From the Dean's Desk

From the Dean's Desk

Dean Julie Zerwic

Dear friends,

I am continually impressed with the caliber of students and faculty we have at the College of Nursing. We have some of the brightest minds in the field today, and their commitment to nursing research and education are unparalleled.

Twenty-five of these bright minds were invited to present at the annual Midwest Nursing Research Society conference this year, and twelve of them were honored with awards. Faculty from the College received three of the top four annual organizational awards, and you can learn more about why in the stories below.

I am also proud to share that of the four UI graduate programs ranked in the top-10 in the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School report, all four were in the College of Nursing.    

To the 117 Bachelor of Nursing Science, 59 Doctor of Nursing Practice, nine Master of Science in Nursing, and four PhD students who graduated this May, congratulations. Be sure to let us know where the future takes you. Not only will you always be a Hawkeye, you will always be an Iowa nurse.

Julie Zerwic Signature

Julie Zerwic, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN
Kelting Dean and Professor

Faculty Recognized with Prestigious Awards from Midwest Nursing Research Society

Launched over forty years ago, the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) is a place for nurse scientists and researchers at all career levels to learn, collaborate, and grow the field.

The annual MNRS conference is one of the highlights of the year for nursing students and faculty alike. Twenty-five University of Iowa College of Nursing faculty and students were invited to present at the 2022 conference held in April, and twelve were recognized with awards.

Four main awards are presented each year, recognizing both emerging and established researchers for their contributions. This year, College of Nursing faculty received three of those four awards! Dr. Wen Liu received the Harriet H. Werley New Investigator Award, Dr. Barbara Rakel received the Distinguished Contribution Award, and Dr. Ann Marie McCarthy received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Wen Liu

Dr. Wen Liu: A New Approach to an Age-Old Problem

Dr. Liu's innovative program of research in dementia mealtime care has been built deliberately and systematically, and is significant in its direct translatability to inform clinical practice.

Ann Marie McCarthy

Dr. Ann Marie McCarthy: A Lifetime of Reducing Childhood Pain

If you have a child who has received any type of painful medical procedure, from vaccinations to intravenous placement, you have probably benefited from the research of Dr. McCarthy.

Barb Rakel

Dr. Barbara Rakel: Changing the Future of Pain Management

Dr. Rakel is a leading scholar in pain management, with an innovative program of research and the external funds to support it.

Graphic with nine headshots that reads Congratulations 22022 MNRS Award Winners

Students, Faculty Recognized by MNRS

Nine additional faculty and students received grants, distinguished abstracts, and Research and Implementation Interest Group (RIIG) awards.

Graduate holds a cap with a design on the top that reads: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Degree

College of Nursing Celebrates 189 Graduates

117 Bachelor of Nursing Science, 59 Doctor of Nursing Practice, nine Master of Science in Nursing, and four PhD students graduated the weekend of May 14.

A graphic listing the graduate school rankings.

Graduate Programs Receive Top Rankings

The College of Nursing is well represented in the U.S. News & World Report 2023 Best Graduate School Rankings released earlier this year, with four programs in the top-10.

Drawing of final SIM-IA truck design

Join us June 21 in Des Moines for the SIM-IA Ribbon Cutting

With three mobile simulation trucks, state-of-the-art equipment, and highly-trained staff, Simulation in Motion-Iowa (SIM-IA) will bring much needed continuing education to emergency medical services and other emergency providers throughout the state. A ribbon cutting and official launch of the program will be held June 21 at the capitol building in Des Moines. Tours of the simulation truck will be available from noon-2 p.m. and the ribbon cutting will begin at 2 p.m.

Learn more about SIM-IA