May 21, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing Chapter of the UAB National Alumni Society hosted its eighth annual alumni night May 11 as an opportunity for graduates to reconnect with classmates, colleagues and faculty and to honor achievement. Three alumni received the Jo Ann Barnett Award for Compassionate Nursing Care, and awards were presented to the graduate and undergraduate students of the year.
The event, held at the Matt Jones Art Gallery, also celebrated the school's 60th anniversary and the alumni chapter's 30th anniversary with the viewing of a six-decade history walk celebrating its achievements. Alumni and artist Thomas Andrew created a painting on site, inspired by Florence Nightingale's lantern.
The Jo Ann Barnett Award for Compassionate Nursing Care was presented to nurses in administration, education and acute/critical care. The award, established in 2002, honors the memory of school of nursing alumna Jo Ann Barnett, who was a neonatal nurse practitioner at the UAB Hospital's Regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit and several Birmingham-area hospitals. In June 2002, at age 53, she lost her battle with cancer.
Recipients of the Jo Ann Barnett Awards for Compassionate Nursing Care
For administration: Debra B. Ragan (B.S.N. 1973, M.S.N. 1997), associate vice president for surgical services at UAB Hospital. Ragan has held positions of increasing responsibility at UAB Hospital for 35 years - including staff nurse, nurse manager and multiple director positions. Her dedication as a clinician, leader, counselor, mentor, team player and friend were cited as was her focus on patient care and the positive tone she sets in all that she does.
For acute/critical care: Deborah J. Laney (B.S.N. 1992, M.S.N. 1993), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) coordinator and neonatal nurse practitioner at Children's Hospital. Laney has been with Children's Health System for 36 years. Its ECMO center is the only one in Alabama and treats the state's tiniest patients with respiratory failure. Laney helped Children's Hospital become the first ECMO center in the country to pioneer a model in which one RN cares for the ECMO pump and the patient. She also was honored for her patient- and family-centered approach to nursing care and her commitment to quality improvement through nursing research.
For education: Laura C. Young (B.S.N. 1970, M.S.N. 1983), director of education, hospital division, at Noland Health Services. Young oversees include planning, development, coordination and implementation of education for five Noland Health Care Services hospitals. She also provides education to fulfill regulatory and clinical competency requirements for staff in six skilled nursing/assisted living facilities in its Senior Housing Division. She was honored for her leadership and effort to provide the best environment and learning techniques to ensure compassion, quality and integrity are part of the educational process.
The UAB School of Nursing Alumni Chapter also presented it BSN Award for Student Excellence to Sarah Frazier, and Larry Z. Slater was named Outstanding Doctoral Student of the Year.
Frazier was cited for her leadership, her competent, caring commitment to nursing and her understanding of community concerns and cultural diversity. She graduated earlier this month with honors with a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Slater was cited for his commitment to advancing the knowledge base through his HIV/AIDS research, his commitment to the nursing profession as a leader and scientist and his significant service contributions to the school of nursing and UAB Hospital. His will complete his Ph.D. in 2011.
About the UAB School of Nursing
Building on a century of nursing education on the UAB campus, the UAB School of Nursing prepares nurse leaders to excel as clinicians, researchers and educators and advances knowledge and delivery of high-quality health care in Alabama and worldwide. The school offers leading-edge bachelor, graduate and doctoral programs and offers students the opportunity to learn with faculty and student teams across health disciplines at UAB.