Jan Atwood, Ph.D., has spent her life in the pursuit of improving the
lives of people through nursing care, education and research. She recently
was honored for the impact she has made at the University of Nebraska Medical
Center College of Nursing through a Florence Niedfelt Professorship.
The endowed, three-year appointment honors and rewards an outstanding
faculty member for excellence in research, teaching, leadership, mentoring
of colleagues and students, innovative leadership in a clinical service
project, and involvement and work in organizations outside the college.
Dr. Atwood will receive $10,000 each year, for three years, to be used
as a salary stipend and/or to fund professional activities or purchases.
The Florence Niedfelt Professorship was named for the late Florence
A. Niedfelt, of Grand Island, who bequeathed funds through the University
of Nebraska Foundation for furthering the education of nursing students
through the professorship and scholarships. The first professorship was
awarded to Bevely Hays, Ph.D., in 1999.
Niedfelt spent her life helping her husband, John Niedfelt, manage farms
and the Platte Valley Construction Co., until his death in 1979. Although
not a nurse, she held a lifetime interest in the field of nursing, was
active in her church and various community groups.
I was really surprised to hear I was the recipient of this honor,
Dr. Atwood said. I really appreciate a Nebraska resident making this possible.
The impact Dr. Atwood has made in the college, on current and former
colleagues and students, is evident in page after page of award nominations,
as well as on her curriculum vitae.
Im really pleased the college has the opportunity to reward and recognize
Dr. Atwood, who has demonstrated continuing contributions to one or several
areas in the College of Nursing, said Ada Lindsey, Ph.D., dean of the
UNMC College of Nursing.
Dr. Atwood provides significant mentorship for many faculty and students
in both teaching and research activities, said Bernice Yates, Ph.D., associate
dean for research, UNMC College of Nursing. She is also an excellent educator,
teaching from not only a solid knowledge base but also from her many personal
experiences, and thus is an excellent role model for faculty and students
alike, Dr. Yates said.
Dr. Atwood, a professor of nursing with specialties in oncology and
community health nursing, and professor of preventive and societal medicine
in the College of Medicine, accepted a position at UNMC in 1996, as founding
associate director of the Cancer Prevention, Control and Population Sciences
unit at the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center.
Her vision and development of the unit paved the way to foster interdisciplinary
research groups at UNMC and across the state. Involved in research through
the unit are faculty and staff at UNMCs three nursing divisions in Lincoln,
Kearney and Scottsbluff, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University
of Nebraska-Lincoln. After five years there, she moved on to focus on cancer
and other interdisciplinary research facilitation.
She currently is research director of the Nebraska Office of Tobacco
Control and Research at UNMC, which is a multi-campus, multidisciplinary
endeavor.
Dr. Atwoods wealth of experience in research extends across state,
national and international lines and a variety of cultures. Born in New
York City, the Arizona native and daughter of a researcher said she grew
up knowing she wanted to be a nurse. Shes been involved in nursing research
since she was an undergraduate nursing student.
I love nursing, research and teaching, she said. Putting those
three together is a gift Ive had with various university appointments.
I enjoy working with my colleagues, who are good scientists and nice people.
Dr. Atwood received her bachelors degree in nursing in 1964,
and her masters degree in public health in 1967, from the University of
Michigan. She received an masters degree in sociology in 1976, and her
doctoral degree in educational psychology in 1976, with a minor in nursing
from the University of Arizona.
Her academic appointments include: University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
School of Nursing instructor in public health nursing (1968 to 70) and
assistant professor (1970-72); University of Arizona, Tucson, research
associate (1975-76) and associate professor of nursing (1976-82); University
Medical Center Corp. Nursing Department, assistant director of nursing
for research (1976-85).
From 1985 to 1990, she served as professor in the University of Arizona,
Tucson, College of Nursing. In 1991, she accepted an appointment as professor
of community and public health nursing and health behavior/health education
at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health, where she
served until accepting a UNMC appointment in 1996.
She continues in public health nursing education roles in Arizona and
North Carolina and also has taught public health nursing at the University
of Michigan. She has served as a consultant for the World Health Organization
in Malaysia, Philippines, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as well as Indonesia,
Nepal and Thailand.
She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Public
Health Nurse Service Award in 2000; Distinguished Lecturer, University
of Pittsburgh, 1999; Alumna-In-Residence, University of Michigan, 1992;
and the Excellence in Nursing Education Award, Beta Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta
Tau, 1982.
Dr. Atwood is a member of numerous national, state and local
professional organizations. She is a reviewer on editorial boards and national
research review panels and has published extensively in books, monographs,
and journals. In addition, her works have been cited in many journals.