The UNMC College of Nursing recently acknowledged faculty excellence
in teaching, research and professional service. The recipients were
Sharon Holyoke, Julia Houfek, Ph.D., and Kate Fiandt, D.N.Sc.
Sharon Holyoke, assistant professor of nursing, received the Rosalee
C. Yeaworth Teaching Excellence Award. Established in 1995, award criteria
includes: inspiring learning and promoting thinking, person and professional
integrity; creating a caring learning environment that allows the student
to apply new knowledge; developing creative teaching strategies that facilitate
learning; and making a lasting impact on the student; and living the role
of nurse educator. Holyoke has been at UNMC since 1988.
Julia Houfek, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing, received the Pennie
Z. Davis Faculty Research Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize
creative activities of a new investigator conducting research that represents
a promising area for nursing science and practice. Criteria includes: major
part of the research has been conducted while a faculty at the College
of Nursing; research contributes to the advancement of nursing science
and clinical nursing practice; research has been published or accepted
for publication in a peer-reviewed journal; and investigator has received
intramural or small extramural funding. Dr. Houfek has been at UNMC since
1990.
Kathryn Fiandt, D.N.Sc., associate professor of nursing is the first
recipient of the new Ada M. Lindsey Professional Service Award. Award criteria
includes: recognition as an excellent clinician by students and peers;
works to increase financial resources through development of grants; develops
innovative advanced practice strategies; develops and maintains community
partnerships; demonstrates and engages in outcome based clinical practice
with an emphasis on scientific rigor; participates in clinical research
and/or development of conceptual models; and publishes manuscripts based
on scholarly practice. Dr. Fiandt has been at UNMC since 1993.
The UNMC College of Nursing is the largest nursing school in the state
with a total of more than 800 students at its Omaha, Lincoln, Kearney and
Scottsbluff campuses. It is the only nursing school in the state to offer
undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees. Since the colleges inception
more than 80 years ago, it has awarded more than 10,471 degrees.
UNMC is the only public health science center in the state. Its educational
programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing
in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education,
research, patient care and outreach, UNMC has established itself as one
of the country’s leading centers in cancer, transplantation biology, bioterrorism
preparedness, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, genetics,
biomedical technology and arthritis. In the past year, UNMCs research
funding from external sources increased by 23 percent and now exceeds $50
million annually. In that same period, federal funding increased by 36
percent and now exceeds $34 million.