The University of Texas Medical Branch

Faculty Senate Meeting

January 2011

 

SCHOOL OF NURSING DEAN’S REPORT

 

Achievements

 

·       Dr. Alice Hill received the Visionary Leaders Award from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing during the school’s 60th anniversary celebration. Hill is one of 60 Alabama graduates to receive the award, which recognizes nursing graduates who have made significant national and international contributions to the field of nursing and healthcare by serving as deans and directors of nursing programs, presidents of colleges or universities, or accomplished research scientists and faculty.

 

·       Dr. Charlotte Wisnewski received a reappointment to the Research Committee of the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) for 2011, the third consecutive year.  In addition, Dr. Wisnewski has been asked by the Chief Science and Practice Officer for AADE to be the Lead in updating the 2003 Diabetes Self Management Education Core Measures Outcomes for AADE.

 

·       Ms. Valerie Andrews and Dr. Cherry Beckworth passed the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination from the National League for Nursing (NLN) in December, 2010. 

 

·       St. Vincent’s Nurse Managed Clinic is in the process of developing a partnership with the Salvation Army. Plans are for the clinic to have some clinical services offered at the Salvation Army when their new building opens in the spring of 2011.  The clinic is still recruiting a family nurse practitioner – position is full-time and will be funded through October 2013.

 

·       A reception honoring students completing requirements in Fall 2010 was held on December 2, 2010, Levin Hall Dining Room.  All programs were represented and approximately 180 graduates and guests were in attendance.  Also in attendance were Dr. Watson, associate deans, and faculty and alumni representatives.  There were a total of 114 students (BSNG–1; RN-BSN-22; BSN accelerated-62; MSN-1; Certificate/Post Masters-3) completing requirements in December.

 

·       A reception hosted by UTMB’s Nursing Leadership was held for the BACC2 graduates on Tuesday, November 30th, William C. Levin Hall Dining Room at 11:30 a.m. The reception is held to celebrate the accomplishments of the graduating nursing students and to recruit graduates to work at UTMB. Faculty who taught in the BACC 2 program and SON Administration were also invited to attend, as well as, the Nurse Leadership (2 from each department), including the CNO, and the Nurse Recruiters from HR at the UTMB Hospital.

 

·       The UTMB Perioperative Nurses Pilot program was a huge success!  The program was for SON Fall 2010 Bacc2 students for December and January.  The students were instructed in OR nursing skills for three days of classroom and hands-on experience, followed by 7 days in the operating room with assigned preceptor guidance and supervision.  They did most of the activities certified OR nurses do.  The course opened up possibilities for a GN nurse to understand and develop an interest in pursuing an operating room nurse career. The program was such a success; SON may offer it for other students during 2011.

 

·       The BSN Community for Partners Class 4502 (School’s clinical group) worked with the Aids Coalition of Coastal Texas (ACCT) for their clinical assignment.  On December 1, 2010, they attended the World’s Aids Day (WAD) Memorial and Remembrance Ceremony in Galveston.  The ceremony was most moving and rewarding. The students were photographed with Mayor Jaworski.  The same students also assisted ACCT in preparing and serving Thanksgiving dinner for the clients and their families.

 

·       The School of Nursing distributed $120,295 in scholarship awards to incoming Spring 2011 students.  In addition, each of the 80 incoming BSN students in the accelerated program received $1,000 from the Department of Education grant money to be used toward their educational expenses. 

 

Presentations

 

·       Dr. Elizabeth Reifsnider presented at the 16th Annual Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Conference, sponsored by HRSA and CDC, in San Antonio on December 15th titled, “The relationship between acculturation, maternal and paternal body mass index, food items consumed, and childhood obesity.”

 

Publications

 

·       Dr. Carol Wiggs and Texas Women’s University (TWU) Colleagues have received notification that their abstract, “Fostering Completion of the PhD: A Case Study of Collegial Support” has been accepted for presentation at the AACN Doctoral Education Conference in San Diego in January 2011.

 

·       Dr. Carol Wiggs’ article, “Collaborative Testing: Assessing Teamwork and Critical Thinking Behaviors in Baccalaureate Nursing Students” was accepted by Nurse Education Today.  The article was included in the November 16th online publication.

 

·       Dr. Jacqueline Rhoads received notification that her abstract titled, “Faculty Qualifications and Preparation for Teaching in a DNP Program” was selected for a podium presentation at AACN’s 2011 Doctoral Education Conference in San Diego in January.

 

 

VICE PRESIDENT FOR EDUCATION REPORT

 

§  Council of Deans

 

The Council of Deans unanimously approved the recommendations brought forth by the Second Life Task Force.  A summary of those recommendations are below:

·       The Task Force recommended that UTMB maintain one island accessible for use by all UTMB faculty, staff and students for educationally-related activities adhering to UTMB policy and approved by the Second Life Steering Committee (see below). Specific entities, schools, departments, projects, are encouraged to acquire additional islands using their own funds.

·       Academic Computing maintains systems and software available to the education community, including the Blackboard course management system, online testing, online student/course evaluation systems, online presentation software, and internet-based conferencing software. Maintenance and administration of the UTMB Second Life Island is a logical responsibility of AC.

·       A Steering Committee will be appointed and chaired by Dr. Bruce Niebuhr.

o   A steering committee would function to advise AC on use of the UTMB Island. Use of the island must adhere to UTMB policy, including policy concerning online social networking. UTMB has embraced social networking, including Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. The Steering Committee would monitor and advise on ongoing and new creative uses of the site, and plan UTMB public demonstrations of uses as they develop. The Steering Committee would include representation from of each UTMB schools, and incorporate faculty, staff, and students and other stakeholders/users of the UTMB island, including IS/HR training, and the Office of Planning and Marketing.

 

Members of SGA Leadership, Ms. Michaela Marek and Mr. Luke Koong, attended the meeting held on December 13, 2010 and gave updates on their current activities.

 

Dr. Ben Raimer gave a presentation regarding the upcoming legislative session.

Challenges:

o   Budget deficit ($25 Billion)

o   Congressional Redistricting

o   Immigration

o   Health Care Reform

o   Gaming

o   Education

o   Criminal Justice

Legislative Agenda (Sustain the Mission)

o   Maintain UTMB’s GR Base

o   Maintain UTMB’s IKE Recovery Funds ($150 M)

o   Obtain debt service for $150 M TRB (Replacement Hospital)

o   Obtain new Correctional Health Care contract

How you can help!

o   Share our story

§  Educational excellence (Tops in Texas )

§  Research importance (NIH Ranking)

§  Health care provider (Innovations; burns, transplant, diabetes)

o   Share the facts (FIRST: in diversity, in national exams, in stature)

o   Share your friends (relationships); keep us on your speed dial

o   Share your feedback with us; help us do our jobs better; be our partner

 

§  Office of Institutional Effectiveness

 

The THECB has developed and is in the process of implementing a “Program Performance Review Process.”  The program will focus on undergraduate baccalaureate, associate degrees, and technical and career certificates.  The process will be largely driven by THECB staff employing data submitted by institutions to the THECB through the Accountability system and standard Coordinating Board Management (CBM) reports.   

 

Institutions will be provided with an opportunity to review and comment on the report developed by THECB staff.

 

The Board is currently considering how to proceed with health related institutions.

 

§  synergy

 

The Spring 2011 synergy activities for interested students:

·               Family Home Visit Program (January – April)

·               Spirituality and Clinical Care Module (March 7-11)

·               Global Health Interprofessional Core Course (January – April)

·               Interprofessional Education Day March 23, 2011   1pm to 5pm

Guest Speaker for IPE day is Paul Uhlig, M.D.  (The University of Kansas)

 

Please also visit the new synergy website for more information related to the Faculty Travel Grants and the Interprofessional Pilot study Funding

 

Detailed information can be found on the NEW synergy website: http://www.utmb.edu/synergy/