Dear Colleagues,
This year we shall celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science in collaboration with the 60th Anniversary of the University of San Diego. Reflect back to that historical year, 1974, when Founding Dean Irene Sabelberg Palmer and two nurse faculty, working in what Dean Palmer describes as a "closet," admitted twelve Registered Nurses to study for the Bachelor's degree. Imagine Dean Palmer's joy and pride the next ground-breaking year, as her spade pierced the soil of our school's building site, thanks to the generosity of the Philip H. Hahn Family and a federal capitation grant!
Soon after, 14 Master's Nursing students joined the Bachelor's students in their studies. In 1989, Dr. Julie Novak, now Director of Nursing Clinics at Purdue University, walked across the USD stage to be its first recipient of the Doctoral Degree. Over the years, some of the greatest names in Nursing have graced the halls of our school as students, faculty, guest lecturers, visiting professors, and scientists.
Dean Janet Rodgers guided the school's continuing development and applauded the success of its graduate leaders such as CNO Mary Middleton; Professor and Director of Research, Felicitas de la Cruz; Rear Admiral and Deputy Surgeon General Kathleen Martin; CEO Daniel Gross; Nurse Attorney Beth Size; and Dr. Ruth Grendell, educator, volunteer, and world healer.
Over the past five years we have seen the number of our programs, students, graduates, and faculty dramatically increase, with a remarkable 120 graduates this past year! Our research and scholarly productivity has increased exponentially. Dr. Cynthia Connelly, Director of Nursing Research, was awarded the largest research grant in the University's history. Dr. Susan Instone, Director of Advanced Practice Programs, initiated the DNP program, which now has 31 first and second-year students. The WASC association was so impressed with Dr. Instone's accrediting application, that they use it as an exemplar on their WEB pages.
Dr. Trish Roth, PhD Nursing Director, brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and forgivable loans for our 75 PhD students. Director of International Programs, Dr. Anita Hunter, was a guest of honor at the inaugural opening of the Mbarara, Uganda, Pediatric Hospital, which she and her teams helped design, build, fund, and staff. Director Karen Macauley revolutionized our Simulation and Standardized Patient Nursing Laboratory, where most of our students now receive approximately 25% of their clinical experience, and where WEB CT provides voluminous research data about practitioners' clinical skills.
We are delighted to welcome our newest faculty: Drs. Fadi Khraim, from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York; Barbara Sarter from the University of Southern California; Karen Skerrett from the University of Chicago; Linda Urden, immediate past Chair of the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program; and Clinical Professor Peggy Howarth, from the University of Massachusetts.
As you review our WEB site, and note the research, clinical, and scholarly achievements of our faculty and students, and sense the school's spirit and camaraderie, you will understand why our 1534 alumni deservedly show pride in their Alma Mater. We are so grateful to our clinical partners and affiliates, preceptors, donors, and federal, state, and foundation granting agencies for providing talents and treasure that have enabled these accomplishments.
Our next major goal is to build the USD "Institute of Nursing Research, Advanced Practice, and Simulation," which will permit us to expand greatly the research, teaching, and clinical productivity of our faculty and students. My hope is that we will work together and be blessed with good fortune, so that this dream can become a reality. Project your mind's eye into the future. Imagine 2044, the School's 70th Anniversary. What will that Nursing Dean tell that generation of nurse leaders and alumni about the accomplishments of USD's Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science?
Wishing us all a most Happy 35th and 60th Anniversary!
Sally Brosz Hardin, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean and Professor
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