Faculty and Staff Achievements

The School of Nursing is proud to highlight the achievements of faculty and staff since the last Vital Signs issue.

Herrington named an American Academy of Nursing Fellow

Dr. Alaina Herrington, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and director of the Judith Gore Gearhart Clinical Skills Center in the School of Medicine, has been selected for Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing (Academy) (FAAN).

Applicants for the FAAN program must be nominated for the distinction, considered to be nursing’s highest honor. Nominees then detail their achievements, showing a substantial amount of work that has enriched their profession.

Herrington, the School of Nursing’s 2022 Alumna of the Year, said she is honored that Dr. Julie Sanford, dean of the School of Nursing, nominated her. “Her leadership has helped leaders like me in the SON to stretch and grow to new levels,” she said.

Herrington’s FAAN application detailed her state, national, and international work in simulation.

“I have consistently led the simulation charge in my rural diverse region by conducting a statewide simulation needs assessment, providing a free online simulation education course to every Mississippi school of nursing, collaborating with the Mississippi Board of Nursing, and leading the state’s first simulation program to be accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH),” she said.

Herrington led the conception and implementation of the SSH’s online accreditation courses to equip programs with a strategy to address their organization’s areas of strengths and weaknesses to be successful in achieving accreditation. Nationally and internationally, the initiatives Herrington led and chaired have shaped the future of academic and clinical simulation programs around the world.

The FAAN designation is a personal honor that will benefit the Medical Center, she said. “It helps increase the rankings of the school and the prestige of our organization. It is my hope this recognition will bring more international research and grant opportunities to UMMC.”

Herrington joins fellow faculty members Dean Emeritus Dr. Kaye Bender, Dr. Audwin Fletcher, Dr. Deborah Konkle-Parker, Dean Dr. Julie Sanford, Dr. Mary Stewart, and recently retired faculty Dr. Karen Winters.

Hall receives 2022 DAISY Faculty Award

Congratulations to Associate Professor Dr. Katie Hall for being selected to be the School of Nursing's DAISY Faculty Award recipient for 2021-2022. She received three student nominations that demonstrated how she not only supported and encouraged, but also challenged her students during clinical rotations.

"Dr. Hall has continually displayed an enthusiastic attitude for teaching, fostered an environment that facilitated optimal learning, and encouraged students to reach their highest potential," said Traditional BSN Class of 2021 graduate Mollie Woods. "She is knowledgeable and uses her knowledge to instill confidence into each of her students, including me. I would not have the assessment skills I have now if it weren’t for her dedication to excellence in nursing practice. I thank Dr. Hall for her passion, caring spirit, and patience with me throughout my time at UMMC [SON]."

Traditional BSN Class of 2022 graduate Kaitlyn Johnson went on to elaborate, "She would also challenge us every clinical to think deeper about our patient's case and think about what we could do as the nurse to give them the best possible care. If we made a mistake in clinical, she would calmly talk through it with us and help us figure out what we could do better in the future."

Other faculty members nominated for the DAISY Faculty Award were Dr. Chelsey Andries, Dr. Audwin Fletcher, Dr. Jennifer Hargett, Dr. Derek Holt, Amanda McCullough, Dr. Sharon McElwain, Dr. Kathy Rhodes and Lesley Thweatt. Kudos to all of the nominees! We thank you all for your commitment and service to our students!

SON Excellence Awards

The SON is proud to announce the recipients of the first SON Excellence Awards for outstanding faculty and staff members that go above and beyond for our students and our school. Ten nominations were received for faculty in the categories of Excellence in Practice and Service, Excellence in Research and Scholarship, and Excellence in Teaching and Innovation. Seven nominations for five staff members were received for the Professional and Administrative Continued Excellence (PACE) Award.

Assistant Professor Dr. Derek Holt received the Excellence in Practice and Service Award from Dean Sanford at the spring Faculty Organization meeting. The director of the family nurse practitioner track was also selected to represent the state of Mississippi as the 2022 American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) State Award for Excellence recipient for his practice.

Dr. Katie Hall was selected for her representation of Excellence in Research and Scholarship. Her research includes a study titled, "Influencers of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance: A Nationwide Survey" funded by Sigma Theta Tau. The associate professor also served as primary investigator on two non-funded research studies that evaluated health issues affecting the youth of Mississippi and air quality related to the rate of congenital heart defects.

Honored for her Excellence in Teaching and Innovation, Dr. Jennifer Hargett was awarded with her excellence award. The assistant professor was recognized for her commitment to mentoring new faculty and serving as a strong role model to her students. She was credited with helping a student and their family in their time of need. "Because of Jennifer's advocacy, this specific scenario led to increased discussions and changes within our SON and UMMC. Jennifer's advocacy in this situation is to be applauded."

Project manager Tara Rushing received the PACE staff award for her commitment to increasing diversity and inclusion practices, and collaboration with other schools across UMMC for student recruitment and enrollment growth. The admission counselor was instrumental in the groundwork and fruition of the Off-Campus Partners Housing platform that provides property listing, roommate connections and more to the students and employees of UMMC.

On behalf of the SON Awards and Scholarship Committee, thank you to all nominators and supporters of the 2022 School of Nursing Excellence Awards. Others nominees for the Practice and Service category were Amanda McCullough and Dr. Anne Norwood. Research and Scholarship nominees included Dr. Angela Duck and Dr. Marilyn Harrington. Dr. Audwin Fletcher, Hannah Hogg, and Amanda McCullough were recognized with nominees for Teaching and Innovation. Other PACE nominees included Rhonda Donald, Jessica Hill, Johnlyn Rogers, and Dotie Stewart. 

UMMC CNE Faculty host CNE Review Course

This May, our certified nurse educator faculty hosted a CNE Course Review workshop designed to prepare nurse educators for the National League for Nursing (NLN) Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination. This initiative was funded by the Bower Grant and facilitated by Mrs. Marlie Farrar and Dr. Angela Duck.

Our participants for the two-day course included 17 nurse educators, representing 14 Mississippi community colleges, and three UMMC SON educators. Using the NLN’s Core Competencies for Academic Nurse Educators, CNE faculty trainers developed a curriculum that would engage participants in the content to be tested on the CNE exam. The workshop focused on preparing faculty for the CNE exam and allowed participants to network with a community of nurse educators from across the state.

Feedback from participants noted that the course “helped me to identify areas of weakness that needed to be addressed in preparation for successful completion of the exam.” Plans are to continue the course next spring. Along with Farrar and Duck, fellow CNE faculty who facilitated the review course included Dr. Eva Tatum, Dr. Katie Hall, Dr. Kimberly Douglas, Mrs. Lesley Thweatt, and Mrs. Rachel Gambill.

Faculty receives CNE certification

Congratulations to Associate Professor Eva Tatum, PhD, RN, CNE who obtained the prestigious Certified Nurse Educator certification this summer! She joins fellow faculty members Dr. Kimberly Douglas, Dr. Angela Duck, Marlie Farrar, Rachel Gambill, Dr. Katie Hall, Emeritae faculty Dr. Jennifer Robinson, Dr. Christy Savell, and Lesley Thweatt with the CNE credentials.

Weeks receives CHSE certification

Congratulations to Amanda Weeks, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, CHSE for passing her Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) certification through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. She joins fellow UMMC SON faculty members Joe Farmer, part-time faculty Dr. Alaina Herrington, Hannah Hogg and Dr. Robyn MacSorley with this certification.

Faculty promotions

Cassie Austin, DNP, RN, FNP-C - promoted to assistant professor

Kimberly Douglas, PhD, RN, CNE - promoted to associate professor

Marlie Farrar, MSN, RN, CNE - promoted to assistant professor

Debi Fatherree, MSN, RNC-MNN - promoted to assistant professor

Katie Hall, PhD, RN, CNE - promoted to associate professor

Tara Price, MSN, RNC, WHNP-BC, CNS - promoted to assistant professor

Eva Tatum, PhD, RN, CNE - promoted to associate professor

Amanda Weeks, DNP, FNP-BC, CHSE - promoted to assistant professor

School of Nursing honors retirees

The School of Nursing honored Dr. LaDonna Northington, Dr. Karen Winters, Dr. Renee Williams, and Cheryl Ervin-Jones, with more than 120 years of combined service to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, on their retirement with a reception at the School of Nursing lobby June 29.

Northington retired as professor and associate dean for academic affairs after a nursing career of more than 44 years.

Williams retired as professor and director of continuing education at the School of Nursing. She joined the School of Nursing faculty in 1995 and retired with 27 years.

Winters, a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and associate director of the Jackson Heart Study Field Center, retired as a professor of nursing after a UMMC career of more than 26 years.

Ervin-Jones retired as a patient services coordinator II at the Galloway School-Based Health Clinic after a career of more than 25 years.

Dr. Julie Sanford, dean of the School of Nursing, calculated that their combined clinical and academic service has touched the lives of millions of patients, either through the care they provided or the care of the thousands of nurses they trained.

“Their service cannot be overstated,” she said.

Dr. Audwin Fletcher, nursing professor, assistant dean for graduate programs, director of Adult-Gerontology Acute Care and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner tracks, said they were all “an inspiration to many people across the university, stepping up when many would step down.”