Submit a photo for J&J mosaic

J&J has been a huge supporter of nursing, promoting the profession as a recruitment tool and fundraising for scholarships, some of which have been awarded to Villanova nursing students.

They are creating a photo mosaic of nurses and are looking for images if you are interested in sending a file. Please see details below.

As the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing’s Future looks forward to celebrating its 10th anniversary in February 2012,we are taking the opportunity to thank and recognize nurses for their continued dedication and passion with several new and exciting initiatives. As part of this effort, the Campaign is launching The Art of Nursing: A Portrait of Thanks Mosaic Project to create a visual that depicts the impact nurses have had on the community over the last decade and which becomes a symbol of pride for nurses. Please join the Campaign by helping us create this historical image of nursing. You must be a nurse to submit a photo for this mosaic. We would love to as many nurses as possible join in this effort so feel free to tell other nurses or pass this email along to them.

To submit your photo just link to http://campaignfornursing.com/portraitofthanks/
The deadline to submit a photo is November 2011. The final mosaic will be unveiled in February 2012!

Nursing student and world class equestrian seeks clinical and competitive challenges

Underneath the derby, part of the formal attire required in saddle seat competitions, there is the mind and spirit of a nurse. Ally Ehle, a Villanova nursing student, earned a victory lap around the show ring in August 2010 after she and Tony (show name CH Titleist Right Tonight) were crowned World Champions in the Adult 5-Gaited Pleasure class at the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky.


Villanova University has claimed numerous world class athletes—well known in sports such as basketball and track to name just two. But look closely in Driscoll Hall and you’ll see another world champion in junior nursing student and equestrian Allyson Ehle. Ally, who is from Orefield, Pa., is a member of the Class of 2013 studying at the College of Nursing. As a former national champion and current world champion in saddle seat, Ally echoes Winston Churchill’s sentiment that “No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.”

Developed in the United States, modern saddle seat is a style of English riding designed to show off the high trotting action of certain horse breeds. It is done on the flat, meaning there is no jumping (something Ally did when she first started riding at age seven). Ally started riding saddle seat at age nine and has competed on American Saddlebred horses in the 5-gaited class which includes the walk, trot, and canter, as well as a fast, showy gait and a slow gait.

Being an active sorority sister and student in a challenging major would be enough to keep anyone busy. Add in weekly three-hour round trip drives to the New Jersey barn where her horses are stabled, and you realize Ally is an expert juggler as well. “Balancing school and riding is difficult, especially during show season,” she admits, which luckily is mostly outside of the academic year. She is grateful to her professors for their flexibility and is as dedicated to her schoolwork as she is to training for competitions. Her commitment results in not only excellent grades but also blue ribbons.

“I am very fortunate to own and work with some of the greatest and most talented horses in the country and none of my accomplishments would be possible without them,” explains Ally. In 2009 at the National Championships in Kansas City, Mo., she and Winston (show name CH Sir Winston C) were named the Country Pleasure National Champions for riders 18-30. That same year, she and Tony (show name CH Titleist Right Tonight) were crowned the 5-Gaited Show Pleasure National Champions and Grand Champions for all adult riders. Through August of 2011, she and Tony carry the title World Champion which they won last summer in the Adult 5-Gaited Pleasure class at the prestigious World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky. “It is an honor to even compete at the World’s Championship which is why winning there is one of my proudest moments to this day,” Ally notes. In October, she exhibited at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Ky., a competition held every four years with over 50 countries competing. She and Tony were invited to provide a saddle seat demonstration which was “pretty exciting.”

Ally credits her mom, Nancy Ehle ’81 B.S.N. as a major influence in her life. “She is one of the reasons I chose Villanova and nursing,” offers Ally, noting that her father is also in the profession as a nurse anesthetist. “My mom has been riding for years…We like riding and traveling to shows together.” Riding has had a positive effect on Ally’s growth, “I have developed a lot of patience through riding which I think helps my performance as a nursing student. I also think that over the years riding has contributed to my overall confidence as a person” which is an asset in patient care.

Ally’s devotion to her rigorous academic life means tough choices. She is missing a favorite competition this year, the local Devon Horse Show, so that she may enhance her global perspective and study abroad for five weeks through Villanova's Summer Program where she will take courses in medieval Catholicism and the history of Italian cities.

Ally looks forward to further challenges both in her career and in the show ring. She describes her goals, “In a few years, I hope to be working as a nurse in a Philadelphia-area hospital. The more experience I get with nursing, the more I think I would like to work with children but I've also considered becoming a nurse anesthetist. We'll see what the future brings.” No doubt it will include more blue ribbons.

Distinguished nurses honored by College

The College of Nursing recently honored three distinguished nurses with its highest award, the College of Nursing Medallion. The Medallions were presented by Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor M. Louise Fitzpatrick Ed.D., R.N., FAAN at the 22nd Annual Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony on April 9 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 2011 Medallion recipients are seen above with Dean Fitzpatrick and University President The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. They are:

Mary Ann McGinley, Ph.D., R.N., Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Medallion for Distinguished Service to the College of Nursing,

AnnMarie Young Papa ’77 B.S.N., ’95 M.S.N., D.N.P., R.N., CEN, NE-BC, FAEN, Interim clinical director, emergency nursing and clinical nurse specialist, emergency department, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; president, Emergency Nurses Association, Medallion for Excellence in Clinical Practice,

Tara Siegal Cortes, ’67 B.S.N., Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, Executive director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, professor and Mathy D. Mezey Chair, Geriatric Nursing, New York University College of Nursing, Medallion for Distinguished Contributions to the Profession

Four faculty honored for 25 years of service

The College of Nursing recently honored four faculty for 25 years of service: Professor Linda Copel, Ph.D., R.N., FAPA; Clinical Assistant Professor Deborah Wimmer, M.S.N., CRNP; Assistant Professor Marycarol McGovern, Ph.D., R.N.; and Associate Professor Carol Weingarten, Ph.D., R.N., ANEF (who was unable to attend but was represented by daughter Robin Weingarten, M.S.N., R.N.).

The recognition by Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor M. Louise Fitzpatrick Ed.D., R.N., FAAN, who discussed the contributions of each to nursing education, the students, University and profession, took place at the 22nd Annual Mass and Alumni Awards Ceremony. The April 9th event was held in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the University campus and was co-sponsored by the College and its Nursing Alumni Association.

Nursing events at Reunion Weekend

All Nursing alumni are encouraged to attend Reunion Weekend June 9-12! Don’t miss an update on the College and our future from Dean Fitzpatrick as well as a prescription for your financial health from alumna Christina Larson Kelly ‘74 BSN. If you haven’t yet been to Driscoll Hall, this is a terrific opportunity to see our state-of-the-art home.

Both events are complimentary, though registration is required. Please review the details below and register online. See you soon! https://secure.www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/VLN/event/showEventForm.jsp?form_id=69404


Saturday, June 11
Driscoll Hall Auditorium

• 9:00 a.m. Chat with Dean Fitzpatrick


• 2:30 p.m. Reducing Stress through Financial Health, 1.2 contact hours
Christina Larson Kelly ‘74 BSN, MSN, RN, CFP™
President, Larson Financial Planning, Inc.
Member, College of Nursing Board of Consultors
Sponsored by the Nursing Alumni Association

Nursing alumna Christina Larson Kelly combines her healthcare knowledge with years of executive-level experience as a financial planner. Tap into her expertise and discover ways to improve your financial picture while earning 1.2 contact hours at the same time!

Lynz Parker is 2011 Falvey Scholar from Nursing

Congratulations to Nursing's Falvey Scholar, second degree BSN student Lynz Parker who on Friday presented her research: Health and health care correlates of lower back pain and selected mental health alterations among adult respondents to the 2008 National Health Interview Survey. She represented us well! The Falvey Scholar award is an annual program established by Falvey Memorial Library to recognize outstanding undergraduate research. It is a collaborative initiative of the Library, the Honors Program, and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Lynz's mentor was Dr. Nancy Sharts-Hopko, professor and director of the doctoral program.