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ISSUE

Embracing Our Differences:
The Dean’s Diversity & Inclusivity
Advisory Council

* dean’s
LETTER

Fall 2016

Pursuing our values of

Excellence

With each new year comes a new edition of Engagement—a new opportunity
to connect with you and show how we are reaching our aspirations and
pursuing our values for excellence. We are bursting with unique and rich
colors similar to those surrounding Lexington’s Abraham Lincoln mural,
exemplifying our growing efforts to celebrate and empower our community
of bright and diverse individuals. Just as these colors stem from President
Lincoln, our branches are stretching far and wide, becoming more diverse and
more inclusive, while our roots ground everything we do.
There are endless possibilities for growth, but we can’t do it alone! We want you to help nourish our
roots and be a part of our journey as we continue to grow and expand our reach through our new
2020 Strategic Plan that outlines our five goals:
• Promote academic excellence and growth in the undergraduate program
• Strengthen graduate student growth and success
• Enhance faculty and student research and scholarly work
• Improve diversity and inclusivity across learning and working environments
• Advance community and faculty practice engagement
Student success is the leading priority for our College and University of Kentucky, and we believe you will
be particularly pleased to read about our efforts to move the needle forward on a baccalaureate-prepared
Kentucky nursing workforce—a goal set by the Institute of Medicine that confronts one of health care’s
biggest challenges yet.
Equally important for student success is our work toward improving diversity and inclusivity,
especially through our new Dean’s Diversity and Inclusivity Advisory Council, which was restructured
to bring diversity issues to light and to nurture a community that will work together to find the best
possible solutions.
We are committed to making sure every student, faculty and staff member in the College feels he or
she is a valuable contributor to our shared success. This kind of culture will help us collaborate across
disciplines, stimulate intellectual innovation and help our students meet the many challenges they
will face after graduating. It will revitalize their sensitivity and shift their mindset at the bedside as
they care for patients of different backgrounds.
Spearheading our effort to make our environment as welcoming and as unique as possible is our new
director of diversity and inclusivity, Dr. Jenna Hatcher. With her help, we have quickly transitioned from
a bold new era into an exciting phase of development. Our goal for this year is clear: to use our unique
position as a top academic institution to not only embrace our diversity but also to expand it; consequently,
we will advocate for and provide quality care to patients of all backgrounds in hospitals, offices, clinics
and the community.
We invite you to stay connected with our nursing family to see our tangible shift from the ordinary to
the extraordinary. As always, please let me know your thoughts on how we are making a difference in
our nursing community.
Health and Happiness Always,

Janie Heath, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN
Dean and Warwick Professor of Nursing

* table of

CONTENTS

Feature

16

Workforce

Moving the Needle:
Advancing Kentucky’s Nursing Workforce
Toward the IOM Recommendations

20
28

Leadership

8

Embracing our Differences:
The Dean’s Diversity and Inclusivity
Advisory Council

Clinical
Following The Clinical Leaders:
Theory | The Classroom | Evidence-Based Practice

High-Impact Leaders
Join the Nursing Conversation:
The Dean’s Advisory Board

30
2
4
14
25
26
32
34
35

Community
From Point of Care to Community Care:
William Wells Brown Elementary

Awards & Honors
Faculty/Staff Appointments & Transitions
PROFILES: Clinical & Service
PROFILES: Teaching & Research
Research Grants Awarded
PROFILES: Students
Events
Development

* awards

& HONORS

Recipient List
2015-2016

CONGRATULATIONS
Taylor Ann Davis Starbucks Award
Spring 2016
Drew Walls

Top 10 Student Poster, 2016 Southern
Nursing Research Society
Jennifer Miller

Carolyn A. Williams Award
Abdullah Alhurani

Delta Psi Senior Nurse Award Spring 2016
Janie Young

Nursing Professional Advancement,
Silver Status
Dawn Profit

College of Nursing Alumni Association
Nightingale Award Fall 2015
Peyton Blanton

2016

Taylor Ann Davis Starbucks Award Fall 2015
Peyton Blanton

Top 10 Student Poster, 2016 Southern
Nursing Research Society
Adebola Adegboyega

College of Nursing
Student Awards

Sebastian-Stanhope Award
Michael Boling
Delta Psi Senior Nurse Award Fall 2015
Nicole Church
Omicron Delta Kappa
Maurice A. Clay Award
Elizabeth Combs
College of Nursing Faculty Award
Spring 2016
Grace Clark
Baptist Health Lexington Nursing
Leadership Award Spring 2016
Keelie Dyson
College of Nursing Alumni Association
Alumni Award
Sarah Gabbard
College of Nursing Faculty Award Fall 2015
Hannah Greer
UK HealthCare Commitment to Nursing
Excellence Award Spring 2016
Jill Jones
Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke
Nursing Early Career Research Travel
award, American Heart Association
Chin-Yen Lin
Baptist Health Lexington Nursing
Leadership Award Fall 2015
Alan Ruiz
College of Nursing Alumni Association
Alumni Award
Shannon Shumaker
Sigma Theta Tau Research Award
Tracey Vitori
UK HealthCare Commitment to Nursing
Excellence Award Fall 2015
Katie Voigts
College of Nursing Alumni Association
Nightingale Award Spring 2016
Drew Walls

2

ENGAGEMENT / Fall 2016

Other Student Awards

Lyman T. Johnson Torch of Excellence,
University of Kentucky
Kacy Allen-Bryant
Baptist Health Fellowship
in Nursing Research
Andrew Bugajski
Occupational Health Nursing Fellow,
University of Kentucky
Michael Callihan Jr.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Future of Nursing Scholar
Sara Duggan
Lyman T. Johnson Torch Bearer Award,
University of Kentucky
Keelie Dyson
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Future of Nursing Scholar
Jessica Harman
Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing
Minority Research Travel Stipend,
American Heart Association
JungHee Kang

American Association of Colleges of
Nursing Student Policy Summit Fellow
Tracey Vitori
Occupational Health Nursing Fellow,
University of Kentucky
Cheryl Witt

2016

College of Nursing
Annual Award Recipients
Louise J. Zegeer Award
Stephanie Fugate
Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award
Melanie Hardin-Pierce
Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Award
Christy Hubbard
Excellence in Undergraduate Clinical
Precepting Award
Courtney Hollis
Excellence in Unit/Agency Award
UKHC Clinical Decision Unit (CDU)
Excellence in Graduate Precepting Award
Rif El-Mallakh
Teaching Excellence in Support of
Professional Nursing Award
Allison Soult

Dorothy Luther Fellowship
JungHee Kang

Excellence in Service Award
Elizabeth Salt

JONAS Scholar Award
JungHee Kang

Gloe L. Bertram Award
Dan Rios

Spring Delta Psi Chapter,
Sigma Theta Tau Scholarship
JungHee Kang

Employee of the Year Award
Joanne Davis

2015 Saha Award for Cardiovascular
Research and Education
Sooksai Kaewbua
JONAS Scholar Award
Stephanie Kehler
Karen Hall Sexton Scholarship Award
Stephanie Kehler
2015 Saha Award for Cardiovascular
Research and Education
Jennifer Miller

Puma Award for Staff Excellence
Amy DelRe
Puma Award for Faculty Excellence
Sharon Lock

2015-2016

Other Faculty Awards
Inducted as an Associate of the UK Center
for Interprofessional Health Education
Mollie Aleshire

* awards

& HONORS

Inducted as a Fellow of the American
Academy of Nursing
Kristin Ashford

Inducted as an Associate of the UK Center
for Interprofessional Health Education
Hartley Feld

Inducted as a Fellow of the American
Association of Nurse Practitioners
Sharon Lock

Sarah Bennett Holmes Award,
UK Women’s Forum
Kristin Ashford

Inducted as an Associate of the UK Center
for Interprofessional Health Education
Lee Anne Walmsley

Inducted as a Fellow in the National
Academies of Practice
Sharon Lock

UK Chairs’ Academy, University of Kentucky
Kristin Ashford

Inducted as an Associate of the UK Center
for Interprofessional Health Education
Jennifer Cowley

Innovative Alumni Leading Nationally,
University of Alabama School of Nursing
Sheila Melander

Inducted as a Fellow in American College
of Healthcare Executives
Debra Hampton

UK Chairs’ Academy, University of Kentucky
Sheila Melander

Inducted as a Fellow in the American
Academy of Nursing
Patricia Burkhart
Inducted as a Fellow of the UK Center for
Interprofessional Health Education
Patricia Burkhart
Outstanding Alumnus Award, UK College
of Nursing Alumni Association
Karen Butler
Inducted as a Fellow of the UK Center for
Interprofessional Health Education
Cathy Catlett
Anthony Battaglia/Pocket Nurse
Conference Scholarship Award
Tammy Courtney

Inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa
National Leadership Honor Society
Frances Hardin-Fanning
William S. and Elizabeth M. Morgan
Professorship and Research Award, UK
College of Nursing
Frances Hardin-Fanning
Inducted as a Fellow of the AACN-Wharton
Executive Leadership program, American
Association of Colleges of Nursing
Janie Heath

UK Chairs’ Academy, University of Kentucky
Susan Frazier

Inducted as a Fellow of the UK Center for
Interprofessional Health Education
Lynne Jensen

UKHC-CON Academic-Clinical
Engagement Award
Stephanie Fugate

Provider of the Month,
Advanced Practice Providers
Lynne Jensen

2016-2017 Research Professor, University of
Kentucky
Ellen Hahn

Inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau
International Nurse Researcher
Hall of Fame
Terry Lennie

Kentucky Nurse Practitioner Advocate of
the Year, AANP
Kathy Wheeler

Awardgallery

Recipient

1 | Joanne Davis showcases her pins, each representing five
years of service at the University of Kentucky. 2 | Ana Linares,
DNS, RN, IBCLC, assistant professor, with PhD candidate
Adebola Adegboyega, BSN, RN, and Terry Lennie, PhD,
RN, FAHA, FAAN, professor and associate dean of graduate
faculty affairs, at the annual Student Scholarship Showcase.
3 | Mary Ellen Roberts, DNP, RN, APRN, APN-C, FNAP,
FAANP, FAAN, president of the Fellows of the American
Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP); Audrey Darville,
PhD, RN, APRN, CTTS, FAANP, associate professor and
new FAANP inductee; Kathy Wheeler, PhD, RN, APRN,
NP-C, FNAP, FAANP, assistant professor and primary
FAANP sponsor at the FAANP national conference in San
Antonio, Texas. 4 | Fellows & Associates of the Center
for Interprofessional Health Education gather in the UK
Biological Pharmaceutical Building.

1

2015 President’s Award from the Friends of
the National Institute of Nursing Research
Debra Moser
Inducted as a Fellow in the American
Academy of Nursing
Cecilia Page
Inducted as a Fellow in the American
Academy of Nursing
Deborah Reed
Gainesway Community Empowerment
Center Thank You Award
Carol Riker
Baptist Health Lexington Health Services
Leadership Scholar
Nora Warshawsky
Inducted as a Fellow of the UK Center for
Interprofessional Health Education
Darlene Welsh
UK Chairs’ Academy, University of Kentucky
Darlene Welsh
Inducted as a Distinguished Public Policy
Fellow National Academies of Practice
Kathy Wheeler

2

4

3

* faculty
& S TA F F

Faculty Appointments
Faculty Appointments
Tammy Courtney,
MSN, RN, is a new
lecturer in the
College of Nursing.
Courtney began
serving full-time
as a simulation
specialist in
the Clinical
Simulation and Learning Center in fall
2015; however, she will now teach NUR
201: Assessment and Health Promotion
Across the Lifespan. Courtney worked in
the intensive care unit for 12 years.
Amanda CulpRoche, MSN,
APRN, FNP-BC, is
a new instructor
in the College of
Nursing. CulpRoche has more
than 20 years
of experience as
an RN in acute care, home health and
supervision. She has spent the last six
years practicing as a board certified
family nurse practitioner and is currently
working toward her PhD at UK. CulpRoche joins the faculty in the online
RN-BSN Option.

4

and pediatrics and maintains an active
practice at the Polk Dalton: Internal
Medicine/Pediatrics Clinic in Lexington.
Her research interests center on weight
management, motivational interventions
and teaching-learning issues.
Debra Hampton,
PhD, MSN, RN,
FACHE, NEA-BC,
is the College’s new
Executive Nursing
Leadership
Population and
Organizational
System Track
and MSN-DNP Option coordinator. Dr.
Hampton has served as first line manager,
middle manager, chief nursing officer and
as a senior executive (System Site CEO).
She has developed and taught various
courses as a part-time instructor for the
College’s undergraduate, master’s and
DNP programs. She currently teaches
full-time in the DNP program, including
courses in technology/informatics,
finance, leadership and others.

Suzanne (Suzie)
Pilon, PhD, BSN, RN,
is a new instructor in
the College of Nursing.
She has more than
16 years of acute care
nursing experience.
Dr. Pilon graduated
in 2016 with her
DNP as a clinical nurse specialist in adult/
gerontology, where she focused on palliative
care and fall prevention in the older adult.
She joined the College of Nursing in 2012
as a teaching assistant and is currently
working full-time instructing the lab portion
of the undergraduate course NUR 211:
Fundamentals of Adult Nursing Care.
Tricia Rogers, MSN,
RN, is a new clinical
lab instructor in
the College of
Nursing for NUR
201: Assessment and
Health Promotion
Across the Lifespan.
She has more than 20
years of nursing experience with 15 of these
devoted to the education and development
of RNs in the acute care hospital setting.

Angie Hensley,
DNP, APRN, is
a new instructor
Amanda Wiggins,
in the College of
PhD, is a new lecturer
Nursing. She has
in the College of
15 years of acute
Nursing. In addition
and critical care
Alexandra (Lexie)
to providing research
nursing experience.
Dampier, DNP,
support to faculty and
She teaches both
APRN, NP-C, is
students, Dr. Wiggins
traditional BSN and RN-BSN students in
a new instructor
teaches NUR 903:
the undergraduate program. As an APRN,
in the College of
Applied Biostatistics
Dr. Hensley practices one day a week
Nursing. She has
for Outcomes Evaluation to DNP students
in the hepatology clinic and is a board
taught several
at the College’s outreach education location
certified nurse practitioner.
courses in the
at Norton Healthcare in Louisville. Dr.
undergraduate
Julie Ossege,
Wiggins’s dissertation focused on the
curriculum and is currently the coPhD, APRN, has
psychological impact of a false positive
course coordinator for NUR 201:
been appointed to
ovarian cancer screening test result, assessed
Assessment and Health Promotion Across
associate professor via mixed and trajectory modeling.
the Lifespan. She is a board certified
and coordinator
family nurse practitioner who practices
Cheryl Witt,
for the Primary
as needed at University Health Services.
MSN, RN, is a new
Care DNP Track,
pathopharmacology
where she oversees
Judith Daniels,
lecturer in the
clinical placements.
PhD, APRN, FNP,
College of Nursing
She has been a board certified and
PNP, has been
and has been a nurse
practicing family nurse practitioner for
appointed to
for 25 years. She is
26 years. She has more than 20 years of
assistant professor
a PhD candidate in
academic experience, including graduate
in the College
the College and also
program management.
of Nursing. She
serves as the clinical coordinator for NUR
is dual board
301: Family Centered Care of Adults with
certified in family
Common Health Problems. Witt’s research
interests lie in Appalachian and Rural Health,
and she currently works with two major
ENGAGEMENT / Fall 2016
research teams at UK.

* Faculty Transitions
Rebecca Dekker,
PhD, RN, APRN,
has resigned from
Kacy Allen-Bryant,
her position as
MSN, MPH, RN,
assistant professor.
has transitioned
Dr. Dekker is
from part-time to
the founder of
full-time lecturer
Evidence Based
and clinical
Birth, which
instructor for
aims to promote evidence-based care
the public health
by putting the research evidence about
nursing course. In
childbirth into the hands of families
addition to working in the home health
and professionals. She serves as a peer
and occupational health arenas, she has
reviewer for maternal health research
been an active member of the American
journals, volunteers on the advisory
Public Health Association and Chi Eta
boards for Improving Birth and DONA
Phi, Inc., a professional nursing sorority
International and has presented to a
for African American nurses. She is also a
member of the Lexington Fayette County number of leading organizations in the
childbirth field, including the American
Health Department Board of Health
College of Nurse Midwives, the March of
and the Mayor’s Alliance Committee on
Dimes, Lamaze and DONA International.
Substance Abuse.

& S TA F F

Terry Lennie, PhD,
RN, FAHA, FAAN,
professor, has
been promoted to
associate dean of
graduate faculty
affairs. Dr. Lennie
currently serves as
co-director for the
RICH Heart Program. His research focuses
on the development of interventions to
promote self-management of prevention
and treatment of cardiovascular disease
with a particular interest in optimizing
nutritional intake. Dr. Lennie has received
several awards and was recently inducted
into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma
Theta Tau International (STTI) Nurse
Researcher Hall of Fame. He is also a
Fellow of the American Heart Association
and the Academy of Nursing.

Peggy El-Mallakh,
PhD, PMHNPBC, RN, has
been promoted
to associate
professor. Dr. ElMallakh’s most
recent research
investigated the
experiences of family caregiving for
people with comorbid schizophrenia and
diabetes mellitus. Her studies have been
published in several psychiatric nursing
journals, and she has presented research
at numerous conferences.

faculty

Debra Moser, PhD,
RN, FAHA, FAAN,
professor and Linda
C. Gill Endowed
Chair of Nursing,
has been promoted
to director of the
Office for Faculty
Collaboration and
Scholarship. Dr. Moser is co-director of
the RICH Heart Program and researches
ways to improve outcomes and quality
of life in people with heart failure and
other cardiac conditions. She also directs
the Center for Biobehavioral Research in
Self-Management of Cardiopulmonary
Disease at the College. She recently earned
the 2010 Nurse Practitioner Advocate State
Award for Excellence from the American
Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Faculty Transitions

Karen Butler,
DNP, RN, associate
professor, has
been promoted to
assistant dean of
academic affairs. Dr.
Butler teachers in
the DNP Program
and is also a faculty
associate in the BREATHE Program
(Bridging Research Efforts and Advocacy
Toward Healthy Environments) and the
Tobacco Research Policy Program. She
has won awards for her work in both
scholarship and education. Her clinical
and research interests are adult health
promotion, including tobacco dependence
prevention and treatment.

Jennifer Hatcher,
RN, PhD, MPH,
associate professor,
has been promoted
Misook Lee
to director of
Chung, PhD, RN,
Jan Odom-Forren,
diversity and
FAHA, FAAN, has
PhD, RN, CPAN,
inclusivity. She
been promoted
FAAN, has been
is vice president
to professor. Dr.
promoted to associate
and a founding
Chung serves as
professor. In addition
member of the Lexington Chapter of the
co-director and
to being a Fellow
National Black Nurses Association. She
research scientist
in the American
is currently the principal investigator of
with the RICH
Academy of Nursing,
SEEDS (Sisters Educated in Emergency
Heart Program, where she has also
Dr. Odom-Forren is
Departments) —a five-year project funded
conducted a number of observational/
an international lecturer on perianesthesia
by the National Cancer Institute that
interventional research studies as a project
and sedation issues and has authored/edited
focuses on promoting mammography for
director. She has studied patients with
two books: “Practical Guide to Moderate
African-American women. Dr. Hatcher
heart failure and family caregivers since
also co-investigates an NIH-funded project, Sedation/Analgesia,” edition two; and
2002, and her research emphasizes the
Faith Moves Mountains, which promotes “Drain’s the PACU: A Critical Care Approach,”
interdependent relationship between
edition six. Her research area of interest is
breast and cervical cancer prevention
patients with chronic cardiovascular
management of postoperative symptoms.
for Eastern Kentucky women, and Heart
disease and family caregivers.
She is the past president of the American
Health—a multi-year project designed
Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN).
to promote heart health in vulnerable
Kentucky residents.

University of Kentucky College of Nursing

5

* faculty
& S TA F F

Faculty Transitions & Staff Appointments
Nora Warshawsky,
PhD, RN, CNE,
has been promoted
to associate
professor. Dr.
Warshawsky
conducted the
first quantitative
studies of job
satisfaction and turnover in U.S.
nurse managers. Her work has been
disseminated internationally through
numerous publications and presentations.
She has coached nurse leaders in
evidence-based leadership and continues
to shape graduate education nationally.

Staff Appointments
Mandy Bucy has
been appointed
to coordinator of
human resources
and faculty affairs.
Her HR functions
include position
management,
employment/
hiring process, faculty and staff
recruitment, employee relations,
onboarding, immigration affairs,
performance evaluation process and the
development of job descriptions. Bucy
has been at the university for 25 years
and brings a rich, varied employment
history in the Office of Development,
the College of Medicine Department of
Surgery and seven years in the College
of Pharmacy’s Dean’s Office.
Jackie Carbuccia
is the new
administrative
assistant for
graduate faculty
affairs. She
provides key
administrative
services support
for graduate faculty and the associate
and assistant deans for graduate faculty
affairs, including project management.
She also serves as liaison with the dean’s
office, business office, student services and
external constituents. Prior to coming
to UK, Carbuccia worked at St. Joseph
Hospital, where she managed the front
desk of a primary care office.

6

ENGAGEMENT / Fall 2016

Jennifer Chien
is the College’s
new instructional
designer. Chien
previously worked
as an instructional
designer for UK
Analytics and
Technologies
in the College of Arts & Sciences and
the Human Development Institute.
She assists faculty in the design and
development of online courses, conducts
needs assessments, analyzes data and
makes recommendations regarding best
practices and learning technologies. She
also provides guidance and training
in the implementation of effective and
diverse learning strategies.
April Everman
works with the
RICH Heart Team
as a research
assistant senior.
She graduated
from Morehead
State University
with two degrees,
in biology and Spanish.
Kari Flora joined
the team at the
Phyllis D. Corbitt
Community Health
Center in Wilmore
in 2016 as a clinical
services technician.
She is a certified
medical assistant
and a graduate of Sullivan University
in Lexington. Flora is furthering her
education by pursuing her RN degree.
Michael Hendrix
is the College’s
new recruitment
coordinator. In this
role, he designs
and implements
a strategic
recruitment plan
for the BSN, DNP
and PhD programs. He also coordinates
the College’s scholarship opportunities
and manages other student events such
as pinning and hooding ceremonies.

Danielle Johnson
has been appointed
to administrative
services assistant. She
previously served
as an admissions
coordinator for the
Colleges of Pharmacy
and Medicine. In
her role, she provides key administrative
services support for the executive dean for
academic affairs and partnerships, which
includes all academic programming, student
services, teaching and simulation lab and the
Office of Assessment.
Hannah Keeler has
been appointed to
program coordinator
I in the College.
She works as both
the administrative
associate for
BREATHE (Bridging
Research Efforts and
Advocacy Toward Healthy Environments)
and the Kentucky Center for Smoke-free
Policy. Her past experience includes
coalition building, conference planning,
evaluation, recruitment, human subjects
protection and program coordination.
Tammy Mickschl
is the College’s new
patient relations
assistant. Mickschl
will provide customer
service and support
to the Wilmore Clinic
practicing providers
and patients. She
will be responsible for registration and
scheduling of patients, fee entry and claims,
as well as clerical duties. She has more than
23 years of service in the health care industry.
Emily Woods has
been appointed to
continuing education
coordinator, where
she supports live and
online continuing
education courses
for nurses across
the state. Woods is
pursuing her master’s degree in educational
policy and evaluation studies. Prior to her
new role, Woods worked as an English
language instructor at Chengdu Institute
Sichuan International Studies University
and returned to UK to work as staff support
for Human Resources.

* Staff Transitions & In Memory
Staff Transitions
Mary Gregory has
been promoted to
graduate program
assistant. She has
been with the
College of Nursing
for 11 years and
previously served
as staff associate for
academic programs. She now supports the
director of the graduate programs, as well as
the DNP option coordinators. Gregory also
supports the students in the program and
assists with facilities, safety and emergency
management within the College.
James Hayhurst
has been promoted
to undergraduate
program assistant.
Hayhurst has
worked for UK for
six years, three in
the College. His
new responsibilities
include supporting the director of the
undergraduate programs and BSN Option
coordinators in addition to supporting
students.
Sherry Holmes,
MSN, RN,
previously assistant
dean of academic
operations and
assessments, retired
from the College.
Holmes spent 40
years at UK Chandler
Hospital and within that time was director
of nursing for Kentucky Children’s Hospital
for 24 years. In 2010 she joined the College
of Nursing as the coordinator of assessment
and special projects and was promoted to
assistant dean for academic operations and
assessments. Since 2003, she has served
as a site evaluator for the Commission on
Collegiate Nursing Education.
Tricia MacCallum
has been promoted
to project manager
for the UKCON/
Norton Healthcare
academic
partnership.
MacCallum has
worked in nursing
education and professional development
for more than 10 years in both academic

and health system capacities. In her new
role, she provides support to the DNP
faculty and students in the program while
working toward obtaining her master’s in
organizational leadership.
Nancy McDevitt
has retired from
the UK College
of Nursing, where
she worked as
the coordinator
of academic
affairs. McDevitt
was responsible
for course and instructor evaluations,
promotion and tenure dossiers, faculty
appointments and annual reports. She
also reviewed faculty evaluations/merits,
in addition to maintaining the faculty
database.
Kerrie Moore has
been promoted to
alumni and annual
giving coordinator,
where she is
responsible for
alumni relations,
special events
and philanthropy
activities. Moore first worked for the
College as the senior administrative
assistant to the associate dean before she
left in 1997 to work as a mental health
technician in the Charter Behavioral
Health System. She returned in 2008 as
the student affairs coordinator. She was
recently honored for the second time as
the UK College of Nursing Employee of
the Year (1996, 2015).
Rene Palumbo
has been promoted
to undergraduate
faculty affairs
support. Among
Palumbo’s duties are
new nursing student
orientation, the
Pinning Ceremony,
the application process for nursing
licensure and the application process for
NCLEX testing. Palumbo was previously
the administrative assistant to the associate
dean for undergraduate studies.

faculty
& S TA F F

in

Memory

Shayn Elexendere passed away in May
2016. He was a second year Med-Vet
student and a wonderful husband and
father. Shayn was a proud veteran of the
U.S. Army and of his Catholic faith. Shayn
will be remembered for his devotion to
serving others and bringing out the best in
everyone he met.

Ross McCoy passed away in March 2016
and was working toward earning his
degrees in psychology as well as nursing
at UK. He was a member of the UK
Honor Society. Ross will be missed for his
kindness and his contagious smile and
laugh by all who knew him.

University of Kentucky College of Nursing

7

* 8

feature
WRITTEN BY:
Rena Baer
PHOTOGRAPHS BY:
Shaun Ring
Photography

* EMBRACING OUR

DIFFERENCES
The Dean’s Diversity & Inclusivity Advisory Council

The University of Kentucky College of Nursing is working
to better mirror the increasingly diverse community its
graduates will serve in the health care world.
“Strategically creating space to embrace diverse populations
opens the opportunity to better understand different views,
values and traditions,” says Dean Janie Heath, PhD, APRN-BC,
FAAN. “We have failed all those we serve if we do not build an
inclusive and diverse environment.”
Rather than relying solely on increasing awareness, the
College has made developing diversity and inclusivity one of
the top goals in its 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. This has led to
taking definitive steps that acknowledge and reflect shifting
demographics and the need for a culture of acceptance and
understanding within the College.
Among the actions being taken are the creation of a new position
to direct the effort, an internal and an external advisory board
and a budgetary commitment to the initiative. Also included are
the metrics to gauge progress, with a goal of doubling underrepresented minorities in the College’s student body, staff and
faculty by 2020.

GOALS

FOR
2020

15% 2x 100%
INCREASE

of overall student
enrollment will be
underrepresented
minorities

the number of
URM faculty and
staff recruited
and retained in
the College

of faculty, staff and
students will participate
in annual Unconscious
Bias Training

Strategically creating
space to embrace diverse
populations opens the
opportunity to better
understand different views,
values and traditions.”
—Dean Janie Heath, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN

University of Kentucky College of Nursing

9

* “We need to make an accelerated and intentional effort,”
says Dr. Heath. “We are way behind on this.”

Throughout my career,
I have been a mentor to minorities
and people who felt out of place.
I’ve always encouraged those
who don’t march to the same tune
as everyone else or think they
wouldn’t fit into the PhD program
to succeed.”
—Jennifer Hatcher, PhD, MPH, RN

Dr. Heath had already noted the College’s homogeneity as
she “did her homework” before coming to Kentucky two years
ago to serve as the College’s dean. “Diversity has always been
important to me, and the glimpse I saw did not reflect what I
was hoping to see,” she says.
Dr. Heath says part of diversity is race and ethnicity, but also
gender identification, sexual orientation, disabilities, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation and life experience. All
of these are important elements of diversity that must be
addressed, as is making sure everyone at the College feels
welcome and is a valuable contributor.

Dr. Hatcher says she is energized about
helping lead the change.

“Throughout my career, I have been a mentor to minorities
and people who felt out of place,” says Dr. Hatcher. “I’ve always
encouraged those who don’t march to the same tune
Engaging in a structured effort versus a concerted effort at
as everyone else or think they wouldn’t fit into the PhD program
incorporating diversity and inclusivity “makes all the difference
to succeed.”
in the world,” she says. “Leadership makes it a priority and
makes the commitment to get the outcomes that we want.”
“We need more diversity in the health care workforce,”
continues Hatcher. “We treat people from all over the world,
Appointing Associate Professor Jennifer Hatcher, PhD, MPH,
and when we reflect that same diversity, the outcomes
RN, in July 2015 to fill the newly created position of director of
diversity and inclusivity at the College wa