EMCON Alumni Newsletter October 2023

Dear Alumni,

This time of year is always a beautiful one on campus, with classes in full swing and the magnificent colors of the leaves dazzling our campus. If you haven't yet had a chance to register for the Western Massachusetts Workforce Healthcare Summit on Thursday, November 2, 2023 on campus, there is one week left to register. There is no cost to participate and this is the first event of its kind our college has led. Participants include clinical and educational partners from three different counties in Massachusetts and multiple state leaders taking part in panel discussions; it is a must-attend event. Please register here and see our campus in full action!

I just returned from Washington D.C. where Dr. Martha A.Q. Curley '85BS was honored by the American Association of Nursing (AAN) as a Living Legend. This is an incredible honor and we are very proud of Dr. Curley and all that she has accomplished in the field of global pediatric nursing. It was a big celebration, as three faculty members of the college, Dr. Lucinda Canty, Dr. Gabrielle Abelard ’97BS ’01MS, and Dr. Favorite Iradukunda ’20PhD,  were inducted as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing at this ceremony. See pictures from the celebrations here.

Linda Koh '22PhD took the time to share what she's been up to since graduating, which we very much appreciate as she just returned from Korea celebrating the Chuseok harvest festival. Dr. Koh details how she taught English in Ukraine and how teaching English as a second language led her to meeting a student from Brazil who inspired her to become a nurse. Among Linda's nursing interests is working with people to integrate plant-based food into their meals. Linda shared pictures from her travels of phenomenal plant-based meals that look absolutely delectable -- and healthy!

An exciting new collaboration taking place with the UMass School of Public Health and Health Sciences (SPHHS) is the introduction of an Online Master of Science Public Health Nursing Concentration . A large number of students and alumni asked for a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program specializing in Public Health Nursing. It's the perfect time to launch this program together with our friends at SPHHS, as we have been working closely together throughout the pandemic to provide extensive outreach to the local and greater community through the Public Health Promotional Center.

The Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation was recently honored by the Massachusetts Legislature's Manufacturing Caucus as Manufacturer of the Year in the 3rd Hampshire district. Representative Mindy Domb remarked the Center "represents not only a new and compelling approach to research and development, but also transforms the scope and impact of healthcare device manufacturing by engaging the voices of nurses and patients directly into this process." If you haven't had a chance to view the great work of the Center, here's a link to their 2022 annual report.

Students have been busy providing care in the community by facilitating drop-in blood pressure clinics in Greenfield, MA. These are open to the public and are being conducted every Thursday from 10 am - 11:30 am through November 9. Our Student Nurses Association are undoubtedly planning their annual wintertime clothing sale to help fund their trip to the National Student Nurses Association conference. Each year, the students design one-of-a-kind UMass Nursing winter-wear that make for great gifts and/or buy one for yourself! I'll be sure to share out more details when those become available.

Our faculty are always making an impact outside of the classroom. Associate Professor Dr. Lisa Wolf led and published a study "What if It Were Me? A Qualitative Exploratory Study of Emergency Nurses’ Clinical Decision Making Related to Obstetrical (OB) Emergencies in the Context of a Post-Roe Environment" in the Journal of Emergency Nursing. Wolf spoke with the Associated Press about her research and findings supporting the need for emergency nurses to receive training to identify and treat OB emergencies, and it's a great read.

Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Terrie Black '15DNP was selected as a faculty fellow for the campus-wide UMass ADVANCE program to promote gender and racial equity for faculty at UMass Amherst. ADVANCE provides the resources, recognition and relationship building that are critical to equitable and successful collaboration. Dr. Black travels the country advocating for nurses and healthcare in key areas of need, including the American Heart Association and guidelines for heart disease prevention. We are thrilled she is representing our college on-campus in the ADVANCE program.

Homecoming is right around the corner, and you are cordially invited to an all alumni and friends meet and greet from 12:30 - 2:30 pm at the Old Chapel, 1st Floor. There will be light fare, plenty of time to socialize with fellow UMass nurses, and no cost to participate. I'll be there along with our student ambassadors, and we'll congratulate our Class of 1973's Golden Anniversary alumni. There will also be a tour offered of Skinner Hall afterwards. Please RSVP at your convenience. Please contact Ben Monat at bmonat [at] uma-foundation [dot] org (subject: ) (bmonat[at]uma-foundation[dot]org) with any questions.

Homecoming is right around the corner, and you are cordially invited to an all alumni and friends meet and greet from 12:30 - 2:30 pm at the Old Chapel, 1st Floor. There will be light faire, plenty of time to socialize with fellow UMass nurses, and no cost to participate. I'll be there along with our student ambassadors, and we'll congratulate our Class of 1973's Golden Anniversary alumni. There will also be a tour offered of Skinner Hall afterwards. Please RSVP at your convenience. Please contact Ben Monat at bmonat [at] uma-foundation [dot] org (subject: ) (bmonat[at]uma-foundation[dot]org) with any questions.

From nurses receiving lifetime achievement awards to our students providing community-based care, there has never been a better time to be enthusiastic about the impact of UMass nurses. I am proud and honored to be a part of such a special community whose impact on the nursing profession is profound.

Sincerely,

Allison Vorderstrasse
Professor and Dean
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing

P.S. I would be thrilled to see you at the Western MA Healthcare Workforce Summit on 11/2/23 and Nursing Meet and Greet 11/4/23! Please consider registering today. Both events are free to attend.