The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHSON) marched into this month to the upbeat of funding for diversity grants, new assignments and promotions, and appearances as conferences presenters.
Diversity Panel Series
The SON’s Diversity and Inclusion committee co-chaired by Associate Director for Financial Aid Sherrod Wilkerson and Sarah Szanton, PhD, CRNP, received this year’s JH Diversity Innovation Grant (DIG). With the grant, the committee plans to host a series of panels that will discuss the experiences of transgendered, lesbian, or gay individuals in the healthcare system, the role of men in nursing, and the difficulties patients face navigating the healthcare system. The goal of the panels is to promote respect, support diversity, and enhance inclusion.
Passion and Determination
Recognized for her passion and determination in the medical field, Accelerated student Brynn Huffman received the Chesapeake Urology Award Scholarship. Considering a healthcare career as a child, Huffman decided to become a nurse after working for the Appalachia Service Project. As a student, she wants to use her knowledge to improve healthcare options for people living in poverty. Huffman received her award at the Central Scholarship Student Awards Ceremony.
New Co-Directors, Co-Chairs, and Appointments
Anne Belcher, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, and Marti Andrews, PhD, were selected as the new Co-Directors for the Office for Teaching Excellence (OTE). Over the next 12 months, they plan to assess faculty teaching and learning needs, provide consultancy in curriculum renewal, and develop an Early Career Academic Mentoring Program.
Cheryl Dennison Himmelfarb, PhD, RN, ANP, FAAN, and Hae-Ra Han, PhD, RN, FAAN, have been named co-directors of the renamed Center for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care. This new Center, formerly the Center of Excellence for Cardiovascular Care, will build upon the strong foundations established through the original National Institutes of Health (NIH) $1.9 million grant. As directors, Himmelfarb and Han will guide the Center’s focus on non-communicable diseases, health outcomes of patients and their families, and communities living with multiple and chronic conditions.
In the promotions area, Jason Farley, PhD, MPH, CRNP, FAAN, is now an Associate Professor in the Department of Community-Public Health. An adjunct professor at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and a nurse practitioner in the Division of Infectious Diseases within the Johns Hopkins AIDS Service, Farley has a global reputation for his research in epidemiologic interactions of patients with drug-resistant infections. Specialist in nurse education, Cynthia Foronda, PhD, RN, was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Acute and Chronic Care. Foronda is an expert in nurse education, online teaching and learning, and virtual simulation. She has won various awards for her innovative and creative online teaching. These include the Blackboard Exemplary Course Award and the Sloan-C Excellence in Online Teaching Award.
Presentations and Conferences:
- Patricia Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN, presented “Scaling up partnerships in nursing education and research” at the 17th East Asia Forum of Nursing Scholars (EAFONS) in Manila, Philippines.
- Kathleen White, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, presented the poster “Nursing and Health Policy Competency” at the Robert Wood Johnson/University of Mexico Conference on integrating health policy into a doctoral nursing program.
- Laura Gitlin, PhD, will present “Caregiving of Older Individuals Who Have Cognitive Decline” at the 2014 National Nursing Research Roundtable.
- Linda Gerson, PhD, RN, is co-chair of the 2014 International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Conference. This five-day event will be held in Greenville, SC.
- At the Southern Nursing Research Society’s 28th Annual Conference, Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN, CNE, FAAN, presented “Engaging and Retaining Abused Women in Perinatal Home Visitation Programs.”