Adelphi Nurses Are a Point of Pride

In honor of National Nurses Week 2018, Adelphi University’s College of Nursing and Public Health held more than a week of events, running from May 1 to May 11, celebrating the contributions of our nursing students, faculty and alumni.

A highlight of the week was History Comes Alive, held on May 8. With World War II raging, Congress funded training for the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps through the Bolton Act. In February of 1943, Adelphi opened its doors to the 187 students who would be the first class of nurses to graduate from our institution.

Alumnae Claire Shulman ’46 and Ann Callahan-Dick ’47 were joined by former faculty member Eleanor Moffatt and fellow nurses Mary Dewar and Dorothy Lornegan to share their experiences with our current students. The panelists talked about why they decided to become nursing cadets, what life was like at Adelphi during the war, the differences between nursing in the past versus the present and what the future of nursing will look like. Shulman described how the critical skills she learned at Adelphi helped her in her professional life, including her 16 years as Queens borough president.

They also shared many personal stories about how becoming a nurse and attending Adelphi changed their lives and gave them ample opportunities for the future.

Other notable National Nurses Week events included Sim Wars, the first annual Senior Simulation Competition in our Clinical Education and Simulation Lab; relaxing with yoga and tai chi before finals; a lecture with one of the first international students from China; and more.

In addition to National Nurses Week, faculty, students and alumni of the College of Nursing and Public Health continue to gain recognition for their accomplishments.

In April, a poster presentation by Amanda Sukhai, M.P.H. ’18, “Increasing Breast Cancer Screening Rates Among Indo/Indo-Caribbean Women Through Health Education,” earned a Members Choice award and second place in the student competition at the New York State Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Conference.

Due to their specialty certification, involvement in professional organizations, research contributions to the health-related professions, and more, Interim Dean Elaine Smith ’78, M.S. ’88, Ed.D., Clinical Assistant Professor Mary Jarsdoerfer, Ph.D., and Assistant Professor and Department Chair Deborah Ambrosio-Mawhirter ’81, M.S. ’95, Ed.D., became fellows of the New York Academy of Medicine. Joining them as student members are Maria Jovie Pagsuguiron, Luxia Blackwood, Karen Catalano, Dionne DeFlorimonte ’18 and Erik Lyons ’19. As members, they’ll have opportunities to become more involved in issues relevant to the health of the public.

Congratulations to our faculty, students and alumni for their accomplishments.