CONnections - University of Kentucky

AlumniFour alumni awardedRobert Wood JohnsonfellowshipsSince the inception of the Robert Wood Johnson ExecutiveNurse Fellowship program in 1998, four UK College of Nursingalumni have been awarded this prestigious fellowship.The first of these was Julie Sebastian, Ph.D., A.R.N.P.,F.A.A.N. (1998-2001) (B.S.N., 1974; M.S.N., 1977). KarenHill, M.S.N., R.N. (B.S.N., 1987; M.S.N.,1990), vice president and nurse executiveat Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington,was in the 2000-2003 cohort and KarenStefaniak, Ph.D., R.N. (M.S.N., 1983), chiefnursing officer and associate hospital directorat the University of Kentucky ChandlerJulie SebastianianMedical Center Hospital is in the 2003-2006cohort. Most recently, Carla Baumann,M.S.N. (M.S.N., 1994), director of community health nursingat the Madison County Health Department in Richmond, Ky.,was selected for the 2004-2007 cohort.The Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellowshipprogram aims to prepare nurses for the highest level ofexecutive practice in the academic, clinical service, and publichealth sectors. Fellows are expected to provide leadership inshaping health care delivery in the future.Our four alumni represent the three sectors targeted by theprogram. Fellows develop and implement an original projectthat will make an impact on health care and help them learnnew leadership skills.Our alumni developed very different and creative projects.Sebastian’s project focused on identifying and characterizingmodels of academic nursing practice. This project led toregional and national presentations, a chapter in a facultypractice monograph (Sebastian, Stanhope, Williams, Pilon,Richardson & Williams, 2004) anddevelopment of a faculty practice videotapethat is on the College of Nursing Web site.Hill’s project aimed to develop nursemanagers in her hospital and was publishedin the Journal of Nursing Administration(December, 2003).Karen HillStefaniak used an appreciate inquiry(AI) process with the nursing staff at UKHospital to foster positive growth in nursing practice. Nursesthroughout the organization attended three-hour workshopsand shared stories to discover the positive aspects of nursing atUK Hospital that are now being used as a foundation forperformance improvement activities andrecruitment and retention strategies. Stefaniakpresented the AI project at the SecondInternational Conference on AppreciativeInquiry – Creating ExtraordinaryOrganization for Business and Society, and atthe Eighth Annual Magnet Conference.Karen Stefaniak Baumann plans to create an AmericanDiabetes Association-recognized diabetes self-managementprogram and to demonstrate the impact that this has onhealth status within that aggregate population. Her long-termgoal is to create a diabetes care center in Madison County(Kentucky). Baumann’s current project would be the firstphase in this long-term plan.What’s new with you?Carol Howell Gilpin, B.S.N. 1990, completed her master’s innursing from Vanderbilt University in August 2003. She’s nowpracticing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.Keep up with what your classmates are doing. Send yourprofessional news to: Nancy Mangrum, University of KentuckyCollege of Nursing Alumni Association, 315 College ofNursing Bldg., Lexington, KY 40536-0232.NameName at graduationAddressCity/State/ZipCountryE-mailPhoneUK degree and year awardedYour newswww.mc.uky.edu/nursing University of Kentucky College of Nursing 23