Four distinguished alumnae honored by College of Nursing

For their distinguished achievement, the College of Nursing awarded medallions to four alumni at its 21st Annual Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony on April 17. With those honored are M. Louise Fitzpatrick, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN, Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor (left) and Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., University president (right) who thanked the recipients for “bringing Villanova to the world.” The Medallion recipients are (from left) Jocelyn Bessette Gorlin ’80 B.S.N., Florence Benas Smoczynski ’62 B.S.N., Carol J. Quinn ’70 B.S.N. and Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow ’87 M.S.N.

Villanova University College of Nursing honored four distinguished alumnae with its highest award, the College of Nursing Medallion. The awards were presented by Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor M. Louise Fitzpatrick Ed.D., R.N., FAAN at the 21st Annual Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony on April 17 held in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the University campus. The event is co-sponsored by the College and its Nursing Alumni Association.

The 2010 recipients are:

Medallion for Distinguished Contributions for Nursing Education
Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow ’87 M.S.N., associate dean for Undergraduate Programs, MSN Programs and CE, Drexel University

Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow is a leader in nursing education, lauded by her colleagues for her accomplishments which are as numerous as her professional publications. At Drexel, Mary Ellen brought its co-operative model to their undergraduate programs and developed the standardized patient laboratory experience for undergraduate nursing students. She also implemented the use of mobile technology in the clinical setting and created the accelerated career entry BSN program. At the graduate level, in addition to her master’s program oversight, Mary Ellen was a member of the planning committee to start Drexel’s Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Philosophy Programs. Dr. Glasgow called her master’s education at Villanova “a strong, relevant academic program” and expressed gratitude for the faculty mentoring she received.


Medallion for Excellence in Clinical Practice
Jocelyn Bessette Gorlin ’80 B.S.N., nurse practitioner, Hematology Department, Minneapolis Children’s Hospitals and Clinics

Jocelyn Gorlin was honored for her dedication to the care of children with hemophilia and their families, and the energy and expertise that she shares with the underserved worldwide. She has educated and inspired numerous parents and families and has created models to educate school personnel about their students with hemophilia. She has also done research in the care of these patients and is a role model for other nurses, as a nursing representative on the boards of the National Hemophilia Foundation and World Federation of Hemophilia. With the Federation, she has presented hemophilia topics at their international conferences and done hemophilia and hematology outreach in Peru and Armenia, the latter an award-winning relationship recognized internationally. With the foundation of her Villanova Nursing education supporting her work, Gorlin acknowledged the children “whose care I gently held in my hand and who taught me I was not the teacher; I was actually the student.”


Medallion for Distinguished Leadership in Administration of Nursing and Health Care Services Carol J. Quinn ’70 B.S.N., president and CEO, Mercy Home Health and Mercy LIFE and senior VP, Mercy Health System

Carol J. Quinn was celebrated as an extraordinary leader, receiving the Medallion for her ability to influence quality care through management of vital community and home health services, and for expressing Villanova’s mission and values in her work. In each of her executive positions, she earned her reputation by not only growing the businesses she leads while navigating the tangled web of industry regulations, but exceeding national and industry quality standards as she brings sensitive and sensible care to the community her organizations serve. Regarding her undergraduate nursing education, Quinn recalled the influence of the “outstanding curriculum and faculty dedicated to excellence” at Villanova. This is reflected in her own practices, note Ray Welch, President and CEO of Mercy Health System and Sr. Kathleen Keenan, Senior Vice President of Mission & Sponsorship, who comment that she “is recognized as a visionary leader and woman of compassion for the sick and frail in the community. Building on her professional nursing experience at Villanova University, she inspires others to see the patient as the center of care and excellent quality of care as the hallmark of service.”


Medallion for Distinguished Service to the College and Nursing Alumni
Florence Benas Smoczynski ’62 B.S.N., assistant professor, George Mason University

Florence Smoczynski has contributed much to the advancement of nursing during her career but no matter where she was or what she was doing, all roads led her back to Villanova and her professional roots. She was honored for her many years of support and encouragement of nursing education at Villanova, and also for her pioneering efforts in the use of technology in nursing education which have been of great service to nursing students everywhere. She encourages both neophyte and seasoned faculty to venture beyond traditional modes of instruction in order to hone students’ ability to make critical judgments about patient conditions and institute appropriate clinical interventions. Dr. Smoczynski has been among the most loyal of College of Nursing alumni since her graduation. She says “Villanova has always been in my heart,” crediting the leadership, support and role modeling of the faculty for her professional growth.

Students present sickle cell information to Main Line Health nurses

(left to right) Omani students Mudhar Al Adawi and Zayana Al Saudi worked with Mary Beth Sedwick BSN, MS, CCRN, clinical nurse educator for ICU & CTICU and lead nurse educator for Lankenau Hospital to bring their sickle cell disease program to Main Line Health nurses.

The College of Nursing and Main Line Health enjoy a longstanding relationship, furthered by a recent presentation. Omani students Zayana Al Saudi and Mudhar Al Adawi developed and presented a continuing education presentation The Global Nature of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) for the Nursing Education department of the health system on April 12th. The conference was presented twice to a live audience of staff nurses at Lankenau Hospital while being simultaneously teleconferenced to live audiences at Bryn Mawr and Riddle Memorial Hospitals. The conference was coordinated in conjunction with Mary Beth Sedwick BSN, MS, CCRN, clinical nurse educator for ICU & CTICU and lead nurse educator for Lankenau Hospital.

The purpose of the Zayana’s and Mudhar’s presentation was to educate health providers about the types, complications, management and cultural dimensions of nursing care of the patients with SCD. They presented an overview of data to illustrate the impact of SCD on three populations most often seen in this region: African Americans, Hispanics and Middle Eastern populations. “Sickle cell disease is not African American disease. It can affect anyone of any race. We chose to conclude the presentation with care and needs of Muslim women to bring the awareness of the cultural diversity needs for patients in the hospitals,” explains Mudhar.

This project was in partial fulfillment of the students’ clinical practicum in their senior level Health Promotion course under the direction of their clinical advisor Assistant Professor Elizabeth Petit de Mange, PhD, MSN, NP-C, RN. The students were mentored during their clinical rotation by Tracy Swift-Merrick, director of Programs for the Sickle Cell Association of Philadelphia and hematologist Roy Gay, MD from Penn Presbyterian Hospital who provides care to more than 200 patients with SCD.

Villanova educators collaborate for success - professors and student represent University at conference

An education professor, a nursing assistant professor, and her son—a senior with a double major—were part of a Villanova University team that presented at the National Social Science Association’s National Technology and Social Science Conference in Las Vegas on March 29th. Bette Mariani, Ph.D., R.N., clinical assistant professor in the College of Nursing, and son Brett Mariani, an education and history major from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences joined Ray Heitzmann, Ph.D., professor and program coordinator, Undergraduate Teacher Education, Department of Education and Human Services in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in presenting Case Study Instruction: Professors as Students. Mr. Mariani received an educational grant from his college to support his conference experience.

The group demonstrated that case study pedagogy can provide excellent insights to the teaching-learning process. Dr. Heitzmann relayed his expertise in the pedagogy of case study instruction, and shared the case study contest format that he developed and organized for education majors at Villanova. Dr. Mariani gave an overview of the areas in Villanova’s nursing curriculum in which case studies are used, including as a foundation for clinical simulation experiences. She also presented some of the College’s current research relating to clinical judgment and student satisfaction. Mr. Mariani discussed the use of case studies and their effectiveness in education from his perspective, both as a student and a pre-service teacher.

According to Dr. Mariani, “the conference was a great opportunity to collaborate with my colleagues in education and share successful strategies in teaching. I am proud of Brett’s accomplishments here at Villanova. His contribution to the presentation as a novice educator and student added a valuable dimension to the presentation.”

Villanova’s Dr. Smeltzer appointed to disabilities-related state workgroup

Suzanne C. Smeltzer, RN, EdD, FAAN has been appointed by the New Jersey Division of Disabilities Services to the Healthy People with Disabilities New Jersey 2010 Workgroup. Its purpose is to work on setting priorities on health needs of people with disabilities.

Dr. Smeltzer is professor and director of the Center for Nursing Research for the Villanova University College of Nursing. She is committed to making health promotion practices and services accessible and acceptable for people with disabilities. She is an internationally known scholar, researcher, educator and author, who has directed the College’s Health Promotion for Women with Disabilities Project funded by a grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. Dr. Smeltzer has served on disabilities-related committees and advisory groups and much of her research has addressed health issues of people with multiple sclerosis and other disabilities.

Villanova’s Undergraduate Nursing Senate contributes to Haiti relief

The Undergraduate Nursing Senate (UNS) of Villanova University’s College of Nursing has a long history of public service and fundraising efforts to support the College’s mission. For decades it has run a highly successful blood drive on campus with the American Red Cross and last year it donated over 100 winter coats to children who did not have one.

In January, the nursing students were immediately moved by the plight of Haitians caught in the catastrophic 7.0 earthquake that rocked the Port-au-Prince area on January 12th. “The Undergraduate Nursing Senate knew right away that we needed to reach out. Our fundraiser from the fall was very successful, so we figured why not use some of that money. When someone needs a hand, we lend them a hand. We pride ourselves on our excellent service to the community,” say Keri Nagel and Tara Duggan, senior nursing students and co-presidents of UNS.

The UNS Board unanimously agreed to donate $500 to the University’s Haiti fund to be given to Catholic Relief Services in Haiti. This donation sent the University donation over the $19,000 mark. The students see the big picture. “Whether in the United States, or a small island such as Haiti, a tragedy affects the lives of millions. By donating $500, we are lending them our hands to assist them with recovery,” explain the co-presidents.