Nursing Alumni

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 14:45:37 +0000

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15 Mary Cunningham Tue, 10/25/2022 - 10:45

Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

The School of Nursing is proud to honor Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15 with the Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award.

The Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award recognizes a nurse who makes outstanding contributions to the field of public health, including social justice, health equity, and the delivery of public health care and services. Conteh-Barrat was honored at the School's Honoring Mason Nurses event in April 2022. Learn more here.

Conteh-Barrat is the founder and CEO of Manak Community Health Organization (MaCHO), founded in 2020 to advance health equity and drive better health outcomes in the most underserved communities in Sierra Leone. Conteh-Barrat’s work to help those in crisis and to increase access to quality health care in Sierra Leone was inspired by her life-changing experiences during Sierra Leone's civil war and as a refugee in Guinea.

“Kadija's medical missions and community clinic are helping to address health care needs in Sierra Leone, advance health equity, decrease mortality, and improve health outcomes in these hard-to-reach communities,” said one of her nominators.

In March 2022, Conteh-Barrat completed her second medical mission in Sierra Leone and established a health clinic in the Yurika community, serving 84 villages. She has partnered with U.S. non-profits and the local health district to ensure sustainability, increase capacity, expand care in isolated communities, and provide lifesaving medications, ongoing chronic disease management, and maternal childcare.

She is working toward a postgraduate certificate in Psychiatric and Mental Health at Mason and is an adjunct faculty member in the College. In 2021, she was recognized as an Emerging Leader in Healthcare by United Health Group.

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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Keynote Speaker Karen Dale Encourages Graduates to Live with Purpose

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 25 May 2022 19:27:23 +0000

Keynote Speaker Karen Dale Encourages Graduates to Live with Purpose Mary Cunningham Wed, 05/25/2022 - 15:27

Bachelor of Nursing alumna Karen Dale was the keynote speaker at the College’s Class of 2022 Degree Celebration on May 22. She is the market president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for AmeriHealth Caritas’ Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) in Washington, D.C. Dale was originally scheduled to address graduates at the May 2020 Degree Celebration, which was canceled due to COVID-19, but returned this year to encourage graduates to find their individual motivations.

Read her speech below or watch it on the University’s YouTube channel. Dale’s remarks run 34:00-46:10. (Note, video closed captions are being edited to ensure correctness.)

Greetings, College of Health and Human Services Degree graduates. Indeed this is a momentous occasion, and I am honored to be here.

Today, I plan to speak with you about the importance of living with purpose.

I read a quote some time ago that said, “Positive psychology takes you through the countryside of pleasure and gratification, up into the high country of strength and virtue, and finally to the peaks of lasting fulfillment, meaning, and purpose.”

I imagine in the weeks leading up to today, you have been contemplating your future. What will your life and career look like? As life would have it though, our best plans can be upended by something unpredictable.

VUCA, an acronym introduced by the U.S. Army War College that describes an unpredictable environment, stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This is how the U.S. Army War College described what the world felt when the Cold War ended in 1991. Over time the business world adopted this framework into its management practices. As we have experienced so much uncertainty in the past two+ years, it seems prudent to make managing VUCA also a life practice. An important strategy to managing VUCA is to respond to complexity with clarity.

One aspect of clarity that is critically important to maintain, no matter what, is your own clarity of purpose.

Dr. Martin Seligman introduced the five elements or components of his PERMA model which are distinct yet mutually reinforcing, that when consistently practiced result in people being more likely to thrive, be resilient, and have greater life and job satisfaction. The five elements are:

Positive emotion
Engagement
Relationships

Meaning
Accomplishments

Let’s go deeper on one of the elements – Meaning.

Seligman described meaning as “belonging and/or serving something greater than ourselves.” Having a purpose in life helps individuals focus on what is really important in the face of significant challenge or adversity aka VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

Meaning gets us to that higher peak that research tells us supports good health, a longer life, well-being, and resilience.

A few steps to help you identify your meaningful purpose (which may certainly evolve over time).

Identify your unique gifts, and how you may use them to make a difference. For example in health care, the ecosystem is a web of interrelated components designed to create a health producing delivery system. Creating change and positive outcomes requires strong leadership competencies, systems-thinking, and tenacity. In addition, I have found three traits that have consistently supported success in my career:

Engagement – leaders by my definition never stand alone. So they must have the ability to engage a diverse group to co-author a vision, align around the journey to achieving it, and cohesively do the hard work on the steps to bringing the vision to fruition. To be clear, you are all leaders. A leader is not defined by their title, rather by their actions. You have had many life experiences, including your time at George Mason that have prepared you to be a highly engaging leader.

Courage – I can’t say enough about this one – to be humble and admit your mistakes, decide to be an upstander and not a bystander to wrongs, and because your efforts can always make things better tomorrow than they were today, you must challenge the status quo when it no longer works for good.

Inclusive – as a leader be curious, adaptable, self-aware, fair, and collaborative. Constantly evaluate the spaces where you live, work and play and ask who or what perspective is missing and work to include it.

After you have identified your gifts, next work to discover your passion. The Britannica definition of passion is “a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something.” Ask yourself “why” you chose what you did at least three times to hone in on what is truly your passion. “Doing good or helping people” is not specific enough to get out of bed with a road map for the day tied to your passion.

My purpose statement is to be a force to create an equitable health care delivery system for historically marginalized populations. I get out of bed working toward this every day and created a focus on changing the model of how we engage with our members – including their voice and perspective as we design interventions, focus in on food as medicine (meal delivery to address food insecurity and medically tailored meals to help address chronic disease), taking services to members in their homes, implementing a medical-legal partnership. Most people don’t say they love their insurance company. It warms my heart when our members, who I am happy to give my cell phone number, send a text that says, "I love you and how you fight for us."

If you are feeling particularly bold, you may want to utilize guidance from Simon Sinek’s book The Infinite Game. He advises that we should aim to create and or be a part of a “Just Cause,” a part of a specific vision of a future state that does not yet exist. A Just Cause must be:

For Something (affirmative and optimistic)
Inclusive (open to all those who would like to contribute)
Service Oriented (for the primary benefit of others)

Resilient (able to endure political, technological, and cultural change)
Idealistic (big, bold, and ultimately unachievable)

For example, your purpose could be in support of what has been defined in Healthy People 2030 as Health equity, which is "the attainment of the highest level of health for all people.” And choose to get out of bed every day working towards the drivers of change outlined in Healthy People 2030, such as “ensuring that every part of our health care system is valuing everyone equally with focused and ongoing societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and health care disparities.”

The book Infinite Game provides a relevant business example in the chapter “the courage to lead” where an organization made a courageous decision to be aligned with their stated Just Cause.

CVS had a sign in its corporate headquarters lobby that said “Helping people on their path to better health.” However, the fact that they profited from selling cigarettes in their stores did not match their Just Cause. In February 2014, they boldly announced that they would stop selling tobacco products in their nearly 3,000 stores. This decision cost them $2 billion a year, and they made it without anyone putting pressure on them to do so.

Was this a bad decision? In fact, despite the criticism from some using the lens of a finite mindset, it turned out to be a good decision aligned with their purpose. Cigarette sales in markets where they had stores overall decreased because their decision caused some smokers to finally kick the habit, and partners who previously didn’t allow some of their health-focused products to be in their stores were now willing to join their just cause and focus on “Helping people on their path to better health” by having their products in CVS stores.

Accountability matters - Whatever path you choose to identify your purpose, be sure to build in accountability. Write out your purpose statement, and share it with at least three people who know you well. These are your accountability partners on your journey.

On the GMU website, it says, “the end is just the beginning.” This is the beginning, an opportunity for you to leverage your unique gifts to lead and be a catalyst for good with clarity of purpose. I wish you immense success in all your endeavors and hope that you leave this ceremony with Positive emotion in your heart, a focus on intentional Engagement in all your Relationships, a sense of urgency to define your Meaning and purpose, and the courage to lead in ways that help you to achieve yet unimagined Accomplishments.

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Karen Dale Announced as College’s Degree Celebration Speaker 2022

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:59:28 +0000

Karen Dale Announced as College’s Degree Celebration Speaker 2022 Mary Cunningham Tue, 04/19/2022 - 10:59

Nationally-recognized health care leader and School of Nursing alumna Karen Dale, RN, MSN, will be the keynote speaker at the College of Health and Human Services’ 2022 Degree Celebration on May 22 at Eagle Bank Arena. Dale, who received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mason, will address the next generation of leaders based on her two decades in the health care industry.

The College is pleased to resume the tradition of hosting in person Degree Celebrations at Eagle Bank Arena this May and to welcome Dale as our honored speaker. Dale was originally scheduled to address graduates at the May 2020 Degree Celebration which was canceled due to COVID-19.

Dale is the market president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for AmeriHealth Caritas’ Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) in Washington, D.C. She is responsible for leading key initiatives to strategically position the MCO as a market leader offering innovative solutions for the critical challenges faced by its members.

Learn more about CHHS’ Degree Celebration and Brunch here.

Dale was appointed to AmeriHealth Caritas’ newly created position of chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer (CDEIO). As CDEIO, Dale leads the planning and implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies across the organization to link workforce, workplace, health equity, and supplier diversity with measurable business and cultural outcomes.

Having held multiple positions of leadership for two decades, Dale has worked with a broad group of stakeholders to address policies and other key factors impacting the delivery of health care services. In addressing the range of needs experienced by the nation’s vulnerable populations, Dale has cultivated a focus that has helped AmeriHealth Caritas concurrently innovate, while meeting the highest levels of quality and service. These efforts include the use of digital tools to aid in the management of chronic diseases, peer-to-peer outreach using community health workers and peer specialists, and the use of a human-centered design member engagement approach. Dale’s vision is notably reflected in key programs addressing Black maternal health, racism, housing, transportation, violence interruption, and food insecurity. In addition, her philosophy that health care must evolve into a health ecosystem that promotes, wellness, without barriers, starting where people are, has led to several collaborative relationships with providers, community partners, philanthropists, and businesses to implement sustainable, scalable solutions with high impact.

Dale holds a Master of Science degree in psychiatric mental health nursing from The Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Mason. She was a member of the Leadership Greater Washington Class of 2003. She serves as a board member for Volunteers of America, the Institute for Medicaid Innovation, and the Access to Justice Commission.

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Honoring Mason Nurses Awardees Announced

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:24:45 +0000

Honoring Mason Nurses Awardees Announced Mary Cunningham Mon, 04/04/2022 - 16:24

The CHHS School of Nursing is proud to announce three award winners to be recognized at its Honoring Mason Nurses: Past, Present, and Future event:

Outstanding Nurse Champion Award: Ashley Frese, BSN '04, MSN '12
Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award: Anna Norwood, MSN '18

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

“On behalf of the School of Nursing, we are so proud to honor these three outstanding nurses for their contribution to the DC-area and the world. Their perseverance and determination to excel in their practice has improved the quality of care and lives of patients,” said Cheryl Oetjen, interim Director of the School of Nursing.

The April 28 event, hosted at Fairfax Country Club, recognizes the achievements and impact of Mason School of Nursing graduates, including Frese, Norwood, and Conteh-Barrat, for all they do to support the health and well-being of Northern Virginia residents and beyond.

The College welcomes all alumni, students, and friends of the School of Nursing to attend this event. We hope you will join us to honor these nurses and all Mason nurses. Tickets are now available here for Honoring Mason Nurses.

The College put out a call for colleagues, fellow alumni, friends, or family to nominate an outstanding Mason nurse. Once nominations were collected the Honoring Mason Nurses executive committee, comprised of School of Nursing alumna and faculty, reviewed each nomination by predetermined criteria to determine a winner. Learn more about the awardees below.

Outstanding Nurse Champion Award: Ashley Frese, BSN '04, MSN '12

The Outstanding Nurse Champion Award recognizes the exceptional courage and passion of a frontline nurse who breaks through barriers to advocate for patients, families, and their team while working on the frontlines of the health care industry.

Ashley Frese serves on the frontline as the director of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Critical Care Fellowship at Inova’s Fairfax Medical Campus (IFMC), as well as the APP Director for the Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit. She has been a critical care nurse practitioner with the Medical Critical Care Services at IFMC for 10 years. Her areas of interest include hemorrhagic and distributive shock, with a focus on methodologies of massive volume resuscitation. Frese loves to teach and is the chair of the Education Committee for Critical Care at IFMC, and has been an adjunct faculty member at Mason since 2015.

“She is a voice for advanced practice nurses, bedside nurses, and, above all, for our patients. Whether it be staying past her shift to ensure a plan of care is instituted correctly, taking time to educate a peer or staff nurse, or speaking on the behalf of nursing to administration, she is always tirelessly advocating for nursing and patients,” said one of the multiple people to nominated Freese.

Frese graduated from the ��AV/George Washington University Collaborative Nurse Practitioner program and will graduate with her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2023.

Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award: Anna Norwood, MSN '18

The Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award recognizes a nurse who demonstrates innovation in creating a better workplace, patient care, device, or business opportunity to enhance the health and wellbeing of their community.

Anna C. Norwood, MSN, RN, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and the founder and owner of Kinetic Medical Group, a physical medicine and rehabilitation group which serves over 15 skilled nursing facilities, long term care facilities and assisted living facilities in Virginia and Maryland. After graduation, Norwood worked in skilled nursing facilities where she developed a love for high-quality geriatric care. Seeing gaps in care, she started Kinetic Medical Group to improve orthopedic and pain management care at the facilities where she serves. She is a recognized expert and a successful nurse entrepreneur who has created an innovative medical group.

“There is no doubt that Anna is the best candidate to receive the Outstanding Nurse Innovation Award as she truly demonstrates medical knowledge and compassion as a nurse and entrepreneurship by starting her own practice, and surpasses co-workers by taking additional time to educate staff and share current research in her field with other health care professionals,” said one of many people who nominated Frese for the innovation award. “I hope that you will consider celebrating this leader in the field of nursing, Anna Norwood, who is a true entrepreneur, healthcare hero, and inspiration to myself and so many others.”

Norwood has advanced certifications in orthopedics, including advanced training in nerve blocks and intra-articular injections. She is a specialist in a range of conditions that impact physical function including musculoskeletal conditions, neurologic conditions, and end-of-life pain management. She is licensed to provide Suboxone treatment and has a passion for treatment of addiction. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Mason with a Nurse Practitioner concentration.

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

Kadija Conteh-Barrat is the founder and CEO of Manak Community Health Organization (MaCHO), founded in 2020 to advance health equity and drive better health outcomes in the most underserved communities in Sierra Leone. Conteh-Barrat’s work to help those in crisis and to increase access to quality health care in Sierra Leone was inspired by her life-changing experiences during Sierra Leone's civil war and as a refugee in Guinea.

In March 2022, Conteh-Barrat completed her second medical mission in Sierra Leone and established a health clinic in the Yurika community, serving 84 villages. She has partnered with US non-profits and the local health district to ensure sustainability, increase capacity, expand care in isolated communities, and provide lifesaving medications, ongoing chronic disease management, and maternal childcare.

Conteh-Barrat is working toward a postgraduate certificate in Psychiatric and Mental Health at Mason and is an adjunct faculty member in the College of Health and Human Services. In 2021, she was recognized as an Emerging Leader in Healthcare by United Health Group.

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UK College of Nursing: Mason Nursing Alumna Dr. Janie Heath (PhD '04) named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year.

eander6 — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:17:35 +0000

UK College of Nursing: Mason Nursing Alumna Dr. Janie Heath (PhD '04) named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year. eander6 Thu, 03/31/2022 - 15:17

UK College of Nursing Dean Janie Heath Named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year.

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College of Health and Human Services

College of Health and Human Services School of Nursing

Alumna Nurse Melissa Harvey Selected as Keynote Speaker at Honoring Mason Nurses Event

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:22:30 +0000

Alumna Nurse Melissa Harvey Selected as Keynote Speaker at Honoring Mason Nurses Event John Brandon C… Tue, 03/22/2022 - 10:22

Tickets now available for Honoring Mason Nurses to be held on April 28 at Fairfax Country Club.

Melissa Harvey, MSPH, BSN, RN

Mason alumna Melissa Harvey, MSPH, BSN, RN, assistant vice president for Enterprise Emergency Operations for HCA Healthcare, will be the keynote speaker at Honor Mason Nurses: Past, Present, and Future event on April 28. The event will recognize the achievements and impact of Mason School of Nursing graduates, like Harvey, for all they do to support the health and well-being of Northern Virginia residents and beyond.

“Melissa is a Proud Patriot and we are looking forward to welcoming her back to Mason recognize her accomplishments and the contributions of all Mason nurses,” said interim Director of the School of Nursing Cheryl Oetjen. “Melissa embodies the values of a Mason nurse. She has an extensive background in nurse management and emergency preparedness, which uniquely positions her to share insights on the resiliency of nurses, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what the future might hold for the profession as a whole.”

The College is excited to welcome back Harvey and all graduates, students, and friends of the School of Nursing at this event. Tickets are now available here for the Honor Mason Nurses.

Harvey is also an advisor to the COVID Commission Planning Group, which is preparing the way forward for a nonpartisan National COVID Commission that could be initiated by the White House. In her current role at HCA Healthcare, Harvey is responsible for advancing healthcare system preparedness across the organization and developing next-generation response capabilities to ensure a more resilient healthcare enterprise. HCA Healthcare is the nation’s largest health system which is comprised of 185 hospitals and 2,000+ sites of care in 20 states and the United Kingdom.

Previously, Harvey served in various roles at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Central Intelligence Agency, and Northwell Health in New York. She has clinical experience as an RN and an EMT. She attended Harvard University (MSPH), Boston College (BA), and ��AV (BSN).

AARP is a platinum sponsor of Honoring Mason Nurses, Inova Health Services is a gold sponsor, and Kaiser Permanente is a sliver sponsor. Learn more about the event at chhs.gmu.edu/honoring.

Melissa Harvey Bio

Melissa Harvey is the Assistant Vice President for Enterprise Emergency Operations for HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest health system, comprised of 185 hospitals and 2,000+ sites of care in 20 states and the United Kingdom. She is responsible for advancing healthcare system preparedness across the organization and developing next-generation response capabilities to ensure a more resilient healthcare enterprise.

Harvey also serves as an advisor to the COVID Commission Planning Group, which is preparing the way forward for a nonpartisan National COVID Commission that could be initiated by the White House, chartered by Congress, or privately funded, to preserve the lessons learned during the crisis and recommend solutions to safeguard the nation from future threats.

Previously, Harvey served as the Director of Strategic Projects at the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine, where she developed public-private partnerships to advance the nation’s health security. She has more than a decade of federal healthcare experience, most recently at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she served as the Director of Health Systems. In this role, Harvey oversaw the Department's emergency care, electronic health records, and health security portfolios. During the COVID-19 response, she was detailed to the FEMA-HHS Healthcare Resilience Task Force, where she led the Hospital Team.

Until 2019, Harvey served as the Director of National Healthcare Preparedness Programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she developed and advanced the implementation of policies, capabilities, and performance metrics that aimed to improve the nation’s overall healthcare emergency readiness. She led ASPR’s domestic healthcare system response to Ebola, including developing a regional and tiered infectious disease strategy for the nation’s healthcare facilities. She also concurrently served as the ASPR Chief of Staff, facilitating the Office’s policy and legislative priorities and its $1.5 billion budget.

Previously, Harvey served at the Central Intelligence Agency, and was the Manager of Emergency Management for Northwell Health in New York. At Northwell, she was responsible for all-hazards planning and response for New York State’s largest healthcare system. Melissa has clinical experience as an RN and an EMT. She attended Harvard University (MSPH), Boston College (BA), and ��AV (BSN).

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Mason Alumna Joni Brady (DNP, '15) Incorporates Multicultural Viewpoints to Advance Nursing Practice, Uplift Future Nurses

John Brandon Cantrell — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 18:07:50 +0000

Mason Alumna Joni Brady (DNP, '15) Incorporates Multicultural Viewpoints to Advance Nursing Practice, Uplift Future Nurses John Brandon C… Fri, 10/29/2021 - 14:07

Joni Brady (DNP, '15) reflects on how her time at Mason prepared her with the skills to lead a global nonprofit and progress her career of helping nurses advance across the world.

Mason alumna Joni Brady (DNP,'15) and her family have found a home in many locations, making multicultural viewpoints a welcome norm throughout her life. As part of a military family, Brady has lived in Okinawa, Japan; Stuttgart, Germany; San Diego, California; New York, and now Northern Virginia. In each location, she evolved as a care provider by learning unique perspectives and insights into global health and leadership from nurses all over the world.

While traveling, Brady engaged herself in the local community and furthered her education as a nurse. She earned her nursing diploma in New York, her bachelor's degree in California, and her master's degree in Germany. When she returned to the States, she pursued a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree at Mason, which she completed in 2015.

"What you realize through travel and exposure to those other cultures is we all have the same basic wants and needs, regardless of where we're from," says Brady. "That's one of the things I loved about my education at Mason. We have such a diverse student body, and you get the beauty of all those cultures coming together and sharing their different world views and life experiences."

Growing as a Mason Nurse, Helping Other Mason Nurses Grow

Like many, Brady chose Mason due to the reputation of its diverse community. "I loved the diversity of the student body, and I liked that that there was that diverse population [where my] colleagues would be representing multinational backgrounds," says Brady. "It was beautiful to be with colleagues in that setting of learning, and it was a safe space--everyone was supportive of each other."

The lively atmosphere and curriculum of Mason's DNP program allowed Brady to pursue several projects that prepared her for a career in leadership. One memorable experience for Brady was working on a five-semester implementation science project at Inova with the system nurse researcher. The experience helped Brady provide future opportunities for nursing students.

"Our work, teaching nurses how to implement evidence-based practice, was a pilot research study and went on to underpin annual funding for evidence-based practice grants to practicing clinical nurses,” says Brady.

Since the completion of her project, Inova nurses have produced 40 evidence-based practice projects with results presented locally, nationally, and internationally. "Being involved at Mason gave me the ability to give other nurses the opportunity to grow their practice through my work," says Brady.

Brady’s time at Mason strengthened her skills in clinical nursing, consulting, researching, and leading a global nonprofit. When thinking back on her career, Brady values bringing together different viewpoints and cultures to advance nursing practice across the world. She credits Mason for further preparing her to meet her goals.

"I love that I have been able to tie it all together in a way that is personally meaningful and professionally meaningful," says Brady. "I also think my time at Mason in my doctoral program really prepared me to have the skills to lead a global nonprofit."

Advancing the Nursing Practice Internationally

Brady's appreciation for different cultures and her value in advancing nursing practice are evident in her career as a nursing consultant and researcher. During her time abroad, Brady attended conferences in multiple countries, such as Ireland and the United Kingdom, to understand how different cultures view the perianesthesia specialty, the nursing practice of caring for patients undergoing and recovering from anesthesia due to surgical and invasive procedures.

As the Chair of the International Collaboration of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (a global nonprofit with a multinational board represented by eight countries), one of Brady's goals was to establish a more uniform understanding of the perianesthesia clinical nurse role to strengthen the practice worldwide.

Since then, Brady and a team of researchers have published a well-received study by the international nursing community. The study employed a global survey, which showed discrepancies in how different countries recognized the field of perianesthesia. The findings described the role, responsibilities, and education of perianesthesia nurses working in care units from 11 countries. The peer-reviewed nursing journal publication has been downloaded over 2,100 times since January 2021.

Giving Back to the Mason Community

Just as Brady has helped nurses around the world advance their practice, she values giving back to the Mason community. Her service on the College's Alumni Chapter Board has been instrumental through her advocacy and philanthropy of uplifting Mason's future leaders in health care by promoting new opportunities for students to pursue.

"I'm grateful for the experience, for the comradery, and for the important work that Mason is doing to enrich our community in so many ways," says Brady. "I am proud to be a grad of Mason and continue service through the Alumni Chapter Board."

Topics

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

CHHS News

Mason Nursing Alumna, Deborah Bundy-Carpenter, Featured in The Scroll

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:46:19 +0000

Mason Nursing Alumna, Deborah Bundy-Carpenter, Featured in The Scroll John Brandon C… Tue, 06/01/2021 - 14:46

Bundy Carpenter earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Mason in 1979.

Article originally published by Mason's Alumni Association.

For Deborah Bundy-Carpenter, BSN ’79, there was no doubt about going to ��AV as soon as she decided she wanted to go into nursing. The program offered her the opportunity to pair hands-on clinical experience with the theoretical knowledge she would learn in the classroom, which would prepare her well for a career in nursing and public health. She also loved Mason’s diverse campus community, and it prepared her for caring for people from a variety of different backgrounds.

“All of the clinical experience we received at Mason taught us to get our hands dirty,” said Bundy-Carpenter, “and with that came lessons in humility that were really important.”

As a nursing student, she had clinical rotation placements at Fairfax Hospital (now a part of the Inova hospital system), the Arlington Health Department, DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, and in Manassas for public health rotations, where she was able to learn practical skills, like starting an IV and working in the delivery room. After graduating from Mason, Bundy-Carpenter worked in a pediatric unit in Charlottesville for a year before she began working at the University of Virginia’s medical center, where she largely worked in the operating room and emergency room.

“In the operating room, it was like all of the anatomy and physiology that I learned in school had come alive,” Bundy-Carpenter said. “It was such an education, especially at a trauma center like UVA, and being able to actually put eyes to what you had read about was one of my favorite things.”

After ten years at UVA, Bundy-Carpenter transitioned from the operating room to public health. As a nurse manager for the Virginia Department of Health, she was responsible for seven health departments across five counties in the Central Shenandoah Health District. In this role, she was responsible for engaging the various communities in the health district. Bundy-Carpenter traveled to communities to educate groups on public health initiatives, managed nursing and nutrition programs, wrote and managed the grants needed to fund local health programs, performed community needs assessments, and strategized with local coalitions to decide which health focuses needed to be prioritized in their communities. And while a lot of her work was administrative, Bundy-Carpenter also trained new public health nurses as part of their year-long orientation and continued with hands-on nursing herself, like administering flu shots. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Bundy-Carpenter, as a public health nurse senior manager, was tasked with leading the health district’s coronavirus response team. Her team has managed strategic planning for pandemic response, testing, contact tracing, community outreach, and now vaccination efforts.

“To this day, I still remember the nursing school’s mantra about self-care and people being their best selves,” said Bundy-Carpenter. “I still talk that talk with patients about self-care and reaching your optimal level of health.”

For all of her public health efforts, Bundy-Carpenter, received the highest honor for a state employee in Virginia: the 2020 Governor's Honor Award in the category of Personal and Professional Excellence. She was recognized for her dedication and excellence in her profession, public health, and collaborative spirit with other healthcare entities and agencies.

Bundy-Carpenter recently retired after more than thirty years of service with the Virginia Department of Health, but she is keeping busy by serving on the boards of local nonprofits organizations. She is currently studying to be a mentored counselor for hurting women.

Written By: Kristen Greiner, MFA '20

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Three-time Mason Nursing Alumna, Theresa Davis, Featured in The Scroll

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 18:07:57 +0000

Three-time Mason Nursing Alumna, Theresa Davis, Featured in The Scroll John Brandon C… Tue, 06/01/2021 - 14:07

Article originally published by Mason's Alumni Association.

Theresa Davis has earned a BSN (’98), an MSN in Nursing Administration (’02), and a PhD in Nursing (’13) from Mason.

As the clinical operations director of enVision TeleICU at Inova Health Systems, Theresa Davis, BSN ’98, MSN Nursing Administration ’02, PhD Nursing ’13, has been incredibly busy since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. She leads the telemedicine division that supports the intensive care units across the Inova hospital system. Since last March, the ICU has grown from 61 beds to 102 beds as patient acuity increased and more resources were needed. Davis’ unit also became a transfer center to move patients across the hospital system as the need arose.

Davis has been a nurse for over thirty-five years. She earned her associate’s degree from Northern Virginia Community College before transferring to ��AV, where she has earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, and the combination of working and learning throughout her career has been invaluable. Before the pandemic, Davis even taught classes on organizational learning and nursing informatics as an adjunct professor.

“I think being in school for a good part of my career has made my whole nursing experience very enriching because I love to learn, and it has allowed me to have a different way of looking at things and not get too focused in one area,” Davis said. “I grew up as a trauma nurse and I’ve been working in telemedicine for sixteen years. It’s been a very exciting adventure.”

Over the last year, hospital visitor guidelines became more restrictive due to COVID-19, making it difficult for family members to be at the bedside with their loved ones. This made the use of voice and video technology an essential capability. Over 1,000 iPads—some provided through donations to Inova—have been distributed across the Inova hospital system to support technology needs to bring families together.

“We connected families to their loved ones and clinicians to patients,” said Davis. “It was just incredible what you could do with the technology to create those connections.”

In addition to her role at Inova, Davis also had the opportunity to speak at the White House in March 2020 as a representative for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, where she is on the board of directors. Davis sat across the table from President Trump and Vice President Pence, where she had the opportunity to brief the Coronavirus Task Force and answer questions about the issues nurses were facing in the early days of the pandemic. After the meeting, President Trump signed an executive order that invoked the Defense Production Act to expedite the production of critical medical supplies.

A year later, as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, Davis looks to the future with hope. The pandemic has changed how she sees the world—after such a turbulent year, it will take time to fully heal and become whole again, but she sees it as a chance to learn and grow as we enter our new normal. One way Davis plans to do this is by promoting diversity and working towards eliminating disparities and unconscious bias in healthcare. Inova has created many opportunities for this important work.

“I think that we have great opportunity to look at our future and the new world and what it should look like, and what we’ve learned,” said Davis. “We have to make sure all patients receive the care that they need, no matter who they are or where they come from. We have to think strongly about what we’ve just gone through and how we can create a better world for everybody. We will get through this!”

Written By: Kristen Greiner, MFA ’20

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Alumni Spotlight

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The Washington Post-American Nurses Association and The Washingtonian Magazine Recognize Mason Nursing Excellence in Local Awards

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 10 May 2021 15:32:49 +0000

The Washington Post-American Nurses Association and The Washingtonian Magazine Recognize Mason Nursing Excellence in Local Awards John Brandon C… Mon, 05/10/2021 - 11:32

In This Story

Caroline Sutter, DNP

Martha (Marti) Y. Kubik, PhD, RN, FAAN

Local Nursing Awards Recognize Mason Alumni.

As we continue to celebrate National Nurses Month, the American Nurses Association has dedicated the week of May 10 to May 14 as a time to recognize and celebrate the dedication, commitment, and contributions nurses provide to their patients, colleagues, and communities.

Caroline Sutter, Mason alumna, professor, and co-director of the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics, was named one of the 2021 Star Nurses from the Washington Post and American Nurses Association (ANA).

At ��AV, the School of Nursing prepares nurses to become leaders in their field through extensive practical and academic training. Mason Nursing excellence has been recognized through two local awards.

This year, three Mason alumni (including one faculty member) were selected as 2021 Star Nurses finalists by the Washington Post, in partnership with the American Nurses Association.

With over one hundred nominees, the Washington Post and American Nurses Association (ANA) selected the top candidates who represent the “epitome of skill, professionalism, and care” as they work in the frontlines to provide care in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Metropolitan area. Of the 2021 Star Nurses, six nurses will be named as Nightingale Award winners on May 26.

Among the nurses selected is two-time Mason alumna, Caroline Sutter (MSN ’01, DNP ‘12), who is also the co-director of the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics and associate professor in the School of Nursing.

“I am humbled by this recognition and have loved every minute of my nursing career,” Sutter said. “I am proud to be a Mason nurse, where we encourage innovative thinking and allow ideas to blossom into initiatives that make a difference. I am particularly proud of the work we do at the Mason and Partner Clinics to improve the health of the most vulnerable in our communities and to offer hands-on learning opportunities that prepare our students to thrive in the health care workforce.”

Along with Sutter, Mason alumnus Kenneth Daniel (BSN ’00) and alumna Donna Thomas (MSN ’17) were selected as 2021 finalists.

“We’ve always known that Mason nurses are special and that they bring passion, competency, and resilience to their careers,” said Marti Kubik, director and professor of the School of Nursing. “I particularly want to congratulate Carrie Sutter for the well-deserved honor and to thank her for her tireless work in the community.”

In addition to the Mason nurses selected as the 2021 Star Nurses, eight Mason alumni were featured in the Washingtonian’s 50 Exceptional Nurses list to honor nurses who “go above and beyond every day for their patients and colleagues.” In this recognition, Mason alumni represented 16% of nurses on the list.

Laila S. Bailey, BSN ’85, MSN ‘10; Meghan K. Bozzelli, BSN ’07; Christine M. Chaney, BSN ’02; Susan E. (Sue) Frank, BSN ’78, MSN ’96; Lauren J. Keane, BSN ’11; Kimberly A. Miller, MSN ’15; Myra B. (Connie) Wisnaes, BSN ’93; and Michelle J. Vassallo, MHA ’15 were among those who received the Exceptional Nurses honor.

“It’s wonderful to see our faculty and alumni recognized in the community through initiatives like the Washington Post/ANA Star Nurses and Washingtonian Magazine Excellence in Nursing Award,” Kubik said. “Thank you to all nurses – we appreciate your many contributions.”

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