NEW YORK NURSE: September 2011
Karen Ballard, outgoing president of NYSNA, has been selected for induction into a special group of Niagara University alumni, who through their work and achievements provide an inspiring legacy for past, present and future students of Niagara University. Niagara Legacy – Alumni of Distinction inductees have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments and excellence in their fields of endeavor; lived lives, personally and professionally, that mirror the Vincentian ideals of Niagara University; and have had a positive and lasting impact on society. Ballard will be recognized publicly at the University’s Vincentian Heritage Convocation on September 29. Beginning her career in psychiatric nursing, Ballard earned a master’s degree by the time she was twenty-four and has been a lifelong supporter of educational advancement for nurses. As a young nurse at Mount Sinai Medical Center, she lobbied for the creation of a clinical nurse specialist position in pediatric mental health and became one of eight nurses selected for the inaugural program at the hospital. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, in recognition of her lifelong contributions to the profession, Ballard championed the passage and witnessed the signing of the Nurse Practice Act, and has chaired the nurses’ workgroup, Health Care Without Harm. She joined NYSNA in the 1980s as an associate director of the Nursing Practice & Services Program, later becoming program director and continuing as a staff leader until her retirement in 2005, at which time she was honored with NYSNA’s Honorary Recognition Award.
New York University College of Nursing alumna, and NYSNA member Claire Fagin was honored with a Doctor of Science degree, honoris causa, at NYU’s 179th commencement. A member of NYU’s Board of Advisors, Fagin is highly regarded for her work promoting access to health care and for her contributions to geriatric research. She developed landmark education and research programs, a privately funded research center and a PhD program during her tenure, from 1977 to 1992, as dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania. She went on to become interim president of the University of Pennsylvania, the first woman appointed by the University to the position. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Medicine, the Royal College of Nursing, and the American Academy of Nursing. In June 2010, she was inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame. In addition to the honorary degree, Fagin received the NYU College of Nursing Helen Manzer Award and presented the keynote address at the college’s graduation ceremony.
Josephine Di Joseph recently received the Florence Nightingale Nurse of Distinction Award for meritorious service on the Psychiatric Inpatient Unit at Richmond University Medical Center. Di Joseph was nominated by her Nurse Manager and peers for “promoting a positive image of nursing through her own practice and involvement…as a patient advocate and responding promptly to patients to resolve problems. Her nomination went on to note, “She displays energy and is a good resource to all…devoted to the unit, she comes in on her days off to staff meetings and has delivered lectures at the hospital on the use and misuse of restraints on the psych unit.” Di Jospeh has a master’s degree in nursing and is passionate about teaching psychiatric nursing at The College of Staten Island. Di Joseph co-authored an article, Expanding the Dialogue on Prayer Relevant to Holistic Care in the July/August 2005 issue of Holistic Nursing Practice.
Jodi Simpson, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Kings County Hospital for the past decade, proudly received her doctorate in nursing practice recently from Stony Brook University, and was chosen to present her doctoral research project, “Barriers to Follow-Up Care and Medication Adherence to HAART in Severely Mentally Ill Patients with HIV/AIDS” at Sigma Theta Tau International’s 22nd International Nursing Research Congress in July.
NYSNA nurses were among those honored recently at the New York City Police Department’s Annual Longevity and Perfect Attendance Awards Ceremony. More than 200 officers and civilian staff were honored for between 30 and 50 years of dedicated service, and 127 were recognized for perfect attendance. Case management nurse Marilyn Almas received a plaque for thirty years of service, and staff nurse Joan Fitzgerald was honored for 50 years of ongoing dedication. Almas received a show of support from her police officer colleagues from the Staten Island Clinic where she is employed, and Fitzgerald, an employee at Candidate Testing in Queens, enjoyed the attendance of several family members.
Several NYSNA members were honored with Nursing Excellence Awards by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation in July. The honorees included: Alberto Bermido, of Morrisania Diagnostic and Treatment Center; Indrawattee Moran of North Central Bronx Hospital; Maria Montes of Segundo Ruiz Belvis Diagnostic and Treatment Center; Annie Robert-Noel of Coney Island Hospital; Maryna Savedchuk of Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center; Ambrose Osuji of Dr. Susan S. McKinney Nursing Rehabilitation Center; Darnell Shepherd of East New York Diagnostic and Treatment Center; Beulah Bradshaw of Kings County Hospital Center; Valanie Lezama of Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center; Caroline Araullo of Coler/Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility, Coler Campus; Rosanna Villanueva of Coler/Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility, Goldwater Campus; Patricia Thomas-Cunningham of Gouverneur Healthcare Services, Nursing Facility; Esther Dialah of Harlem Hospital Center; Trevor Smith of Metropolitan Hospital Center; Swing Team of Renaissance Diagnostic and Treatment Center; Pedro Galindo of Queens Hospital Center; and Vincent Onwuemene of Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home.
Lorraine Earle, E&GW administrative assistant working in the New York City office, passed away in June. Lorraine was a valued NYSNA employee since 1992. She is remembered by her colleagues as often very quiet and private. “But when one of us would say something funny, Lorraine would laugh the loudest. We find ourselves at times quickly glancing over toward Lorraine’s desk and imagining that she’s still there. We’re glad that she’s in a much better place, and we hope she knows that she’s missed deeply.”
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.