EMCON Alumni Newsletter November 2023

Dear Alumni,

As families gather together this time of year, I want to extend a Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating.

If you are looking for terrific gifts, our Student Nurses Association (SNA) has put together a wonderful collection of UMass Nursing branded clothes, including T-Shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, winter vests, jackets, hats, and more. This is the only time throughout the year to purchase these. All proceeds will go towards students attending the National Student Nurses Association conference in the spring, which has been a longtime tradition students very much look forward to attending. Please place your order by December 5. Feel free to contact SNA president-elect ntowle [at] umass [dot] edu (subject: ) (Nick Towle) with any questions.

Members of our nursing community:

I am thrilled to introduce you to Dr. Michael J. Lepore, who just joined us as the Associate Dean of Research for our college in November. Dr. Cynthia Jacelon served in this role from 2020-2023, and I'd like to extend my personal thanks for her emphasis on research and mentorship of our students. Dr. Lepore is coming to us from the the University of Maryland School of Nursing Faculty. Lepore's research focus is improving dementia care and residential long-term care, including through service and leadership on committees for the Alzheimer’s Association, American Public Health Association and Gerontological Society of America.

“I am tremendously excited to join the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and the UMass Amherst campus community," says Lepore. "I look forward to bringing my leadership and research experience to support faculty, staff, and trainees in advancing research and to help foster collaborative initiatives that support the mission of the University of Massachusetts Amherst." Please join me in giving Dr. Lepore a warm welcome!

Raeann LeBlanc '12DNP, '18PhD and Memnun Seven are bringing their nursing expertise to our communities. In partnership with Hilltown Community Health Center and Healthy Hampshire, LeBlanc and Seven are developing a produce prescription program for people with food insecurities and at risk for chronic health disease. The goal is to provide education on how to shop and prepare healthy meals with fruits and vegetables, while taking into account financial barriers. Maud Low '21PhD recently shared helpful tips on creating a healing space when recovering from surgery, and it is an insightful read.

Nursing students are taking a proactive approach to ensuring our campus community is well-equipped to take on the winter months by administering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. In partnership with the UMass Public Health Promotion Center, the "wellness on wheels" vehicle went to nine convenient locations for the campus community. With UMass students having such a busy semester, bringing vaccinations to them is a way we make sure these vaccinations are accessible to all.

Event recaps:

Over 200 people attended the November 2 Western Massachusetts Healthcare Summit, hosted by the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. The morning opened with a special video message from Governor Maura Healey who could not attend in person. Some of the panel discussions explored issues like retention and recruitment of health care workers, training & education, access & feasibility, and healthcare policy. Panel participation covered four counties in Massachusetts including; Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire. Here is a terrific video recap - we will build on this event to create a healthier state and workforce for our communities.

The Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation hosted two stellar events: the second annual Nursing & Engineering Symposium on October 20, attended by students, faculty, and alumni, focused on the research being done by UMass faculty and Baystate Health collaborators. Attendees had the opportunity to sit at different tables to hear the many researchers and industry partners talk about nurse-engineer teams and their project outcomes.

At the Nurse-Engineer Teams Igniting Healthcare Innovation dinner event on November 1, Dr. Oriana Beaudet, American Nurses Association Vice President of Nursing Innovation, was the keynote presenter. Her talk on “Igniting Nurse-led Healthcare Innovation with Nurse-Engineer Teaming”, emphasized the power of affirming our colleagues' leadership qualities, asserting that by acknowledging and reinforcing this perspective, we can shape a positive internal narrative and foster the belief that "I am a leader", catalyzing positive change in healthcare and beyond.

The Nursing Alumni Meet & Greet / Class of 1973 Celebration held on November 4 provided alumni, guests, and community members an opportunity to network, reconnect with classmates, meet our student ambassadors, and enjoy food and drink. Members of the Class of 1973 celebrated their Golden Anniversary and enjoyed a slideshow of memories from their time at UMass. It was a heartwarming event and it was so nice to see many people there. Many event participants walked to Skinner Hall afterwards for a special tour hosted by student ambassadors.

All of these events were a team effort and I'd like to thank everyone who attended, spread the word, and organized these fantastic conversations and gatherings. We are now focused on the quickly approaching end of the fall semester and making sure our students have the resources they need to have a successful and positive close of their courses. May you and your family and friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and enjoy celebrating what brings us together.

Sincerely,

Allison Vorderstrasse
Professor and Dean
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing