Two nursing faculty – mentor and mentee – receive awards

Two UNMC College of Nursing faculty members received awards from the American Heart Association on Nov. 5 at the association’s annual scientific sessions.

Bunny Pozehl, PhD, professor and Dorothy Hodges Olson Endowed Chair in Nursing, received the Kathleen A. Dracup Distinguished Lecture and Exemplary Career in Mentoring Award.

Dr. Dracup was considered a pillar of excellence for her lifelong contributions to cardiovascular nursing and commitment to fostering the development of the next generation of scientists. The award recognizes a senior member of the association’s Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing for their mentorship of early-career scientists.

Dr. Pozehl is an adult/acute care-certified nurse practitioner, whose research focuses on exercise training interventions and promoting adherence to exercise in heart failure. She has mentored and sponsored emerging scientists at the local, regional and national level.

Dr. Pozehl said receiving the award was an incredible honor that was only made possible by exceptional mentees. That includes her mentee and fellow AHA award winner, Windy Alonso, PhD.

“As a mentor you strive to promote your mentees, and the absolute best reward is to see their success and recognition,” she said.

Dr. Alonso, assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing-Omaha Division, received the Marie Cowan Promising Early Career Investigator Award.

The Marie Cowan Award is given out each year to a junior investigator who demonstrates a spirit of innovation and scientific excellence.

“This award honors the legacy of a nursing research trailblazer,” Dr. Alonso said. “To be recognized with this award is as humbling as it is motivating.”

Dr. Alonso is a heart failure nurse scientist and rural health advocate. Her research tests behavioral interventions to improve the lives of individuals with heart failure. Like her mentor, she supports students in the college of nursing. 

“I’ve been told by many who knew Dr. Cowan that she was an incredible scientist, mentor and person,” she said.  “I hope to uphold her legacy and commitment to excellence in nursing research as I continue on this journey.”