Spartan Alumni and Faculty Inducted into the American Academy of Nursing

Becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is one of the most prestigious honors in the Nursing Profession. Three individuals with connections to the Michigan State University College of Nursing have been selected into the 2010 Academy of Nursing Fellows. Mary Jo Gilmer, Jeanette Klemczak and Ardith Doorenbos, along with 113 other nurses will be inducted as Fellows at the Academy's 37th Annual Meeting and Conference in November.

• Mary Jo Gilmer (CON BSN '71) is an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Director of the Clinical Management Program and Co-Director of the Pediatric Palliative Care Research Team. Her program of research explores the suffering and morbidity of families affected by cancer and the loss of a child. Her work has helped enhance the care of children with life threatening conditions at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. She is also a leader in many healthcare projects from Belize to Uganda, Ecuador, Italy and China.

• Jeanette Klemczak is the first Chief Nurse Executive for the State of Michigan, an adjunct faculty in the College of Nursing and serves on the Dean's advisory council—the Board of Visitors. She was appointed Chief Nurse Executive by Governor Granholm in 2004. In this role she provides leadership and expertise on nursing workforce and health policy. Since starting her career as a staff nurse, she has accumulated more than 30 years of experience in clinical nursing, healthcare systems, public health and health policy.

• Ardith Doorenbos is an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing and is a former post doctoral student at the College of Nursing. Her research program involves the study of end-of-life experience, with a focus on symptom management and advance care planning. She works to understand the dynamics of culturally competent end-of-life care from both provider and patient perspectives. She also works with nurses in Ethiopia, Kenya, India, Japan and Korea on end-of-life nursing issues.

"The College of Nursing is proud that Michigan State University faculty and alumni have been selected for this prestigious honor. We congratulate them on their accomplishments and wish them the best as they continue to positively impact healthcare outcomes through their nursing expertise,” Dean Mary Mundt said.

Gilmer, Klemczak and Doorenbos will join approximately 1,500 other fellows who are leaders in education, management, practice, and research. Fellows are selected based upon their contributions to healthcare and the nursing profession.

Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing work to transform America's healthcare system by improving the quality of health and nursing care, promoting health across the life continuum, reducing health disparities, and integrating mental and physical health.