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Kathryn Laughon, Ph.D. |
Kathryn Laughon, Ph.D., associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Nursing, will present a lecture for the community following an evening reception on Nov. 14, and make presentations Nov. 15 for faculty, students and staff. She will address the role of nurses and the science in identifying intimate partner violence.
Dr. Laughon is principal investigator of a National Institute of Health-funded study to test an intervention for guardians of children orphaned by intimate partner homicide. She also is a forensic nurse examiner and provides care to victims of sexual assault.
Intimate partner violence can be threats of violence, acts of violence, sexual violence, and emotional abuse.
Organizers of the lectureship — UNMC College of Nursing faculty, Janice Twiss, Ph.D., and Peggy Pelish, Ph.D. — say the topic was chosen because the problem of intimate partner violence is so common and touches the lives of women and children.
The endowed annual lectureship was created through the University of Nebraska Foundation by the late Berniece F. Cramer. Cramer, the daughter of William Joseph and Anna Marie (Jensen) Cramer, of Hardy, Neb., established the lectureship in honor of her mother. Each year the lecture will feature a nationally known expert in women and children’s health issues.
Berniece Cramer, who died in August 2010 at the age of 88, graduated in 1940 from Hardy High School then attended Kearney State Teachers College. In 1944, she completed nurses training at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. After graduation, she served in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps from 1945-1948 in the Philippines and Japan.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hastings College and a master’s degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in New York.
Her career included teaching at Cornell University in New York, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Public Health Service in Chicago, ultimately serving as branch chief until she retired in 1990. She continued lecturing until 1992.
Seating for the Nov. 14 community event is limited. RSVP to make a reservation before Nov. 8, by contacting LaDonna Tworek, 402-559-4109.