the current and future workforce. Each of these areas was explored in

more depth in break out groups during the remainder of the conference. Nurses and nursing were well represented among

both the attendees and the dialogue that occurred throughout the conference.

In 1985, former first lady Rosalynn Carter initiated the annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy to

bring together national leaders in mental health to focus and coordinate their efforts on an issue of common concern.

The symposia have been a unique opportunity each year for this leadership to hear remarks from a variety of individuals

with expertise on a selected topic; discuss diverse viewpoints in an open forum; identify areas of consensus and potential

collaborations as well as points of divergence; and to recommend action steps for symposium participants to move an

agenda forward.

DEAN GIVES KEYNOTE AT CARTER CENTER SYMPOSIUM

V

AROUND THE COLLEGE

Dean Gail Stuart with former first lady Rosalynn Carter on Nov. 13, 2015


Today, less than 2 percent of South Carolina’s 3,200 certified nurse

practitioners practice as mental health care providers. As one of the most

in-demand areas of advanced practice nursing, the need for mental

health nurse practitioners continues to grow due in part to a physician

shortage as well as increased accessibility to mental health care through

the Affordable Care Act. To address this shortage of providers, the

College of Nursing added a psychiatric

mental health nurse practitioner

(PMHNP) track to the Doctor of

Nursing Practice (DNP) program. “The

addition of this new DNP track will

help address this need and assist in improving life quality and outcomes for citizens of SC

and beyond,” said Gigi Smith, PhD, APRN, associate dean for academics.

PMHNP’s provide lifespan primary mental health care to individuals, families and

populations who are at risk or have a behavioral health disorder. They also care for patients

seeking mental health services in a wide range of settings including clinics, hospitals,

nursing homes, substance abuse centers and recovery programs.

The first cohort in this new DNP track will be admitted in fall 2016. For more information contact, Lauren Rappold,

graduate program coordinator, at [email protected], or visit our website at www.musc.edu/nursing.

PSYCH/MENTAL HEALTH TRACK ADDED TO DNP

V “The addition of the new DNP track will help assist in improving life quality and outcomes for citizens of SC and beyond.”

ONLINE GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAM REMAINS ONE OF THE BEST IN COUNTRY

V

“ This recognition underscores MUSC’s commitment to increasing the number of nurses holding advanced degrees and providing an innovative learning experience for our nursing students.

- Dean Gail Stuart

Spring | Summer 2016 LIFELINES 17

Great things continue to happen

at the MUSC College of Nursing.

In January, U.S. News & World

Report ranked the MUSC College of

Nursing No. 2 among online graduate

nursing programs in America. The

college surpassed more than 500

nursing schools surveyed to earn the

No. 2 ranking on the publication’s

2016 Best Online Graduate Nursing

Programs list.

For the past three years, the MUSC

College of Nursing has held one of

the top two spots. In 2015, the school

ranked No. 1; in 2014, it ranked No. 2.

“The College of Nursing’s frequent

top ranking among the nation’s

nursing schools is a testament to the

excellence and ingenuity of MUSC,”

said Dean Gail Stuart, PhD, APRN,

FAAN. “Twelve years ago, we were one

of the first nursing schools to make a

commitment to innovative nursing

education through online instruction.

Today, the College of Nursing remains

engaged in what has become a

standard practice while continuing to

focus on innovations that will enable

us to further distinguish MUSC from

other institutions.”

In March, MUSC's Doctor of Nursing

Practice (DNP) graduate program

landed a 14th spot finish among 149

programs evaluated for this ranking

published in the U.S. News & World

Report's 2017 edition of America’s Best

Graduate Schools, published online.

Dean Stuart said the DNP program

has once again distinguished itself

nationally for its quality, faculty

engagement, and innovation. “This

accomplishment is a testament to the

remarkable hard work and dedication

of our faculty, staff and students.

“This recognition underscores

MUSC’s commitment to increasing the

number of nurses holding advanced

degrees and providing an innovative

learning experience for our nursing

students,” Dean Stuart said.

The director of the MSN/DNP

program, Catherine Durham, who has

a doctorate in nursing practice, said the

program enrolls more DNPs than any

other program in the state. “We’ll have

over 40 DNP graduates this May, most

of whom will continue to work in the

rural communities of South Carolina

where they live, meeting our mission

to fuel the pipeline of advanced care

providers and taking nursing higher.”

The MUSC College of Nursing offers

online graduate programs that award

a Master of Science in Nursing degree,

a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree,

and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

Science degree. The school also

provides an on-campus accelerated

Bachelor of

Science in

Nursing (BSN)

degree with

classroom,

clinical, and lab

components,

as well as an

online RN to

BSN program. In fall 2015, more than

575 students were enrolled in the

College of Nursing.

Catherine Durham, left, talks with graduate student Kim Leslie

Substance abuse ruins lives, destroys families, and increases health care costs. Effects of

unhealthy and unsafe alcohol and drug use are major preventable public health prob-

lems that have far-reaching implications for the individual, family, workplace, commu-

nity, and the health care system. The costs to society are more than $600 billion and result in

more than 100,000 deaths each year. South Carolina is a state with significant chronic illness,

including substance use paired with a large medically disenfranchised population.

To address this issue, last fall the MUSC team was awarded a $928,000, three-year grant

from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for a project

titled, Impacting At-Risk Populations Through Multi-modal Training of Nursing and Medical Stu-

dents in Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT).

The purpose of the SBIRT project is to improve and enhance the training of students in

the health professions to provide competent screening, brief intervention and referral to

treatment for persons who have or are at-risk for substance use disorder. “MUSC is a leader

in educating and training health care professionals,” said Gigi Smith, PhD, APRN. “It makes

perfect sense for MUSC’s nursing and medical students to learn the skills needed to improve

the assessment and intervention of substance users while also making a difference in our

community.”

To date, the project has included a “Train the Trainer Workshop” for all educator and clini-

cal faculty at MUSC. The training also was offered to area organizations that precept MUSC

nurses, nurse practitioners and medical students. The

workshop, facilitated by Joe Hyde, MA, JBS International,

was incredibly successful and resulted in the training of six

faculty members, six MUSC providers, and seven commu-

nity members.

Sarah Gainey, MSW, and Joy Lauerer, DNP, RN, have

trained more than 140 MSN/DNP and BSN students com-

bined on how to assess and screen for substance use

disorders using the AUDIT and DAST screening tools while

Alyssa Rheingold, PhD, has trained 175 first year medical

students. All BSN, MSN, DNP College of Nursing and College

of Medicine small group preceptor faculty are completing

the online module training for the SBIRT intervention.

A growing body of evidence about SBIRT’s effectiveness,

including cost-effectiveness, has demonstrated its positive outcomes. The research shows

that SBIRT is an effective way to reduce drinking and substance abuse problems.


SBIRT GRANT TRAINS NURSING, MEDICAL STUDENTS

V

AROUND THE COLLEGE

SBIRT TEAM

Gigi Smith, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PCProgram Director

Sarah Gainey, MSWProject Manager

Joy Lauerer, DNP, RN, PMHCNS-BCCo-Investigator

Wendy Muzzy, MRA, MLIS Co-Investigator

Alyssa Rheingold, PhD (College of Medicine)

Co-Investigator

PROJECT GOALSo Educating all educator/clinical faculty at the MUSC College of Nursing and College of

Medicine in the use of SBIRT (approximately 90 faculty in the first year)

o Integrating SBIRT training into existing courses in the undergraduate and graduate nursing

and medicine curricula to promote competency of all nursing and medical graduates in

using SBIRT (training 440 new students each year)

o Creating simulations, videos and online teaching modules, online resource library, and

competency evaluations to facilitate the mastery of SBIRT for use by students

o Enhancing the cultural and linguistic competencies of students in utilizing SBIRT

o Providing local and state-wide trainings through MUSC initiatives, AHEC, and health

professional organizations

“ “It makes perfect sense for MUSC's nursing and

medical students to learn the skills needed to improve the assessment

and intervention of substance abusers while also making a difference

in our community”

DEAN STUART CO-CHAIRS MACY TECH CONFERENCE

V

Technology is transforming our world but is it leaving health professions education in the dust? That was the question

that stimulated the Josiah Macy Foundation’s conference, “Enhancing Health Professions Education Through

Technology: Building a Continuously Learning Health System” held in Arlington, VA in April 2015. It was co-chaired by

Dean Gail Stuart, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Marc Triola, MD, FACP and the conference monograph of proceedings was published in

October 2015. It is available on the Foundation’s website at www.macyfoundation.org.

Attendees at the invitational conference were challenged by three papers reflecting on

technology and higher education, as well as how we will educate students to address the

challenge of population health. From there, the attendees tackled ways to transform current

educational practices, processes and outcomes in a lively, creative and stimulating exchange

of ideas.

Dean Stuart was honored to co-chair this important event and noted that “the current

health care environment is dramatically different from the one that shaped our existing

educational programs and pathways. Unfortunately our educational models and strategies

have been slow to evolve and adapt to the changing times and technologies.”

"As patient care moves out of the hospital and into the community, providers who have

traditionally worked in silos are now part of interprofessional teams," Dean Stuart said.

"These changes in our health care system also are driving changes in the higher education

landscape. As evident in these proceedings, educational innovators are seeking new ways

to deconstruct curricula, dis-aggregate courses and content, and test new technologies to

enhance both individual and team-based learning. The question that confronts us is, will

health professions educators lead the charge or lag behind and bring up the rear?”

To download a copy of the monograph, visit the Josiah Macy Foundation’s website:

www.macyfoundation.org.


Julie Barroso, PhD, RN, FAAN, a passionate believer in the power

of mentoring, has been named department chair for the College

of Nursing. In this leadership role, Dr. Barroso will manage all

facets of the faculty. She will function as a mentor to faculty

colleagues and as collaborator with other college administrative

officers. She also will lead faculty in important processes that

shape the curriculum in order to maximize the impact on

student learning, and effectively articulate the college’s mission

to internal and external constituencies.

An internationally recognized expert in qualitative research,

Dr. Barroso teaches qualitative research methods and data

analysis to doctoral students. She came to the College of

Nursing in July 2015 from the University of Miami’s School of

Nursing and Health Studies where she served as professor and

associate dean for doctoral programs. Prior to joining UM,

BARROSO NAMED DEPARTMENT CHAIR

V

Dr. Barroso was a professor at Duke University’s School of

Nursing and a senior research fellow in the Duke Health

Inequalities Program.

“Dr. Barroso has been an excellent addition to the MUSC

College of Nursing faculty. She is an accomplished and

distinguished nurse educator who possesses significant

expertise in research methods and clinical practice that will be

transformational for our school,” said Dean Gail Stuart, PhD, RN,

FAAN.

Dr. Barroso has been an educator since 1989, and has

taught in BSN, MSN, and PhD programs. Early in her career as

an adult nurse practitioner, she treated many patients with HIV

and discovered that fatigue was their primary complaint. Since

then Dr. Barroso has conducted more than 15 years of research

on AIDS-related fatigue, and has become one of only three

investigators in the U.S. to study this problem. She also was the

first RN to sit on the Board of the International Association of

Providers of AIDS Care. She was recently elected to the Board of

Directors of the LowCountry AIDS Services.

Dr. Barroso has been the principal investigator on multiple

NIH grants and has published more than 60 articles. She has

won several awards from the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care,

including the Researcher Recognition Award and the President’s

Award. Dr. Barroso received a BSN from Florida State University,

a master’s degree from the University of South Florida and a PhD

from the University of Texas at Austin.

Ida Spruill loved people. Ida loved her family. Ida loved nursing.

During her lifetime she touched the lives of so many people in the

wide-ranging communities of our state, our region and our country.

And she touched the minds of her colleagues at MUSC, and especially in

the College of Nursing.

Dr. Spruill retired in January 2016 and was bestowed the title of

associate professor emerita. From 1995 until 2004, she was the nurse

manager for the first community-based genetic research project at MUSC

known as Project SuGar. The project’s aim was to isolate and identify

genes responsible for expression of Type 2 diabetes and obesity among

the Sea Islanders (Gullah) of South Carolina. Dr. Spruill created strategies

and designed a recruitment model, Community Plan Reward, to enhance

participation of isolated groups into genetic research that may be

replicated nationally across disciplines.

Her research interests included genetic literacy, the impact of culture

and genetics on the management of chronic diseases among underserved

populations, reducing health disparities among vulnerable populations,

A LIFE WELL-LOVED: IN REMEMBRANCE OF DR. IDA SPRUILL

V

AROUND THE COLLEGE

FACULTY, STUDENTS, ALUMNI ATTEND SNRS ANNUAL MEETING The 30th annual meeting of the Southern Nursing

Research Society (SNRS) was held in February in

Williamsburg, VA with the keynote delivered by Ann

Cashion, PhD, RN, FAAN, scientific director for the

NINR Division of Intramural Research.

The College of Nursing was well represented

by faculty, PhD students and alumni. Melissa

Batchelor-Murphy, PhD, RN, and Tara O’Brien, PhD,

RN, both alumni, and Lana Sargent and Suzanne

Sutton, both PhD candidates, presented posters or

gave oral presentations at the conference hotel. A

highlight of the trip was a gracious dinner for CON

attendees hosted by Gail Gilden, PhD, former PhD

program director, who lives in the area.L to R: Melissa Batchelor-Murphy, Lenora Smith, Tara O'Brien, Kim Sell and Elaine Amella

and community perceptions toward biobanks

and data warehouses.

Dr. Spruill’s work also brought national

acclaim. In 2011, she was inducted into the

prestigious American Academy of Nursing. She

was named a recipient of the Presidential Early

Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers

by U.S. President Barack Obama in 2013.

Additionally, she served two terms on the board

of the National Black Nurses Association and

was a founding member and first president of

the Tri-County Black Nurses Association.

Other honors and awards include the James

Clyburn Health Disparities Leadership Award,

the Sister Summit Legacy Award, MUSC’s

Developing Scholar Award, and Clemson

University’s Rutland Institute for Ethics Award.

“Each of these was a celebration of her

accomplishments and the large imprint she

made in health care,” said Dean Gail Stuart. “I

truly believe that those whom we have loved

are never gone from our hearts and spirit. The

memories of them make us stronger, wiser and

gentler with all others. That is the real legacy

that we have all been gifted by Dr. Ida Spruill.”


AMELLA APPOINTED TO GLOBAL HEALTH PANELProfessor Elaine J. Amella, PhD, RN, FAAN,

was invited by Singapore's Ministry of Health

to serve on an evaluation panel under the

National Innovation Challenge on Active and

Confident Aging.

The Ministry of Health

issued a call for research

that deal with one of

three areas of aging

considered critical at

this time–lengthening

the healthy span of life,

productive longevity,

and aging in place. The panel will act as an

overall study section to evaluate the science

and make recommendations for funding

studies that are the best match for these

national priority areas.

The South Carolina League for Nursing (SCLN) honored two faculty

members at their Annual Awards Banquet that was held last

November in Columbia, SC.

Stephanie Armstrong, MSN, RN, a full-time PhD in Nursing Science

student and instructor in the Accelerated BSN program, received the SCLN

Faculty Graduate Scholarship. This award is given to a faculty member

who plans to continue to teach in a nursing education program in SC and

who demonstrates the potential to be a future nursing leader.

Ms. Armstrong’s research interests include vulnerable populations,

intercultural competence, and human trafficking. She is especially

concerned about victims of sexual trafficking, the majority of whom are

women and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Her PhD work

focuses on victim recognition by individuals and agencies that are likely

to interact with these populations. She seeks to bring improvements

in awareness, recognition, interventions, and services available for the

victims of this growing, worldwide epidemic.

FOCUS ON FACULTY

TWO FACULTY RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE

V

PALMETTO GOLD RECIPIENTS HONOREDThe 15th Annual Palmetto Gold Gala was held April 16 in Columbia, SC.

MUSC College of Nursing faculty recognized during the gala included

(pictured left to right) Beth Jensen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, Charlene

Pruitt, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, and Joy Vess, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC.

Palmetto Gold, a subcommittee of the SC Nurses Foundation, is

a statewide recognition program that both showcases the valuable

contributions nurses make to patient care in SC and raises funds to

endow scholarships for registered nurse students.

Stephanie Armstrong (left) and Deborah Williamson with SCLN banquet keynote speaker SC Rep. Gary Cleary and his wife.

The vast professional contributions and

notable community involvement of Deborah

Williamson, DHA, MSN, RN, associate dean for

practice and associate professor, was recognized

by the receipt of the SCLN Award for Excellence.

Dr. Williamson has made a lasting impact

on the College of Nursing, the MUSC campus,

and the community. Throughout her academic

career, she has been committed to creating

a culture that not only values, but also truly

celebrates diversity. Her research, funded

grants, presentations, and publications reflect

this commitment. Her early work was focused

primarily on women of color living in rural and

inner city environments. In recent years much

of her work has addressed the impact on health

outcomes of language access and cultural bias.

Dr. Williamson possesses an uncanny ability

to listen and learn from the community and

then bring diverse groups together.

“Her ability to share her vision, build

partnerships, and follow-through on

commitments have all been critically important

to enhancing the role of our university in the

community,” said Dean Gail Stuart.


NEW FULL-TIME FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

V

Martha Sylvia, PhD, MBA, RN, director of Population Health

Analytics at MUSC Health, holds an adjunct appointment at

the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Providing

leadership in nursing education at all levels, she authored

the first clinical data management textbook for the Doctor

of Nursing Practice program titled Clinical Analytics and Data

Management for the DNP. In clinical settings, she has over 10

years experience including acute care medical/surgical,

provider office staff, community and health plan case management, and

executive leadership of a community-based free clinic for the uninsured.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Tatiana Davidson, PhD, a research

health scientist at the Ralph H.

Johnson VA Medical Center, holds a

joint appointment in the Department

of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

Her research focuses on addressing

mental health care disparities by

maximizing reach and receipt of

evidence-based treatments among

traumatic stress and other vulnerable

populations. She is involved in the

development and

evaluation of mobile

health resources

as dissemination

strategies for

evidence-based

treatments and

technology-based

tools to enhance

quality of care in health and mental

health care among minority and

underserved populations.

BSN 4University of Vermont

MSN | MBA | PhD 4Johns Hopkins University

BS 4University of Washington

MA | PhD 4Clark University

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Suparna Qanungo, PhD, is the associate director of development for Telehealth

Research and Innovation Program at MUSC. With a background in cancer

research, she has experience in community-based, qualitative and mixed

methods research in rural and global health. Currently, she is involved in multiple

collaborative projects both locally and globally in Asian and African countries and

brings a unique expertise of blending basic and translational research together

with implementation in clinical and community settings.

BS 4Visva-Bharati University

MS 4University of Calcutta

PhD 4Jadavpur University

Michaela Lewis, DNP, CPNP, CPN,

CPEN, brings nine years of combined

experience in pediatric emergency,

pediatric medical-surgical, and

pediatric intensive care nursing to

MUSC. She is certified by the Board of

Certification for Emergency Nursing

and the Pediatric Nursing Certification

Board as a Certified Pediatric

Emergency Nurse. She is also certified

by the Pediatric Nursing Certification

Board as a Certified Pediatric Nurse

and a Certified Pediatric Nurse

Practitioner for Primary Care.

BSN 4Gardner-Webb University

DNP 4Medical University of South Carolina

INSTRUCTOR

FOCUS ON FACULTY


ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

ELAM HONES LEADERSHIP SKILLS

V


Shannon Elam, ABSN class of 2016

and Presidential Scholar, attended

the Future Women In Government

(FWIG) regional conference held in

Charleston in October 2015. Future WIG

conferences are designed to prepare

undergraduate and graduate students

who are engaged and passionate about

leadership to have meaningful conver-

sations with their mentors.

In 2013, Women In Government,

a national, non-profit, non-partisan

organization of women state legislators,

launched FWIG to provide hands-on

leadership training and mentoring for

the next generation of women civic and

political leaders. The impetus for this

program came from the “Teach a Girl to

Lead” project sponsored by the Cen-

ter for American Women and Politics

(CAWP) at Rutgers University, and the

goals of the White House Council on

Women and Girls Leadership. FWIG

builds on those mutual objectives to

give participants an opportunity to con-

nect with state legislators from across

the country as well as leaders in the pri-

vate sector to facilitate a deeper discus-

sion on women in leadership.

According to 2016 data from CAWP,

women occupy only about 24 percent

of state legislature seats and roughly 20

percent of the seats in the U.S. House

and Senate.

“In light of these small percentages,

FWIG’s role is to encourage young

women to assume leadership roles and

get involved in politics and legislation

that will make a difference for the com-

munities in which we live and serve,”

Ms. Elam explained.

Ms. Elam noted that nurses are at the

forefront when it comes to promot-

ing wellness and providing health care.

“Nursing is one of the most trusted,

honest and ethical professions in the

health care system, so why is it that

we have less representation in politics

when it comes to issues that affect our

patients and our profession?”

“Policy making can be complex,

overwhelming and incredibly difficult,”

she continued. “It is not easy to get a

piece of legislation passed, but becom-

ing knowledgeable about the process

will help eliminate some of the barriers

that we as nurses face when trying to

navigate the legislative process.”

According to the Kaiser Family

Foundation, there are over three million

nurses in the U.S. “There is power in

numbers and with awareness comes ac-

tion. If we work together and stand for

what we believe is right, we’ll be able to

make the change we want to see.”

She believes that FWIG has enhanced

her general knowledge of the legislative

process and has provided a platform

for a continuous dialogue on the issues

that affect her community. Perhaps

more importantly, FWIG has provided

Ms. Elam with the tools and leadership

skills necessary to be an effective patient

advocate at the bedside and beyond.

“The dynamics of our health care

system are rapidly changing, and nurses

need to stand ready and willing to

respond accordingly,” she said. “To ad-

dress the issues of affordable, accessible

and high-quality health care, we need

nurses and nurse leaders to facilitate

thoughtful discussions and be a part of

the legislative process, from beginning

to end.”

WOMEN IN GOVERNMENTShannon Elam (right) with Georgia Sen. Nan Grogan Orrock

WOMEN IN POLITICSFEDERAL EXECUTIVE

(cabinet & cabinet-level positions)

7

U.S. SUPREME COURT

3

CONGRESS

104U.S. SENATE U.S. HOUSE

20 84

STATEWIDE EXECUTIVE

77

STATE LEGISLATURE

1,808STATE SENATE STATE HOUSE

444 1,364

MAYORS (cities over 30,000)

257(100 largest cities)

19

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

LOCAL TO GLOBAL: LESSONS LEARNED FROM INDIA

V

Suparna Qanungo, PhD, assistant

professor, spent nearly a year

laying the groundwork to lead

a group of undergraduate nursing

students to her native India to explore

the culture and gain an understanding

of the health care system in the world’s

second-most populous country. Six

Accelerated BSN students accompanied

Dr. Qanungo on the two-week journey:

Bailey Coggins, Shannon Elam,

Bethany Ellis, Emily Griffin, Martha Lee

and Swati Patel.

“If I could describe my experience

in one word, it would be love,” said Ms.

Patel after returning from the learning

expedition last December. “This country

is very loving.”

“To be immersed in the Indian

culture and grasp a genuine

understanding of the Indian

perspective as it relates to health and

medicine was a once in a lifetime

experience.” Ms. Elam explained.

“Being able to experience health care

in another country helped me realize

that we are all treating patients with

the same medical ailments, but the

difference lies within the cultural

context in which we provide the care,

not the geographical boundaries. That’s

what global health is all about.”

The trip was organized in two five-

day excursions. During the first leg of

the trip, students visited the Saroj Gupta

Cancer Center and Research Institute

located in the Thakurpukur region of

eastern Kolkata. The center caters to

a rural and impoverished population

providing surgical interventions, a

chemotherapy unit, palliative care,

radiation oncology and other cancer

care specific services. During their

visit, the students helped perform

cancer screenings on villagers who

have almost no access to health care.

Although many Indians turn to private

health care providers, this option is

mostly inaccessible to the poor.

The Indian government spends only

about 30 percent of the country’s total

health care budget - a fraction of what

the US spends each year - on primary

health care. Only a small percentage

of the population has access to quality

sanitation because the country faces an

urgent need to fix fundamental health

concerns such as HIV, malaria, and

tuberculosis.

While in Kolkata, the students

visited the Ma Sarada Nursing School.

For Ms. Griffin, this was a highlight.

“Visiting the nursing school and

seeing the differences and similarities

between our BSN programs, especially

the dedication to their studies and

the amount of respect they showed

their superiors. It opened my eyes

to different ways of preparing future

health care providers,” Ms. Griffin said.

For the second leg of the trip,

CON students traveled 150 miles

to Mouldanga, Santiniketan to the

Binapani Educational and Welfare

Trust, also known as Binapani Ashram,

a public organization that provides

education, health care, community

awareness, and cultural exchange to

poor tribal children and students from

underprivileged families.

Ms. Ellis enjoyed spending time with

the girls at the Ashram as they were

“so full of love and curiosity.” “Talking

with the founder, Manjushree, was

enlightening,” Ms. Ellis said. “She is a

progressive thinker who has sacrificed a

lot to give in the way that she does, and

I found that to be very inspiring.”

CON students participated in data

collection for health risk assessments

of the local tribal village. They also

assisted in a health camp for villagers

who have little to no access to health

care in Mouldanga. They assessed risks

for diabetes, hypertension, obesity,

urinary tract infection, provided dental

screenings, cancer awareness, and

outreach services.

VICTORIA MEMORIAL IN KOLKATA, INDIALeft to right: Martha Lee, Swati Patel, Shannon Elam, Emily Griffin, Bailey Coggins, Suparna Qanungo, Bethany Ellis, a U.K. medical student, and a clinical psychologist from the Saroj Gupta Cancer Center and Research Institute

“ India did not change the way I view global health. Rather it

solidified and broadened what I have already learned. Global

health gives a new perspective on health care.

- Bailey Coggins

Accelerated BSN student


“Being exposed to the health care

delivery system in India was helpful

in developing my knowledge of how

things are accomplished with so few

resources,” Ms. Patel said.

The students experienced first

hand how much a community’s

health outcome is determined by its

environment. “In the US, rural, low-

income populations are plagued with

chronic illnesses such as obesity,

diabetes, and hypertension, where

in India they are mostly dealing with

infections and undiagnosed cancers,”

Ms. Ellis said. “Each community faces

obstacles to achieving positive health

outcomes, but health care systems must

learn how to reach these communities

in a more effective way.”

When she returned home, Martha

Lee felt inspired by the nurses and

doctors to be a better health care

provider. “Not for the tangible return,

but for the real passion of helping and

healing those who are at their most

vulnerable,” she said.

Ms. Coggins believes she will carry

this experience with her when caring

for her patients one day. “We are very

fortunate in the United States,” she

said. “I will always be grateful for the

abundance of quality resources we

have here. I believe it is important for

everyone, especially those in health

care to participate in global health. It

will better you as an individual and

better the care that you provide to your

patients.”


STUDENTS AWARDED NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS

V

125TH ANNIVERSARY SCHOLARSHIPDuane FroesWilliam Hall

DOROTHY JOHNSON CREWS SCHOLARSHIP Brooke Hafer

HELENE FULD TRUST SCHOLARSHIPGeorge Smith

TED AND JOAN HALKYARK SCHOLARSHIP

Leonel Bersamina

ELSIE MORGAN SCHOLARSHIPJake Forrester

ELIZABETH STRINGFELLOW SCHOLARSHIP

Kenneth Kurtz

MUSC MEDICAL CENTER SCHOLARSHIPTyler Hunter

Julia Levin-RectorAnna Wayne

Anna Hastings

MUSC MEDICAL CENTER RN TO BSN SCHOLARSHIPS

Juliana AkersKaren Benedict

Betts BishopCarmen Bondurant

Alice BrightRocio Bullock

Deborah CarterMelisa Coffin

Gary ConlyMichelle DecariaKrista DriggersVirginia Hoff

Skyler HughesCarrie LairdJason Loy

Kathryn MedlinDamian MilletTabitha Oliver

Arien RanniganAndrea RentzFarrah RiveraSara Sampson

Terri ThompsonTara Torres

Stanisha VickCarrie WareSara Zeigler

ROPER-ST. FRANCIS PATRON SCHOLARSHIP Jurrell Riley

NINA SMITH SCHOLARSHIP Emily Spicer

LETTIE PATE WHITEHEAD SCHOLARSHIP

Sevanna AguilarMiranda Alexander

Alyssa DelaneyKaitlyn Dickey

Krista DiesEmily Ivey

Ann-Marie JohnChelsea Johnson

Kelci LanthierAnna Luvaga

Samantha MorrisonHannah Robidoux

Mary WellsJessica White

JEAN P. WILSON SCHOLARSHIPSarah Durette

DOROTHY JOHNSON CREWS SCHOLARSHIP

Elizabeth Kreuze, PhD student

IZANT FAMILY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

Mattilyn Williams, DNP student

CECELIA O. PENG SCHOLARSHIPCheryl Allen, DNP student

LETTIE PATE WHITEHEAD SCHOLARSHIP

Sylvia Panos, DNP student

Allison Adrian, PhD student

Crystal Graham, PhD student

Deana Hiott, PhD student

Ann-Marie John,

PhD student

JEAN P. WILSON SCHOLARSHIPMelissa Merritt, DNP student

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

DOCTORALSCHOLARSHIPS

DNP PROGRAM RANKED NO. 14 IN THE NATIONU.S. News & World Report | 2017 Best Graduate Schools


Crystal Graham (PhD class of May 2016) was selected for

the National League for Nursing’s Leadership Development

Program for Simulation Educators.

Ms. Graham, who is on faculty at Francis Marion

University, is among 20 international educators chosen to

study with leaders in simulation and technology.

“I am pleased to be a participant in this incredible

program,” Ms. Graham said. “The support and guidance from

the MUSC College of Nursing faculty, including a mentor

with expertise in simulation, have truly been invaluable.”

This program is designed for the experienced simulation

nurse educator who wishes to assume a leadership role in

simulation. During the year-long program, participants

examine issues related to research in simulation, curricular

integration, the role of simulation in interprofessional

education, and managing simulation activities within a

school of nursing or a service setting.

Shelly Orr (PhD class of December 2016) has been appointed

to serve on the Palliative and Hospice Nursing Professional

Issues Panel, a national panel convened to promote the

integration of palliative and hospice care in U.S. health-care

delivery systems.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Hospice

and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) partnered to

convene the time-limited panel. The group’s goals include

preparing a relevant joint ANA-HPNA position statement,

creating educational resources, compiling a collection

of references identifying nursing’s contributions in

palliative and hospice care in today’s American health care

environment and developing a framework for changes in

nursing practice and education to promote enhanced access

and use of palliative and hospice services.

Ms. Orr, who is also on faculty at Virginia Commonwealth

University, is a leader in palliative care in the ICU. “I value

the opportunity to get involved with this panel’s work, she

said. “The contributions of the panel will undoubtedly have a

positive impact on palliative care in the U.S.”

The MUSC Center for Global Health awarded a Global Health

Trainee Travel Grant to Marvesh Mendhi (PhD class of

December 2016) to further her dissertation research project

titled, “Investigating facilitators and barriers to implementing

neonatal airway management practices in Uganda.”

Applications for the trainee travel grants went through a

competitive review process that included faculty and student

evaluators from all MUSC colleges. Proposals were evaluated

based on several factors including the significance of the

project to global health, the overall strength of the learning

objectives, preparedness of the applicant to undertake the

project, personal essay, feasibility of timeline to complete the

learning objective and commitment level of the partnering

institution and faculty advisor.

Phyllis Raynor (PhD class of May 2016) was selected for

the SAMHSA funded American Nurses Association (ANA)

Minority Fellowship Program (MFP).

The purpose of this SAMHSA grant is to reduce health

disparities and improve health care outcomes for racially and

ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of

culturally competent behavioral health professionals available

to underserved minority populations in the public and private

non-profit sectors, and in clinical and community-based

organizations and institutions.

The MFP provides opportunities for minority nurses to

attain a doctoral degree, with certification in mental health

and substance abuse disorders prevention, treatment, and

recovery across the life span.

Ms. Raynor has a strong desire to become a public health

nurse scientist focusing on research, prevention, public

advocacy, and health promotion initiatives for low-income

minority families affected by substance use disorders (SUD).

Her dissertation research focuses on the development of

self-care interventions for parents recovering from SUD with

a goal of improving their long-term recovery outcomes and

the health outcomes of their children.

PhD STUDENTS RECEIVE HONORS, AWARDS

V

Crystal Graham (right) works with a nursing student in a sim lab

Phyllis Raynor (right) with fellow classmate John Paguntalan


RECOLLECTIONS OF A GOLDEN GRAD, CLASS OF 1965

V

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

Last year, the Class of 1965 was

treated to a wonderful reunion

weekend during the Golden

Graduates Celebration, thanks to MUSC

and the Alumni Affairs Office staff.

My classmates and I discussed

applying to the then MCSC School of

Nursing in 1962 because it was said to

be the best in the state, as it is today.

Our entrance interviews with Dean

Chamberlain, dressed in her traditional

all white nursing attire, were impressive.

All of us had ruled out other career paths

for women in the 1960s such as being

a teacher or secretary and decided to

pursue a career serving others with health

needs. We later learned that expressing

that purpose during our interview was

required for acceptance.

Little did we know what a challenging

educational experience awaited us. We

learned a great deal about ourselves, the

world of medicine, different cultures and

the art of nursing.

Having been only 17 or 18 years

old, we amazingly had the maturity to

complete such a challenging nursing

program. Rewards such as our capping

and pinning ceremonies, as well as the

appreciation of our patients, encouraged

us to keep going.

We respected and admired our nursing

instructors who oversaw our hospital

and classroom performance. We worked

alongside nursing staff, medical students,

interns, and residents. We were fortunate

to have excellent faculty and widely

known, accomplished and respected

physicians, most of whom were humble,

polite and caring.

We bonded through working, living,

learning and playing together. The now

beautifully renovated College of Nursing

building served as our classroom area and

dormitory, complete with housemothers

who kept an eye on our early 10 p.m.

curfew. Dean Chamberlain lived amongst

us on the main floor; her presence and

her dreaded “See me–RC” notes kept us

in line.

Fifty years ago, bridge games were

played in the lounge by girls in hair rollers.

Lounges were furnished with a hair dryer

on a stand, a washer and dryer, a TV and

a very busy phone booth, the only phone

in the hall. No television or phone in your

room. Radios were a must.

We enjoyed trips downtown and to

the beach if we were fortunate enough

to have access to a car. We spent time

at a nearby pool at the former Alumni

House where medical students lived. We

swam and played tennis, and, with luck,

arranged dates with a med student.

Some met their future husbands

while in school; many Citadel cadets and

medical students walked up those lovely

curved front steps to the parlor to take

their dates to the movies, football games,

beach parties, and submarine races.

For three years of year-round

schooling, we survived four hours of

hospital duty and four hours of classroom

studies on a five-day a week schedule.

Graduation ceremonies were held

outdoors in the hot sun in front of the

original hospital building. Today, the

building’s columns stand in the lobby of

the main hospital. On this day, we proudly

wore white uniforms with MCSC pins,

white pantyhose, lace up white shoes,

and MCSC monogrammed caps.

After graduation, most of us

went our separate ways as real RNs.

Some furthered their education–one

classmate obtained her PhD. However,

our friendships remained intact. The

1965 class has enjoyed many reunions,

thanks to the efforts of our Charleston

classmates and the MUSC Office of

Alumni Affairs. At our 50th reunion, we

experienced a deep appreciation of our

long lasting friendships, and we honored

those no longer with us.

Our group has become increasingly

proud of being a MCSC graduate and are

in awe of the incredible technical strides

made in nursing education at MUSC. We

are fortunate to celebrate this milestone

in our lives and are encouraged to strive

to continue to help others personally and

through the support of the MUSC College

of Nursing.

Charleston may be known as the City

By the Sea, but is also fortunate to be

known as the City of MUSC!

— EILEEN WILSON BLACKWELL, ‘65FLORENCE, SC

2015 GOLDEN GRADSLeft to right: Linda Inabinet Hussey, Sandy Andrews Noonan, Gretchen Pope, Sylvia Evans Peek, Gloria Hoff Purcell, Eileen Wilson Blackwell, Kaye Carmichael Byers, Kay Whatley Brown, Marie Baker Hanna, Nancy Anderson Umberhandt, Winkie Crouch Atkinson, Jeannie Dority Benton, Gloria Jeffers Rosser, Hermione Furr Carter, Carolyn Jones Grimbal, Elaine Johns Allcut, and Veda Porter Rodriguez


After 30 years of decorated service

to the U.S. Air Force, on July 26,

2015, Colonel Roseanne Warner

(MSN, ’97) retired from her role as direc-

tor of Air Force Nursing Operations, Air

Force Medical Operations Agency, Joint

Base San Antonio-Lackland, TX.

Elizabeth Erkel, PhD, professor

emerita, was a guest of honor at the

retirement ceremony in San Antonio.

“Not only was the retirement ceremony

the most impressive I’ve ever seen, but

Roseanne’s honors were incredible,

including the Legion of Merit - a dis-

tinction held by Winston Churchill and

other world leaders,” noted Dr. Erkel.

Col. Warner received her commis-

sion in 1985. “I was commissioned the

day I gradu-

ated with my

BSN on May

12th, which

also happens

to be Florence

Nightingale’s

birthday,” she

recalls. She

went on to

earn her mas-

ter's in 1997

and believes her education at MUSC

was the foundation for her future suc-

cesses. Col. Warner continued her nurs-

ing education and received her Doctor

of Nursing Practice from the University

of Alabama at Birmingham.

As director of the Air Force Nursing

Operations, Col. Warner was responsi-

ble for the oversight of clinical nursing

operations, sub-allocation of formal

course training, and nursing service

resourcing of 75 military treatment

facilities (MTFs)/10 major commands

(MAJCOMs). Col. Warner directed three

divisions with 28 staff to serve as a

centralized reach-out/reach-back clini-

cal support hub for 39,000 medics. She

closely collaborated with MAJCOMs to

standardize business practices and em-

ploy evidence-based processes across

the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) in

support of health care excellence and

clinical currency. Col. Warner liaised

with 21 AFMS nursing consultants to

develop and evaluate training platforms

to sustain clinical skills for deployed

operations and patient safety practices.

She was the key consultant to the Air

Force Medical Operations Agency/Cen-

tral Command on 19 nursing service

specialties and partnered with Air Staff

to provide developmental support for

Nurse Corps (NC) officers as a member

of the NC Board of Directors, Nursing

Executive Council, NC Strategic Plan-

ning Group and Force Development

Team.

A board certified women’s health

nurse practitioner, Col. Warner held

many leadership positions in the AFMS

including deputy chief nurse, chief of

medical training, deputy director of

nursing, and group commander. She

deployed to several locations provid-

ing medical care, including setting up a

clinic at the American Embassy in Baku,

Azerbaijan and caring for thousands of

people in Haiti. Col. Warner served as

the chief women’s health clinical con-

sultant to the Air Force surgeon general

for five years. In this role, she developed

readiness skills for nurse practitioners

and changed women’s health across the

Air Force.

In addition to the Legion of Merit

Medal, Col. Warner received several ma-

jor awards and decorations including

the Meritorious Service Medal with five

oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commenda-

tion Medal, and the Air Force Achieve-

ment Medal.

“My two nurse heroes are Florence

Nightingale and Clara Barton, and my

third hero is Mother Teresa,” shared Col.

Warner. “At my retirement ceremony,

three people in my directorate wore pe-

riod costumes of my heroes in history

to greet guests. I was very touched by

that gesture of love and appreciation.”

Quoting Florence Nightingale and

reflecting on her long and fruitful ca-

reer, Col. Warner stated, “I attribute my

success to this - I never gave or took

any excuse.”

Since retirement Col. Warner is giv-

ing back in many ways from delivering

Meals on Wheels, to serving as chaplain

for San Antonio Aggie Moms mother’s

group for Texas A&M University, and

serving her church. She is enjoying

time with family and reports that her

son, Nicholas, a senior at Texas A&M,

was selected for an Air Force Pilot

Training Slot for 2017. Her daughter,

Becca, is a BSN prepared nurse in

Washington, DC, and her husband,

Phil, works for Northside Independent

School District in HVAC Engineering.

When asked what’s next for Col. War-

ner, she said, “I have not decided my

next employment opportunity. I always

knew I would take at least a year off

after spending 30 years in the Air Force

Nurse Corps.”

A DECORATED CAREER

V

I was commissioned the day I graduated

with my BSN on May 12, which happens to be

Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

- Col. Roseanne Warner, ‘97

“


Ida McDavitt Fressilli [Diploma ’63]

is the grandmother to five amazing

grandchildren. She feels blessed to

have all of her immediate family living

in Mt. Pleasant, SC.

Brenda Corbett Haile [Diploma ’67]

is a proud grandmother to five

grandchildren. She continues to

work as a part-time registered nurse.

Betsy McCune [BSN ’73] received an

MSN degree from Texas Woman’s

University in 1984. She is currently

enjoying teaching online RN to BSN

classes and is looking forward to

retirement next year.

Catherine Louise Rogers [BSN ’75] is

working with the Women’s Care

Service Line at MUSC providing

support for fetal monitoring.

Anita S. Jackson [BSN ’80] has

returned to the bedside as a WOC

nurse and is happy caring for patients.

She and husband, Timothy, have re-

located to Wilmington, NC. They have

five children and two grandchildren.

She hopes all of her classmates are

happy and healthy.

Colleen W. Bible [BSN ’81] is on faculty

at the Technical College of the Low-

country and loves nursing education.

Her daughter, Alison, is in cancer

remission. Her step-son, Chris, also

known as the Peanut-Dude, sells boiled

peanuts in Charleston and has been

featured in Charleston Magazine and

on CBS Sunday Morning. Her other

step-son, Aaron lives in Tulsa, OK with

his two daughters and works in com-

munications. She and her husband,

Robert, look forward to retirement and

traveling.

After 31 years, Anne Robertson

Johnson [BSN ’81] and her husband,

Jim, moved back to SC in July 2015

to be closer to family. She discovered

she loves teaching and now works at

Aiken Technical College as a clinical

supervisor for ADN students in nursing

homes and hospitals. She also works

as a PRN in the endoscopy department

at Trinity Hospital in Augusta, GA

where she reunited with classmate

Tamera Head Wilson [BSN ‘81]. Ms.

Johnson’s husband retired from Honda

of America and works at Lowe’s. Her

son, Jeffery, is a rising senior at the

University of Cincinnati majoring in

electrical engineering technologies

with hopes to design computer

hardware upon graduation.

Lynnette Maxine (Richardson) Gibson

[BSN ’82] was a 2015 recipient of the

Palmetto Gold. In

2014, she was be-

stowed with the

American Cancer

Society Susan

Eison Spirit

Award and was

named a Sum-

mer Nursing Research Institute Fellow.

She is also a co-investigator for the J.

Patrick Barnes DAISY Foundation Re-

search Award, “Breast Cancer Patients

and Their Perceptions of Changes

After Chemotherapy Treatment.”

Candace (Schima, Buckles) Morton

[BSN ’86/MSN ’91] works at Children’s

Hospital of Wisconsin in pediatric

electrophysiol-

ogy. She has two

beautiful chil-

dren who keep

her on her toes.

She completed

a post-master’s

(ANP) in May

2015 thanks to her supportive family

and co-workers.

Lisa Marie Sternke [BSN ’04/MSN

’06/PhD ’11] was selected for the 2016

Elizabeth Dole Foundation Caregiver

Fellows program. This Fellowship is a

nationwide initiative that gives a voice

to military and veteran caregivers who

have volunteered to serve as advocates

and ambassadors for the 5.5 million

spouses, parents, children and other

loved ones caring for our nation’s

wounded, ill and injured service

members and veterans.

Misty Deason [BSN ’05] is a certified

registered nurse anesthetist who

works at AllCare Clinical Associates

in Asheville, NC. AllCare Clinical

Associates

is one of the

largest private

physician-owned

anesthesia

practices serving

NC and provides

anesthesia

services and

perioperative care for hospitals and

ambulatory surgery centers of all

sizes. Previously, Ms. Deason provided

anesthesia services at Easley Baptist

Hospital in Easley, SC.

Jessica Tillman [BSN ’06] is a PhD

candidate at the Johns Hopkins

School of Nursing. Her dissertation

research focuses on coping strategies,

social support, and self-care among

young women diagnosed with pelvic

inflammatory disease. Additionally,

she is a clinical research nurse at the

National Institutes of Health Clinical

Center in Bethesda, MD.

Olivia Maldonado Covert [BSN ’11] was

married in May 2015.

Lindsey Tredinnik [BSN ’11], who

works on MUSC’s 3 East Medical

Surgical ICU at Ashley River Tower,

received the DAISY Award in

December. Ms. Tredinnik organized

a wedding for a terminal patient and

went beyond the call of duty in order to

make the event something the patient

and family would remember forever.

CLASS NOTES

V

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS


She was recognized for being an

outstanding role model and advocate

for patient care.

Savannah Paige Cox [BSN ’12]

accepted a full time position in

the Greenville Memorial Hospital

NeuroTrauma ICU, a regional level one

trauma center in Greenville, SC.

In June, Kahlil Demonbreun [DNP

’12] will be inducted as a 2016 Fellow

of the American Association of Nurse

Practitioners. This Fellowship engages

recognized nurse practitioners to lead

new initiatives and support the AANP

mission. He also received a Palmetto

Gold Award this year.

Caroline Wallinger [BSN ’12] is a

research nurse coordinator in MUSC’s

Center for Health Disparities Research.

Valerie M. Kneece [BSN ’14] is engaged

to Corbyn Harris, PharmD, from the

MUSC College of Pharmacy Class of

2014. They plan to marry in Oct. 2016.

Emily Giddens [BSN ’15] accepted a job

as a RN in the Level II Neonatal Nurs-

ery at MUSC.

In February, Tiffani Smalls [BSN ’15]

began a pediatric nurse residency

program at Cape Fear Valley Medical

Center in Fayetteville, NC.

PASSAGESEsther Cathyrn Christmas Lawrence, Diploma ‘47

Sep. 19, 1924 - Jan. 23, 2016 | Houston, TX

Leslie Simmons Manuel, BSN ‘76

Oct. 21, 1953 - Dec. 10, 2015 | Woodruff, SC

Shirley “Joyce” Nicastro, Diploma ‘53

Mar. 21, 1932 - Oct. 17, 2015 | Suffern, NY

DON'T BE LEFT OUTHave a new job, a promotion, an award or even a new family member? Let us know and we’ll include it in our next issue.

Submit a Class Note at www.bit.ly/CON-class

Carin Shuler Warren graduated from the College of Nursing’s baccalaureate

program in December 2014. She is currently working on an acute medicine

floor at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center in

Salt Lake City, UT, and recently completed the center’s Transition to Practice

Program.

Ms. Warren’s graduation was a special time for her family because both

her grandmother and mother also completed the nursing program at MUSC.

Her grandmother, Janice Norris

Cooper, graduated in 1960 from the

three-year diploma program when

it was the School of Nursing of the

Medical College of South Carolina.

Ms. Warren’s mother, Allison Cooper

Shuler, earned her bachelor’s degree

in 1986. She also received a master’s

degree in nursing administration from

Georgia College in 1992.

The three generations of CON

graduates have had many amusing

conversations about the changes

from 1960 until now. From paper

charting to electronic medical

records, from routine office visits to

telemedicine, these three graduates

have many notes to compare. All

agree they are so thankful for their

decision to go into nursing.

Three Generations of CON Nurses

THREE GENERATIONSLeft to right: Janice Norris Cooper '60,

Allison Cooper Shuler '86 and Carin Shuler Warren '14.


The work of the College of Nursing’s Development

Office may seem slightly mysterious to those outside

the College, but to the members of the Development

Advisory Board, it’s an important part of their volunteer

and community activities. These seven individuals serve

as friends and ambassadors of the College of Nursing and

also function in a consultative capacity to support the

advancement efforts of the College.

Renée M. Black | Co-ChairRenée M. Black has served as co-chair since 2013. After

earning a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nursing,

Ms. Black worked as nurse clinician at several hospitals in

Massachusetts. She also taught nursing at nursing schools on

both coasts.

“My nursing background provided me with the skills

and education required to create a unique professional

niche in the business world,” Ms. Black says, and as a result,

she worked in the public business sector for 30 years as a

pharmaceutical and biotechnology professional for Schering

Plough, Inc. and Genentech, Inc.

For Ms. Black, the decision to become involved with the

College of Nursing was an easy one. “The nursing profession

provides endless opportunities, and Dean Stuart and the

faculty provide the building tools of resiliency as they prepare

students for navigating the constant change in our health

care environment.” She continued, “I chose to be part of the

Board to support the efforts of the Dean and faculty and to

increase awareness regarding the extraordinary outcomes of

the College and the students they teach.”

Connie Conner | Co-ChairConnie Conner brings a variety of health care experience in

her role as co-chair. Ms. Conner is a former nurse executive

with over 45 years of experience in health care, including

over 31 years as a registered nurse. Ms. Conner retired in 2011

after spending seventeen years as the senior vice president

and chief nursing officer at Self Regional Healthcare in

Greenwood, SC. She holds an MSN with a specialty in health

care education, as well as a BSN and ADN.

It was Ms. Conner’s many years of nursing and health

care experience that sparked her interest in the Development

Advisory Board. “As a previous chief nursing officer, I am

acutely aware of the aging of our current nursing workforce

and the need to develop well-qualified and highly educated

nurses.”

“Knowing MUSC College of Nursing’s reputation for

graduating stellar nurses, I was very interested in joining the

Development Advisory Board to continue the opportunity to

expand the pathways for future nurses,” she said.

Kay K. Chitty | Emeritus MemberKay K. Chitty, former chair of the Development Advisory

Board, has been involved with the College for many years.

Dr. Chitty is a retired nurse and nurse educator. Her career

highlights include establishing the first independent nursing

practice in North Carolina and holding faculty appointments

at the University of South Carolina, the University of North

Carolina at Charlotte, and the University of Tennessee at

Chattanooga, where she retired as dean of the School of

Nursing.

Dr. Chitty received her BSN and MSN degrees from

Emory University and her doctorate from the University of

Tennessee.

Dr. Chitty is thrilled to be a long-term partner and advocate

of the College of Nursing. “I became involved in the College

of Nursing years ago and watched it grow into a top-notch,

nationally ranked school,” she said. “I have great admiration

MEET CON’S DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY BOARD

V

GIVING BACK

Left to right: Bev Seinsheimer, Marcia Falk, Vicky Sullivan, Kay Chitty (emeritus member), Renée Black (co-chair), Connie Conner (co-chair). Not pictured: Stanley Harris


for the faculty and staff of the College and believe Dean Stuart

to be a gifted administrator.”

“They have all given greatly of themselves, and I hope that

my efforts as a volunteer will demonstrate to them how much

I appreciate their efforts to raise the College to new heights,”

Dr. Chitty said.

Marcia Griffin Falk | MemberMembership on the Development Advisory Board is not

limited to nurses. Marcia Griffin Falk, another former chair,

spent the majority of her working years teaching high school

and technical college students.

In 2000, Ms. Falk and her husband, Carl, founded the Falk-

Griffin Foundation. She has served as past chair of Teach My

People, the Palmetto Family Council, Outreach Farms, and

the Board of Visitors for the Spadoni College of Education

of Coastal Carolina University. She has also been active with

Habitat for Humanity and the Lowcountry Food Bank.

Ms. Falk’s journey to the Board started with a phone call

from a friend. “[Former First Lady of MUSC] Ann Edwards

invited me to meet Dean Stuart, and as soon as I did, I was

absolutely taken with her vision for the College of Nursing

and what it could be,” she said. “From my experience in

education, I thought she had wonderful ideas for the future

of the College, and I knew I wanted to help make those ideas

happen.”

Stanley Harris | MemberAfter 40 years in health care, Stanley Harris knows nursing

from the perspectives of the student, the teacher, and the

clinician. One of two new members to join the Board this

year, Dr. Harris is originally from Eatonton, GA, where he

was raised by a nurse, and he began his nursing career as

an LPN. After earning his BSN from Albany State University,

he was hired as adjunct faculty at Clayton College and State

University in Morrow, GA.

In 1995, Dr. Harris received his MSN from Georgia State

University and went on to earn an EdD degree from the

University of Phoenix. He spent seven years in various

positions at the South Carolina State University Department

of Nursing before eventually becoming the department’s

interim chair in 2012.

Dr. Harris’ enthusiasm for nursing and education led him

to join the Development Advisory Board in its mission. “I

was ecstatic to join the Board and let the community know

the hard work that nurses and nurse educators do on a daily

basis, whether it’s clinically based or grading papers,” he said.

“Being part of this Board will help me open avenues in the

surrounding communities to elicit support for the College.”

Bev Seinsheimer | MemberBev Seinsheimer found her way to Charleston in the 1980s

from the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is a graduate of the

University of Virginia with a bachelor’s in nursing. Always

passionate about medicine, Ms. Seinsheimer was asked to

be on the Heart and Vascular Board at MUSC, which she

ultimately chaired.

During her tenure on the Heart and Vascular Board, she

with her husband, Wally, started the Seinsheimer Clinic for

Heart Disease Prevention. For her work in this area, she was

awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from

MUSC in 2010.

It was Ms. Seinsheimer’s early career experience as an

operating room nurse that influenced her decision to join

the Development Advisory Board. “Nurses are the very

discipline that, for each patient, create the healing, receive

the love, care, and compassion of those who have chosen this

wonderful profession,” she said. “We need to make the public

aware and create grateful patients to further the incredible

work being done both clinically and in the area of research at

the College of Nursing.”

Victoria (Vicky) D. Sullivan | MemberFor Vicky Sullivan, giving back to MUSC is a way of life. In

addition to being a member of the Board, Ms. Sullivan is also

a member of the Heart and Vascular Advisory Board.

Ms. Sullivan, a former educator, is also a board member of

WINGS, a regional program that teaches school-age children

the importance of making good decisions and fostering

healthy relationships through after school programs.

She has a deep respect for nurses, and it is this

appreciation that makes her service on the Development

Advisory Board so meaningful. “I’ve always admired the

nursing profession,” Ms. Sullivan said. “Nurses are the

backbone of hospitals and doctors’ offices, serving as liaisons

between the patient and physician.”

“They help the patient not only with their medical needs

but also with their state of mind. We are very blessed to have

these caring men and women in our lives, quite often during

our lowest and most difficult times. This is the least I can do

to pay back that service.”

“ Nursing is an unsung hero in the health care arena, and I want to sing its praises to all who will listen.

Dr. Kay Chitty


Ursula Caton, born in Newcastle-

Under-Lyme, England, was a

passionate nurse who found her

niche in behavioral health nursing.

She worked at MUSC’s Institute of

Psychiatry for many years, evaluating

psychiatric patients in the ER to assess

whether they met inpatient criteria.

When she died in 2009, fellow

MUSC colleagues, Yalani Vanzura, MD,

and Steve Rublee, MHA, worked to

establish a scholarship in Ms. Caton’s

memory. With the aim to support

students with children who wish to

pursue a nursing career, they created

the Ursula Caton Memorial Scholarship

Fund because they believe her spirit

lives on in the form of her impact on

others.

“For those who loved Ursula, we

clearly see the passion and dedication

she had for her children and family,

and the effort she put into directing

them to further their education and

later her own,” her co-workers wrote.

“At the conclusion of her children’s

education, Ursula went back to school

to further her love of learning.

Today the Ursula Caton Memorial

Scholarship is fully endowed so we

asked Ms. Caton’s daughters and one

of her former managers to share their

memories of this remarkable woman.

Our mother was a true inspiration to

her daughters, friends, and co-workers.

She valued family, education and work

above so many things and instilled in us

the principle to put family first and to

never take learning for granted. As one of

the hardest working women I have ever

known, she not only passed on a strong

work ethic to us but also taught us how

important it is to love one’s work. Finally,

she showed us that you can be fiercely

independent and yet give and receive

love and support from others at the same

time. —Alex Caton, daughter, Gordonsville, VA

Our mum was a fervent advocate of

higher education. To have this scholarship

as her legacy gives me such great

pleasure. It is the most fitting way to

honor her memory.

—Hannah Peress, daughter, Basel, Switzerland

Mum was one of the most generous

people I ever knew. She took pride in the

fact that her father was renowned for

his generous spirit and worked hard to

encourage that same quality within her

four daughters. I believe this generosity

was foundational to her success as a

nurse. She truly wanted to help people

and when it meant staying an extra shift

or coming in to work early she was always

willing to do it because she believed she

was making a difference to someone.

Mum and I were in undergraduate

nursing school at the same time. At first

I thought it was odd that she would

want to embark on a new career after

raising four girls and working many

non-professional roles to support our

education. I even worried about it. We

were very similar and competitive at times

which could have been difficult, but we

were in different schools, so it became

less of a concern, and we even shared

experiences and probably did better as

a result. Mum knew from the start of her

career that she needed to provide not

only excellent physical care but perhaps

even more important to her was the

need to provide emotional support to

her patients. She became very close to

several of her long-term hospice patients

and when she decided to transition from

oncology to behavioral health it was a

natural fit.

She loved behavioral health nursing.

She was an excellent listener and gave

families hope even when there was deep

worry and concern. I was truly proud of

my mum, and she couldn’t have been

more proud of her four girls. She worked

so hard to help us achieve success and

then turned to her own career needs

later in life but still looking to support

others in their journey for self attainment.

This memorial fund could not be more

suited to its purpose to support mothers

REMEMBERING URSULA CATON

V

GIVING BACK


Ursula Caton's daughters pictured with their father in 2014. Left to right: Helen, Alex, Georgia, and Hannah Ursula at graduation

returning to school to further themselves.

It is so gratifying for us to know that

others will feel the help my mother

always strove to give. We hope that this

fund will perpetuate a long line of strong

and compassionate mothers as nurses.

—Helen Caton-Peters (MSN ‘96), daughter, Stafford,

VA. Ms. Caton-Peters worked as a MUSC OB nurse

and clinical analyst for over 10 years.

We couldn’t have thought of a better way

to honor her, as my mother was a woman

who worked incredibly hard her entire

life, which included taking the initiative to

put herself back through nursing school

once her children were grown. Each time

I make a donation to this scholarship, or I

hear about a donation made by someone

else, it is a reminder of the great impact

she had on those around her. She would

be extremely proud to know that her

scholarship will help others who, like

her, make that difficult and somewhat

daunting choice to go back to school

later in life in an effort to continue to try

and better themselves.

—Georgia Evans, daughter, Riverside, IL

Ms. Caton established a tea-time tradition

at the Institute of Psychiatry for the staff.

Being from England, tea was one of life’s

essentials. She brought in a beautiful

ceramic tea service to give the staff a

lovely, relaxing tea-time. It was so popular

that after she had died, the they kept the

teapot to cherish her memory.

Ursula understood mental illness, was

passionate about her work and was a

strong patient advocate. She spoke fondly

and adoringly of her four daughters and

eleven grandchildren. They meant the

world to her. —Tez Bertiaux, Mrs. Caton’s former

manager at MUSC

Jeanne Stribling Allyn, ’64, fondly remembers

“bullfighting” with her classmates, using their

navy nursing capes turned inside out to show

the silky red lining. The cloak from the nursing

uniform transformed into a matador’s cape and

became the perfect prop for this sophomoric

game. The girls were, after all, only 18 years old

when they started their nursing program at the

Medical College of South Carolina (MCSC).

The strict and ever watchful Miss Chamberlin

put an immediate stop to this, but the girls man-

aged to have a lot of fun as students and formed lifelong friendships during

their three-year nursing program.

Fifty years ago the approximate cost of tuition was $300 for the en-

tire three-year program and was the main factor for sending Ms. Allyn to

study nursing in Charleston at MCSC rather than Clemson. It was the only

program her family could afford. Ms. Allyn recalls receiving encourage-

ment and support from her parents and aunt, but most especially from her

paternal grandmother, who had wanted to become a nurse herself.

Early in her nursing career, Ms. Allyn worked in a Fort Stewart, GA hospi-

tal, as well as a smaller hospital three miles away with only three doctors on

staff. As a result, she gained a lot of experience performing procedures that

nurses were not permitted to do in larger hospitals.

After her daughter was born, the Allyns moved to Ledyard, CT where Ms.

Allyn worked as a med-surg nurse for five years. Once her son was born,

her nursing practice was limited to volunteer work in bloodmobiles and

working as a camp nurse.

When her children became adults, she went back to school to take an

80-hour refresher course and began working in geriatric nursing which she

found quite rewarding.

Today, Ms. Allyn wants to give back to

the school that started her nursing career.

She has made a bequest in her will to give

a percentage of her estate to the MUSC

Foundation for a scholarship at the College

of Nursing. She wants to help students in

need from upstate South Carolina attend

the College of Nursing.

“My gift will assist in ensuring that stu-

dents who want to go to nursing school are

not held back by the lack of finances,” said Ms. Allyn. “I hope my classmates

and others who have benefitted from a successful career will consider mak-

ing a planned gift to give back to others.

“Setting up a scholarship was such an easy thing to do through a simple

bequest in my will, and it doesn’t affect my current finances at all,” she con-

tinued. “A gift of any amount, large or small, will be helpful to the College of

Nursing.”

FROM BULLFIGHTING TO SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIPS

V

“ Nursing is such a wonderful career and

I received a superb education.

Jeanne Allyn

To learn more about establishing a scholarship or

a planned gift contact:Laurie Scott,

Director of Development [email protected] or

843-792-8421


"

HOMECOMING 2016On March 11 and 12, the MUSC Alumni Association

hosted the College of Nursing’s annual Homecoming

Weekend, a precious time of reconnection for

alumni and friends of the College. Highlights

included the 2016 Alumni Awards reception, a special

presentation by BSN students, and a BBQ overlooking

the Charleston Harbor. This year’s Homecoming

honorees included Rafat Jan ‘94, Angela Y. Stanley

‘13, Marcia Griffin Falk, and Matt Wain. Thanks to all

who joined us for the festivities!

1

2

3

4

56

LINES OF LIFE

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life."

- Richard Bach

"

1 Dean Gail Stuart and Angela Stanley '13

2 Paige French ‘94, ’99, Joshua Poston, Hannah French ‘09, ’14,

and Kristen Poston ‘09, ’13

3 Lynne Nemeth '05 and Laurie Zone-Smith ‘91, ‘07

4 Rahim Sewani and Rafat Jan ‘96

5 Charles and Kay Chitty

6 Carl Falk, Ann Edwards and Marcia Falk

7 Matt Wain, Marcia Falk, Rafat Jan ‘94, and Angela Stanley ‘13

8 The Gin Boys Band

9 Savannah Cockfield Rogers, Dean Gail Stuart and

Costa Cockfield ‘86

BSN candidates: Bethany Ellis with Martha Lee and Emily Griffin

describe their experiences traveling to India

BSN candidates: Shannon Elam with Bethany Ellis, Martha Lee

and Emily Griffin make a presentation

7

9

8

NON-PROFITUS Postage

PAIDPermit # 254

Charleston, SC

99 Jonathan Lucas StreetMSC 160

Charleston, SC 29425-1600

Taking Nursing to a Higher Level

www.musc.edu/nursing

Offering the following programs:| RN to BSN| Accelerated BSN| Post-BSN to DNP| Post-MSN to DNP| Accelerated PhD

RANKED#2 - 2016#1 - 2015#2 - 2014

Documents

Lifelines Spring/Summer 2016