RWJF names UofL professor as Executive Nurse Fellow for 2011

Ruth Carrico, Ph.D., R.N., F.S.H.E.A., C.I.C., an associate professor at the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, has been named one of just 21 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Executive Nurse Fellows for 2011. Carrico joins a select group of nurse leaders from across the country chosen to participate in this world-class, three-year leadership development program designed to enhance nurse leaders' effectiveness in improving the United States health care system.

With more than 30 years' experience in health care, Carrico has focused her nursing practice on infection prevention in the health care and public health sectors, and is board-certified in infection control. She has received training in health care epidemiology and public health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Carrico has authored or co-authored six books, as well as numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, posters, e-learning modules, and book chapters.

"Ruth is very deserving of this honor," said Richard Clover, M.D., dean, UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences. "She is a leader in the field of infection prevention and control and was recently appointed to the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) to help advise the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)."

Begun by RWJF in 1998, the RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows (ENF) program strengthens the leadership capacity of nurses who aspire to shape health care locally and nationally. The program will provide Carrico and her colleagues with coaching, education and other support to strengthen their abilities to lead teams and organizations in improving health and health care. The ENF program is located at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), and co-directed by: Linda Cronenwett, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., the Beerstecher Blackwell Term Professor and former dean of the School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and David Altman, executive vice president of Research, Innovation and Product Development at CCL.

"The Institute of Medicine report on the Future of Nursing, issued last fall, underscores the importance of nurse leadership as we work to improve the health and health care of all Americans," Cronenwett said. "The RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows program is building and enhancing the leadership skills of extraordinary nurses around the country. Our alumni are a virtual 'who's who' of accomplished nurses, and we know that Ruth Carrico and the other members of this new cohort will join them in doing great things. The RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows program supports nurse leaders with potential to develop innovative ways to improve health care delivery."

"I'm thrilled by the opportunity that the Executive Nurse Fellows program offers to build my advanced leadership skills," Carrico said. "Nursing practice is critical to addressing the problem of health care-associated infections, so I hope to have the chance to consider educational curricula and possible improvement opportunities. Participation in the program represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for leadership development."

Executive Nurse Fellows hold senior leadership positions in health services, scientific and academic organizations, public health and community-based organizations or systems, and national professional, governmental and policy organizations. They continue in their current positions during their fellowships, and during the fellowship each develops, plans and implements a new initiative to improve health care delivery in her or his community. Carrico plans to focus her initiative on health care-associated infections.

In addition to Carrico, the other 20 RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows - selected from 138 applicants - are:

• Shelly Buck-Turner, R.N., B.S.N., M.B.A., chief nurse executive and vice president, Patient Care, Bon Secours, St. Francis Medical Center, Midlothian, Va.;
• Debra Barksdale, Ph.D., F.N.P.-B.C., C.N.E., associate professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, Chapel Hill, N.C.;
• Janie Gawrys, R.N., M.S., C.P.H.Q., vice president, Clinical Operations, Access Community Health Network, Chicago, Ill.;
• Jean Giddens, Ph.D., executive dean and professor, College of Nursing, University of Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, N.M.;
• Kimberly Glassman, Ph.D., R.N., chief nursing officer and senior vice president, Patient Care Services, NYU Hospitals Center, New York, N.Y.;
• Peggy Gordin, M.S., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., F.A.A.N., vice president, Patient Care Services, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.;
• Pamela Jeffries, B.S.N., M.S.N., D.N.S., associate dean, Academic Affairs, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Md.;
• Jodi Joyce, B.S.N., R.N., M.B.A., C.E.N.P., N.E.A.-B.C., vice president, Quality & Patient Safety, Legacy Health, Portland, Ore.;
• Laurie Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., dean and professor, School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Mass.;
• Bambi McQuade-Jones, R.N., B.S.N., M.S.N., C.F.N.P., executive director and nurse practitioner, Boone County Community Clinic, Lebanon, Ind.;
• Kim Moore, R.N., M.S.N., N.E.A-B.C., interim chief operating officer and chief nursing officer, Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, Lincoln, Neb.;
• Patricia Morton, Ph.D., R.N., A.C.N.P., F.A.A.N., professor and associate dean, Academic Affairs, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, Md.;
• Ann O'Brien, R.N., M.S.N., national director, Clinical Informatics, National Patient Care Services and KP Information Technology, Kaiser Permanente, Pleasanton, Calif.;
• Angelleen Peters-Lewis, B.S.N., M.S., Ph.D., executive director, Women's and Newborns' Nursing and Clinical Services, Mary Horrigan Connors Center for Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass.;
• Sandra Ryan, R.N., M.S.N., chief nurse practitioner officer, Take Care Health Systems, Health and Wellness Division, Walgreens, Conshohocken, Pa.;
• Robin Schaefer, B.S.N., M.S.N.A., director, Perioperative Services, Nursing Administration, CarolinaEast Health System, New Bern, N.C.;
• Andrea Schmid-Mazzoccoli, Ph.D., chief nurse executive and vice president, Center for Clinical Excellence, Bon Secours Health System, Marriottsville, Md.;
• Sharon Stanley, Ph.D., R.N., chief nurse, American Red Cross, Washington, D.C.;
• Colleen Swartz, D.N.P., M.S.N., R.N., M.B.A., chief nurse executive, University of Kentucky HealthCare, Lexington, Ky.; and
• Linda Yoder, B.S.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., M.S.S., Ph.D., associate professor and director, Nursing Administration Graduate Program, University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, Austin, Texas.