Minnesota Nursing magazine (Fall/Winter 2011) - School of Nursing ...

alumni news
Class Notes
Gayle Hallin Receives Alumni
Service Award
Gayle Hallin (MPH ’77, BSN ’70) received the prestigious 2011
Alumni Service Award from the University of Minnesota for her
long-time service, advocacy, and support of the School of Nursing.
For more than 30 year Hallin has served as a powerful advocate
for the School of Nursing and a leader in public health. During her
time as an undergraduate student in the nursing program, she
played an influential role in the redesign of the school’s programs
and classes. That leadership, influence, and connection continued
in her many years of service as the Alumni Society Board as president (2006), Secretary/
Treasurer (2011), representative to the University of Minnesota Alumni Association National
Board, and as the chair of the Densford Board of Advisors. During her time of service with
the Nursing Alumni Society Board, the society was named Outstanding Alumni Society
in 2006 and 2010 and received the Program Extraordinaire Award in 2009 for its Speed
Mentoring Program.
In 2009, Hallin was nominated by her fellow alumni and named one of the School of
Nursing’s 100 Distinguished Alumni. She was recognized for her contributions to improve
access and quality of healthcare for communities and the people of Minnesota.
Hallin’s impressive career combines nursing, health care administration, and public
health. She’s held positions with the Bloomington Health Department as director of public
health; Minnesota Department of Health as the Assistant Commissioner of Health; and
United Health. Her advocacy has changed the way community leaders view problems and
how they approach problem-solving. She is described by colleagues as a public health
ambassador who is always available to offer a good voice on critical issues; connecting the
School of Nursing (and the University) to state leaders and the broader community for the
advancement of the health of our state. “Gayle has always been a creative problem-solver,”
says Commissioner Edward P. Ehlinger of the Minnesota Department of Health. “She has
had major impact on the University, its schools of Nursing and Public Health, the Alumni
Association, and the community… She has also been a great ambassador for the University
of Minnesota.”
Hallin received the Alumni Service Award at a celebration hosted by the University of
Minnesota Alumni Association on October 20, 2011. The ceremony, part of Homecoming
2011, was held at the University’s McNamara Alumni Center.
1970s
Mary A. Rossi ( BSN ‘70, MSN ’75, CNM) was awarded the 2011 Public Policy Award from the
American College of Nurse Midwives. This award recognizes legislative, regulatory, and
health policy efforts that furthered the profession of midwifery or that had a significant
impact on the practice of midwifery nationally or internationally.
L-R: Margo Karsten, Sharon Pontious
Sharon Pontious (PhD, MS ’72, psychiatric
nursing) was appointed to the Board of
Directors for the Miami Jewish Health
Systems (MJHS), one of South Florida’s
largest healthcare organizations and the
nation’s leading providers of comprehensive
healthcare for people of all ages. Pontious
is interim dean and professor of Florida
International University’s College of Nursing
and Health Services, a member of the board
of directors of the United Home Care and
the advisory board for the Haitian-American
Nurses Association, and a board member of
the South Florida Nursing Consortium.
1980s
Margo Karsten (PhD, MS, BSN ‘84), was
named Chief Executive Officer of Creative
Health Care Management (CHCM), an
international health care consultation,
education and products company.
In her new role as CEO, Karsten will
represent CHCM to the world of health
care executives, researchers, educators,
physicians, clinical professionals and service
support leaders.
1990s
Robin Lally (PhD ’06; MS ’99; BSN ‘91),
received funding from the American Cancer
Society which will provide more than
$700,000 over the next five years to fund
her research and training pertaining to the
psychological adjustment of women to
breast cancer. Lally is an Assistant Professor
at the State University of New York at
Buffalo School of Nursing and an Adjunct
Assistant Professor at Roswell Park Cancer
Institute in Buffalo, New York.
2000s
Judy Pechacek (DNP ’09; RN) was named
2011 Outstanding Alumni of Inver Hills
Community College. Pechacek is vice
president of patient care services and chief
nursing officer at Fairview Southdale.
40 minnesota nursing | nursing.umn.edu/magazine