NEW YORK NURSE: November 2010
The New York University College of Nursing in partnership with the Foundation of New York State Nurses recently presented the 23rd Annual Celebration of Nursing Excellence Awards. Cathryne Welch, NYSNA’s executive director from 1979 to 1984, and the former—and current interim— director of the Foundation of New York State Nurses, was honored with an award from the NYU College of Nursing. Welch has filled many leadership roles, during an incredibly active and extensive nursing career that has spanned several decades. Unstoppable and much-loved by nursing and non-nursing colleagues alike, she currently serves in the capacity of director to several groups, including the Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, the Central New York Nurses Center for Nursing Research, and Institute for Nursing: NYS Nursing Workforce Center. A native of rural Pennsylvania, close to the New York border, Welch earned her baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the historic Teacher’s College, part of Columbia University in Manhattan. Characteristically unassuming, she once referred to those achievements as, “…a mind boggling event for a dairy inspector’s daughter.”
Nancy Watson was honored with a Foundation of New York State Nurses award. Watson was the founding director of the Elaine C. Hubbard Center for Nursing Research on Aging at the University of Rochester’s School of Nursing. She was honored in 2008 as Hartford Geriatric Nursing Faculty Champion by the American Association of Colleges in Nursing, in collaboration with the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing and New York University for her expertise in geriatric nursing practice, her ability to lead curricular innovation, and her long-time efforts to encourage students to pursue careers working with the elderly. Watson, a graduate of the University for Rochester School of Nursing, has a background in health services research and epidemiology. Her research focuses on the care of nursing home residents.
The event took place at Scholastic, Inc., in New York City, and opened with a public forum featuring award recipients answering questions related to quality and safety in nursing, followed by a ceremony and reception honoring the award recipients.
NYSNA’s president, Karen A. Ballard, was recognized during Niagara University’s Alumni Weekend with the Niagara University Nursing Alumni Council’s Leadership Award. Her citation read in part, “Every so often, a person comes along that truly epitomizes the Niagara University Nursing Alumni Council’s Legacy of Caring. Karen A. Ballard is one such person…as president of the New York State Nurses Association, she has testified before the Departments of Health and Insurance on the importance of improving public health in the move toward health care reform. Karen is a consultant for the Nurses Workgroup for Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition of 433 organizations in 52 countries working to transform the health care sector. Understanding that today’s students will play significant roles in shaping the health care industry of tomorrow, Karen is also an adjunct associate professor at Pace University, where she has taught courses on psychiatric-mental health nursing, health care reform and nursing leadership. For her remarkable achievements and untiring dedication to the nurse’s belief that health care is not a privilege, but a right, Niagara University is proud to present Karen A. Ballard with the Nursing Alumni council’s Leadership Award.”
Have you or one of your colleagues been recognized for an accomplishment, elected to office, won an award, received a grant or scholarship, launched a new venture? Tell us about it! Send name, address, phone number, and accomplishment — E-mail to: communications@nysna.org. Or mail to: NYSNA Communications Dept., 11 Cornell Road, Latham, NY 12110-1499