Three nursing professors awarded for research, service and mentoring

Sep 29, 2009

Three of the Great 100 Awards were given to Barry University nursing professors at the Florida Nurses Association Centennial Convention for excellence in nursing.

Gene Majka, Dr. Mary Colvin and Dr. Sandra Walsh were recognized for their work in the categories of community service, education and research and role model in the September convention held in St. Petersburg.

These awards recognize 100 outstanding nurses throughout Florida -Barry was honored with three.

"It’s not surprising at all that these three faculty members - Gene Majka, Drs. Mary Colvin and Sandra Walsh - were three of the Great 100 nurses recognized by the Florida Nurses Association this year. Each of them has made unique contributions to improving the health of communities, educating nurses with strong values for research and service, and conducting research that has informed current practice models. We are all so very proud of them," said Dr. Pegge Bell, dean of the College of Health Sciences.

Barry doctoral student, Frances Downs, MSN, RN, was also awarded the 2009 Undine Sams Research Grant from the Florida Nurses Foundation for her dissertation study in Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Assistant professor, Dr. Daniel James Little was elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida Nurses Foundation and American Nurses Association delegate.

Alumnae Josie Schroeder-Guhl and Jennifer Sastoque both completed their bachelors of science in nursing program in May 2009 and were representing the Florida Nursing Student Association as officers at the convention. Ms. Schroeder-Guhl serves as president and Ms. Sastoque serves as the regional director of district six.