FRONTIER NURSING UNIVERSITY | VOL. 94, NUMBER 3
| FA L L 2 0 1 9
QUARTERLY BULLETIN
Commencement Ceremony Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 1
Board of Directors Chair
Board Members
Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP, Tumbling Shoals, AR
Carlyle Carter, Evanston, IL
Vice Chair Michael T. Rust, Louisville, KY
Secretary Wallace Campbell, Ph.D., Berea, KY
Eunice (Kitty) Ernst, CNM, MPH, Perkiomenville, PA Nancy Hines, Shepherdsville, KY Jean Johnson, Ph.D., RN, FAAN
Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FAAN, FACNM President Joan Slager, CNM, DNP, FACNM Dean of Nursing
Cabin John, MD Phyllis Leppert, RN, CNM, MD, Ph.D., FACNM, Salt Lake City, UT Marcus Osborne, MBA, Bentonville, AR Kerri Schuiling, Ph.D., CNM, FAAN, FACNM, Marquette, MI Peter A. Schwartz, MD, Wyomissing, PA
Treasurer
Nancy Fugate Woods, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Seattle, WA
Emma Metcalf, RN, MSN, CPHQ, Louisville, KY
May Wykle, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FGSA, Cleveland, OH
Foundation Board Members Peter Coffin, Chair, Frontier Nursing Service, Inc Foundation Chestnut Hill, MA Derek Bonifer, Louisville, KY Peter Schwartz, MD, Wyomissing, PA
Erin Tenney, DNP, CNM, WHNP Interim Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Rachel Mack, Ph.D., DNP, APRN, C-FNP, CNE Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Tonya Nicholson, DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, FACNM Associate Dean of Midwifery and Women’s Health Lisa Chappell, Ph.D., FNP-BC Associate Dean of Family Nursing
Board Members Emeritus John Foley, Lexington, KY Marion McCartney, CNM, FACNM, Washington, DC Kenneth J. Tuggle, JD, Louisville, KY
Jess Calohan, DNP, PMHNP-BC Director, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Jane Houston, DNP, CNM DNP Director
Statement of Ownership Frontier Nursing Service Quarterly Bulletin, publication #835-740 is published four times per year. Mailing address: 132 FNS Drive, Wendover, Kentucky 41775. Contact person: Angela Bailey (859) 314-2174. The publisher, editor and managing editor of the Frontier Nursing Service Quarterly Bulletin is FNU, Inc., 132 FNS Drive, Wendover, Ky 41775. The owner is Frontier Nursing University, 132 FNS Drive, Wendover, Ky 41775. There are no other bondholders, mortgagees or other security holders. The tax status has not changed in the last 12 months.
Jacquelyne Brooks, DNP, MS ADN-MSN Bridge Director Average No. Copies Each Issue During Previous 12 Months
No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest To Filing Date
Outside county copies
10,000
11,375
In-county copies
100
125
Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes
0
0
Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail
0
0
Total Distribution
10,100
11,500
Copies Not Distributed
50
50
Total Sum
10,150
11,550
Percent paid
0
0
Paid Electronic Copies
0
0
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Michael Steinmetz, CPA, CMA, CSCA Executive Vice President for Finance and Facilities Shelley Aldridge, BA Chief Operations Officer Angela Bailey, MA Chief Advancement Officer
Contents From the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Commencement 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 FNU Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-6 Frontier Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8 Alumni Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11 Rooted in the Mountains, Reaching to the World . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Legacy Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-17 Courier Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 News and Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 In Memoriam/Tributes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
From the President Dear Friends, In November of 1939, the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery was established by Mary Breckinridge and admitted its first two students. This September we celebrated the graduation of 852 students at our commencement ceremony. This amazing growth has been a product of a purpose and vision that has guided our actions for the past 80 years. It has been a product of the hard work and commitment to service first exemplified by Mary Breckinridge herself and reflected in the faculty and staff in the years since. It is a product of talented and determined students who consistently perform ahead of the curve and become leaders in their communities. Our 80 years of growth and success have also been the product of the generous support of our donors. Within this issue of the Quarterly Bulletin, you will read inspiring stories from some of our scholarship recipients, who have paid forward the benefit of scholarship by providing vital healthcare to their communities. The impact of supporting these students is immeasurable. Numbers don’t tell the full story. The students and those they help do. I encourage you to read their stories and understand the value scholarships played in their journey. In this issue, you will also read some inspiring stories of the sacrifice, generosity, and dedication of some of our graduates. You will celebrate with our recent graduates and our annual award winners. We hope you will share in our pride as FNU has again earned the prestigious Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Two members of our Board of Directors recently received impressive awards for their amazing work and service to others. As you can see, our 80th anniversary has been a remarkable year. We are so proud of our growth and accomplishments in 2019, and even more excited to accept the challenges and embrace the opportunities 2020 will bring.
P.O. Box 528 • 195 School Street Hyden, KY 41749 FNU@frontier.edu • 606.672.2312
We thank you for your role in our success and for your continued support of FNU. May the next 80 years be just as successful! Sincerely,
Frontier.edu Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc, FAAN, FACNM Susan Stone, CNM, DNSc., FACNM, FAAN Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 1
Commencement 2019 Graduates Honored in 2019 Commencement Ceremony Frontier Nursing University graduates, family and friends gathered to celebrate commencement on Saturday, Sep. 28, 2019. A total of 852 graduates were honored in this year’s ceremony, and 265 attended the ceremony along with family, friends and over 200 FNU faculty, staff and board members. Degrees were conferred on graduates who completed the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Master of Science in Nursing degree, or Post-Graduate Certificate. To accommodate the nearly 2,000 attendees, this year’s ceremony was moved from its traditional location in Hyden, Ky. to the Lexington Center’s Bluegrass Ballroom in Lexington, Ky. The move coincides with the ongoing construction of FNU’s new campus in Versailles, Ky., scheduled to open in 2020. The Versailles campus will allow FNU to better serve its growing student population. An annual highlight of the commencement ceremony is the awards presented to faculty and students who showed exceptional performance. Please join us in congratulating the 2019 commencement award recipients: Doctor of Nursing Practice Leadership Award: Heather Haslun, DNP
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Nurse Practitioner Leadership Award: Kristin DeArruda Wharton, MSN, FNP Kitty Ernst Leadership Award: Heidi Phillips, MSN, CNM DNP Exemplary Project Award: Carla Bray, DNP Student Choice Academic Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching: Janet Engstrom, PhD, APRN, CNM, WHNPBC, CNE Student Choice Regional Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching: Nancy Pesta Walsh, DNP, FNP
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders Addresses Graduates FNU was honored to welcome Dr. Joycelyn Elders, M.D. as the keynote speaker at the 2019 commencement ceremony. In 1993, Dr. Elders was appointed as the 15th Surgeon General of the United States, becoming the second woman and the first African American to serve in the role. Dr. Elders shared her inspiring journey of rising from her upbringing in rural Arkansas through the medical and governmental ranks. Throughout her career, she achieved ground-breaking success in her office practice, medical research, and education leadership. Now retired, she still plays an active role in public health education in her Arkansas community. “It was a tremendous honor to have Dr. Elders join us as the keynote speaker for our 2019 commencement ceremony,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone, who joined FNU Board of Director chair Dr. Michael Carter in awarding Dr. Elders and
Following are excerpts from Dr. Elders’ commencement address, the entirety of which can be found on our Youtube Channel under the video: “2019 Frontier Nursing University Commencement”. “Today marks your successful completion of some arduous work that will serve you well as you begin your professional career in the healing arts. No matter what field you have chosen to go into, you now have a new identity as a health care professional. People’s health and lives will be in your hands. You have chosen a field unlike any other.” “Your patients will need to be able to place their trust in you, for their lives and health may depend upon it. What kind of person is needed to deserve all that trust? It is a person of integrity. You must be an honest person with honor, who speaks the truth, and is reliable. If you are all of this, your patients will know it. And if you are not, your patients will also know it.” “We have pinned our hopes for the future on you. Just as children carry the DNA of their parents, you carry our hopes and dreams for the future of the world.”
FNU honorary doctorate. “We are so thankful and proud that she shared her story with our graduates and their families.” In her commencement address, Dr. Elders spoke about the important role the graduates will play in the health care of the country.
2019 Commencement Speaker Dr. Joycelyn Elders (center) with FNU President Dr. Susan Stone (left) and FNU Board Chair Dr. Michael Carter (right).
“This school wants you to leave here with 4 things: 1. A voice in your ear that you can hear long after you are gone. 2. A vision in your eye, which extends farther than you can see. 3. A scroll in your hand that is good education 4. And a song in your hearts to carry you when things get tough.” “If we want to promote the qualities of equality, we must remember each day why we are working so hard. We work not only for ourselves, but we work for those we can help. Each day. Every day. You will have opportunities soon to help those in your care.” “We need you to develop a healthcare system rather than a sick-care system with universal health care for every person. We need you to create a justice in our country that has never before been achieved. One in which every child is loved and wanted, has food, shelter and all the education he or she wants.” “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence...I encourage you to take this time of change to use your influence to move our world into a more positive position for all!”
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FNU Presents Annual Alumni Awards The Distinguished Service to Alma Mater Award honors an alumnus who has continued to provide support to Frontier through volunteer efforts and/or donor support.
Stephanie Vanderhorst: Distinguished Service to Alma Mater - Nurse-Midwife Stephanie Vanderhorst, CNM, MSN, is used to being first. A year after graduating from FNU in 2002, she became the first certified nursemidwife credentialed at DeKalb (Indiana) Memorial Hospital and Auburn OB/GYN. Currently, she is the midwifery director of Auburn Birthing Center, LLC, which is DeKalb County’s first fully accredited free-standing birth center. Stephanie, who welcomed her 1,700th birth in the summer of 2017, has made a significant impact on women and families in her community. Knitting in hand, Stephanie has tirelessly attended many all night labors and consistently demonstrates her dedication to the women in her care. She says her goal is for every woman who wants a midwife to have a midwife by her side. “Stephanie precepts an endless stream of student CNMs and has even opened her home to students,” said Shannon Markle, MSN, referring to the 13 students that Stephanie has precepted. “She is a fantastic mentor and truly has a servant’s heart. I’ve never met someone so deserving of recognition.” In addition to her practice, Stephanie is a leader and advocate for her profession. She has served as the president of the Indiana American College of Nurse-Midwives Affiliate and has worked with the Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Indiana to help bring full practice autonomy to Indiana APRNs. Stephanie and her husband Dean married in 1992. They have four children -- Justin, Jacob, Josiah, and Jozelynn -- and they enjoy spending time together, particularly with outdoor activities such as camping and hiking.
Danny Shane Webb: Distinguished Service to Alma Mater - Nurse Practitioner When nominating Danny Shane Webb, MSN, FNP, for this award, Jennifer Brown, MSN, CNM, summed him up this way, “[He is] an ever-present, enthusiastic, but level-headed voice for alumni, current students, and healthcare.” Since 2015, Danny has been a nurse practitioner at Longstreet Clinic in Gainesville, Georgia. He specializes in internal medicine and has hospital privileges at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Danny graduated from the University of North Georgia with his BSN. He earned his MSN from FNU in 2013 and is currently working on his DNP at FNU. As the current president of the Frontier Nursing University Alumni Association, he is an active, vocal, and supportive leader for the entire FNU community. He frequently communicates via the alumni Facebook page and stays connected to his fellow FNU alumni. Danny also gives back to FNU as a preceptor. Since 2017, he has already precepted six FNU students. The Distinguished Service to Society Award recognizes an alumnus who goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service in their communities.
Mary Kay Miller: Distinguished Service to Society - Nurse-Midwife Mary Kay Miller, CNM, MSN, DNP, who graduated from FNU in 2000, joined the FNU faculty in 2017. Mary Kay is Florida Regional Clinical Faculty for the CNEP and WHNP program tracks. She has also served as a preceptor for FNU students. Mary Kay earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Hartwick College and her nursing degree at St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in New York. She completed a Master of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in 2000. She practiced midwifery in Fort Myers, Florida, for seven years primarily in low resource settings with under-served populations. She
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FNU Presents Annual
Service Awards has led the building and opening of a free-standing birth center. In her practice, she provided homebirth, birth center or hospital options for women. She went on to work in Orlando for five years. “My primary areas of clinical and academic interests are providing options to all women and supporting students,” said Mary Kay, who currently resides in Madeira Beach, Florida. She has privileges at The Birth Center of St Pete. Mary Kay has been a strong advocate and leader in the profession. Since 2009, she has served as the Florida Affiliate President for ACNM and on the board of Florida Council of Nurse-Midwifery for the eight chapters. She also served as the liaison for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District XII and remains active in supporting collegial relationships at the local level.
Jessica Lynn Smith: Distinguished Service to Society - Nurse Practitioner Jessica Lynn Smith, MSN, FNP, has served as a nurse practitioner at the Vidalia Children’s Center in Vidalia, Ga., since 2013. But that barely scratches the surface of what this wife and mother of three has done and continues to do in her community. Jessica received her Bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern in 2006, studying registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research, and clinical nursing. A 2011 FNU graduate, she practiced at East Georgia Women’s Center in Statesboro, Ga., from 2012-13. She rejoined the practice in 2018 and continues to work there today. A two-time cancer survivor, Jessica is heavily involved in community organizations, including serving as the vice president of Toombs-Montgomery C.A.R.E.S, a non-profit organization for cancer patients. She also has organized Relay for Life teams, cancer survivor dinners, pediatric cancer fundraisers, and volunteered at a free women’s health clinic. She frequently precepts students, often working with two at a time.
Carlyle Carter: Courier Program Unbridled Spirit Award The Courier Program Unbridled Spirit Award is given annually to a former Courier who has carried the torch of Mary Breckinridge beyond the mountains, perpetuating the mission and spirit of Frontier in their own lives. The criteria for this award includes a dedication to serving others; ongoing, longstanding stewardship of Frontier; and demonstration of personal conviction, courage and a zest for adventure. We are honored to present this year’s award to former courier, current Frontier Nursing University trustee and current Courier Advisory Council member Carlyle Carter. Carlyle, who joined the Frontier Nursing University Board of Directors in July 2018, has an affiliation with FNU that dates back to 1954 when she was 11 years old. “Mary Breckinridge, my grandmother’s first cousin, invited me to visit her in Wendover,” Carlyle said. “It was a life-changing experience. I had heard stories about the Frontier Nursing Service from my father, Joe Carter, who had been one of the first, and more rambunctious, couriers. I was excited to get to know Mary Breckinridge, the nurses, the staff, the couriers, the mountain people, and the horses. In those days, nurses were still doing home visits on horseback.” Carlyle served as a courier in 1962 and 1965. In the 1980s and 1990s, she was an active member of the Boston Committee and became a trustee. “When Mary Breckinridge founded the FNS, she had a vision that her work would be replicated throughout the country and the world,” Carlyle said. “She would be proud, and perhaps amazed to see how far FNU has continued her far-thinking vision, expanding it to meet the needs of the changing world. Offering distance education to nurses and nurse practitioners in nurse-midwifery, family health, and women’s health has expanded her dream.”
“Although she has battled cancer twice and has been hospitalized many times her service has never stalled,” her husband Brandon said. “She is giving back to the community but also to the profession as a dedicated preceptor. All this and more in eight years of practice while raising three kids and battling cancer.”
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 5
FNU Presents Annual
Service Awards Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award: Margaret Voorhies Haggin Trust The Mary Breckinridge Lifetime Service Award recognizes an individual or organization providing longstanding support and commitment to the mission and work of Frontier Nursing Service and Frontier Nursing University. We are extremely proud to present this year’s award to the Margaret Voorhies Haggin Trust. The Margaret Voorhies Haggin Trust was created in 1938 by Margaret Voorhies Haggin in memory of her late husband, James Ben Ali Haggin. Margaret Pearl Voorhies Haggin was born in 1869 in Woodford County, Kentucky, and passed in 1965. She is buried in Versailles, Kentucky. James Haggin was born around 1827 in Frankfort, Ky. His father was a native Kentuckian and his mother was Turkish. He followed the gold rush to California and owned numerous mines. Haggin sold his share of mines to purchase land in California, a single tract measuring 400,000 acres. Haggin went from landowner to stock raiser, turfman, and raiser of thoroughbreds. He bought 5,000 acres of additional land in the heart of the Bluegrass and named it Elmendorf Farm. After the death of his son, Haggin turned his attention to raising thoroughbred stock and horses at Elmendorf. Haggin was a successful man who left a long-lasting legacy. He passed away in 1914 at the age of 87. The purpose of the Trust is to support health and higher education. Over the years, the Trust has provided significant support to Frontier Nursing University. The Margaret Voorhies Haggin Trust gave their first gift to Frontier Nursing University in 1989 and has since then given over half a million dollars to support FNU. The contributions from the Trust have supported a variety of needs in the past three decades, including scholarships, renovations, and a $60,000 donation to the Versailles Capital Campaign. The Trust has provided FNU with essential and steadfast support to maintain and improve our facilities in eastern Kentucky, pursue a critical overhaul of our website, fund electrical upgrades in the Haggin Dormitory and replacement of the windows in the Wendover Garden House.
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The Frontier Report Frontier Nursing University Receives INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for Second Consecutive Year Frontier Nursing University received the 2019 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This is the second consecutive year that FNU has received this prestigious award. The Health Professions HEED Award is the only national honor recognizing U.S. medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, veterinary, allied health, and other health schools and centers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion across their campuses. “The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees and best practices for both; continued leadership support for diversity; and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “As we continue to see a record number of Health Professions HEED Award applicants each year, nearly every school tells us they use the application itself as a tool to create new programs and to benchmark their accomplishments across campus. The process allows them to reflect on their successes and also determine where more work needs to be done. We also continue to raise the standards in selecting Health Professions HEED institutions.” FNU’s commitment to emphasizing and valuing diversity and inclusion was formally instituted with the creation of the Diversity Impact Program in 2010. The following year, FNU held its first annual Diversity Impact Conference. In 2017, FNU established the position of Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO), which sits on the President’s Cabinet. Today, the Diversity and Inclusion Office has grown to include Interim CDIO Dr. Erin Tenney, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Chris Turley, and Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion Devon Peterika.
FNU’s diversity initiatives span all facets of the university, but one of the most telling and important data points is the percentage of students of color enrolled at FNU. In 2009, that number was 9 percent. In 2019, it has grown to 23 percent. “We are incredibly proud to receive the prestigious HEED Award again this year,” said FNU President Dr. Susan Stone. “To receive this award two years in a row is a wonderful honor. Our graduates serve people of all races and cultures and are increasingly coming from diverse backgrounds. Research has shown us that race concordant care results in better outcomes. It only makes sense that it is more effective to receive care from someone who understands your culture. The HEED Award confirms the value of our efforts and validates our continued emphasis on diversity and inclusion within the culture of FNU.”
Frontier Nursing University President Dr. Susan Stone Inducted to National Academy of Medicine FNU president, Dr. Susan Stone, DNSc, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Class of 2018 at the organization’s annual meeting on October 19, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Dr. Stone has served as President of Frontier Nursing University since 2001. NAM states the election recognizes Dr. Stone’s achievements that have opened the door to more than 6,000 nurses to achieve graduate education and positively impact the accessibility of quality health care for rural families across the United States. Of the 85 new inductees, Dr. Stone is one of only two nurses in the NAM Class of 2018 and is the only inductee from Kentucky in the class. Dr. Stone is a leader in the development of strategies to increase the quality and capacity of the midwifery and the advanced practice nursing workforce with the specific goal of improving health care for families. Her primary position for the last two decades is as the leader of Frontier Nursing University where she led the transition from a community-based school of
nurse-midwifery offering a basic certificate program with 200 students enrolled to an accredited university offering masters and doctoral degrees to nurses seeking graduate degrees. Today the University has more than 2,300 graduate nursing students enrolled from every state in the United States. Dr. Stone, who earned a Post-Master’s Certificate in NurseMidwifery from FNU, currently also serves as the President of the American College of Nurse-Midwives where her agenda includes increasing the midwifery workforce through educational quality and capacity strategies, advocacy, especially related to the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis, and increasing the diversity of the healthcare workforce. She believes working with other health care professionals is essential to achieve the goal of improving the health of women and families. “The National Academy of Medicine offers an incredible opportunity to work collaboratively with leaders from a wide range of medical professions and disciplines,” Dr. Stone said. “It is a tremendous honor to join this organization which is so deeply committed to improving health care.” Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. Members are elected by current members through a process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care, and public health. A diversity of talent among NAM’s membership is assured by its Articles of Organization, which stipulates that at least one-quarter of the membership is selected from fields outside the health professions — for example, from such fields as law, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities. NAM’s total membership is more than 2,200, with only three members being from Kentucky, including Dr. Stone. The election of Dr. Stone into the NAM membership was based on facts that she has reached distinguished professional achievement in the field of medicine and health, has demonstrated and continues her involvement with issues in healthcare, disease prevention, education and research, along with showcasing skills and resources likely to contribute to the Academy’s mission and finally, has proven a willingness to actively participate in the work of the Academy. Established originally as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of
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The Frontier Report Medicine addresses critical issues in health, science, medicine, and related policy and inspires positive actions across sectors. NAM works alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering to provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation and conducts other activities to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine together encourage education and research, recognize outstanding contributions to knowledge, and increase public understanding.
Dr. Michael Carter Presented Dean’s Distinguished Alumnus Award The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock held a 50th reunion for the classes of 1969. FNU Board Chair Michael Carter, DNSc, DNP was presented with the high honor of Dean’s Distinguished Alumnus by Dean Patty Cowan of the College of Nursing. Dean Cowan presented him with a bowl made by the glass artist James Hays. Dean Cowan said that the wavy pattern of the bowl represented the waves that Michael had made in the practice of nursing both nationally and internationally. Among Dr. Carter’s many impactful accomplishments, in 2013 he was invited by the Western Australia Department of Health and Curtin University in Perth, Australia as a Visiting Professorial Fellow to help create nurse practitioner practices in primary health care for the state. The Australian Commonwealth Department of Health asked him to assist developing new regulations based on an article he published concerning changes needed to promote nurse practitioner practice in the country to help address the shortage of general practitioner doctors. In 2018, he returned to Australia and began working with a group of very isolated nurse practitioners in a sparsely populated part of the country to evaluate their practice. In addition to his work with FNU, Dr. Carter is currently appointed a Distinguished Professor and Dean Emeritus at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and is an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Geriatric Medicine of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
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Dr. Kerri Schuiling Selected as a Crain’s Notable Women in Education Leadership Honoree FNU alumna and Board of Directors member Dr. Kerri Schuiling, WHNP, CNM, Class 01, was recognized as a Crain’s Notable Women in Education Leadership 2019 honoree in September. Published by Crain’s Detroit Business, the Crain’s Notable Women Series honors women leaders in various occupations in Michigan. Dr. Schuling is one of 35 women who were featured in the 2019 Notable Women in Education Leadership report. The honorees were selected by a team of Crain’s Detroit Business editors based on their career accomplishments, a track record of success in the field, contributions to their community and mentorship of others. Dr. Schuiling is the provost and vice president for academic affairs at Northern Michigan University (NMU). Dr. Schuiling holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree from Wayne State University and a baccalaureate degree from NMU. She is certified as both a women’s health nurse practitioner and nurse-midwife. Dr. Schuiling is the co-editor of the International Journal of Childbirth, the official journal of the International Confederation of Midwives, and has published more than 42 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. Her book Women’s Gynecologic Health has received two books of the year awards.
Alumni Notes Alumni Spotlight: Leslie McCormack Leslie McCormack, CNM, Class 70, is passionate about serving vulnerable populations—and teaching her students to do the same. An Arkansas native, Leslie knew she wanted to serve the vulnerable and saw the many opportunities nurse-midwifery offers. Originally, she intended to travel overseas and perform mission work. The opportunity FNU’s program provides to work full-time while completing her coursework were big factors in her decision to attend FNU. Above all, she loved Frontier’s mission. “It really aligned with my vision of working with vulnerable populations,” she said. After obtaining her nurse-midwifery degree from FNU, Leslie worked at a birthing center. As her own family grew, she transitioned from a clinical position to an adjunct teaching position while her husband was finishing up medical school in Fayetteville. After he graduated and was placed in Little Rock, she applied to teach at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and has been teaching undergraduate classes for four years. She is also an academic coach. Teaching has given Leslie a unique opportunity to impact students to improve healthcare systems. Her background in nurse-midwifery allows hers to bring her students a different perspective. “I really get to empower my students and introduce them to vulnerable populations, especially here in the state of Arkansas where the population is largely rural,” she said.
Leslie’s current home, Little Rock, has a high population of homeless people due to its central location in a predominantly rural state. Knowing this, aid organizations focus on Little Rock to provide assistance and resources for the homeless. Leslie and her UAMS team partnered with Campus Community Church (CCC) to provide the homeless in their community a meal and a movie every Wednesday night. The Wednesday night service led to the creation of a clinic of sorts. UA’s College of Medicine and College of Nursing see homeless patients in an informal, less intimidating setting and provide preventative care. The program is led by students; upperclassmen serve leadership roles and mentor their underclassmen classmates. “It’s really cool to see the two colleges working together and to see students in leadership roles, washing the feet of the homeless,” said Leslie. UAMS and CCC implemented a mental health night once a month. They also started a ladies’ night which has turned into a reproductive health night, one for men and one for women each semester. Recently, Leslie has devoted a lot of time to resource development in the area of homeless prenatal care. “We know that we send a lot of babies home from the NICU to a homeless or housing insecure environment,” she said. Leslie and her team received a grant to create a curriculum from the March of Dimes Becoming a Mom program, specifically tailored for the homeless population. “I’m finally getting back to my roots in nurse-midwifery, and it’s been a lot of fun,” she said.
Lisa Spillman Joins New Baptist Health Medical Group Pediatrics Lisa Spillman, FNP, Class 134, is part of the newly formed Baptist Health Medical Group Pediatrics in Paducah, Ky. The new practice was created when Spillman’s previous place of practice Pediatric Group of Paducah joined forces with Baptist Health Medical Group to help provide high-quality care for newborns and up. The practice includes three physicians and two nurse practitioners.
Mayo Clinic Health System Welcomes Jill Tormoen Jill Tormoen, MSN, CNM, Class 160, recently joined the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Mayo Health Clinic System in Eau Claire, Wis.
Deanna Hart Adds to Women’s Excellence Deanna Hart, MSN, CNM, Class 158, has joined Women’s Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Detroit, Mich. Deanna, who worked at Women’s Excellence during her clinical rotation, assists patients with mental healthcare during pregnancy, labor and delivery, breastfeeding education, and postpartum care.
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Alumni Notes Heather Haddock and Amanda Watson Join Nanticoke Women’s Health
Heather Haddock
Talhia Juarez Aguilar Joins Goshen Physicians Talhia Juarez Aguilar, MSN, FNP, DNP, Class 36, recently joined Goshen Physicians Family Medicine & Urgent Care in Goshen, Ind., where she treats patients of all ages.
Amanda Watson
Heather Haddock, MSN, CNM, Class 152, and Amanda Watson, MSN, CNM, Class 154, have joined Nanticoke Women’s Health in Seaford, Del.
Mercy Health Welcomes Monica Inglish Monica Inglish, MSN, CNM, DNP, Class 30, recently joined the provider staff of Mercy Health - Paducah Obstetrics and Gynecology in Paducah, Ky., as a nurse-midwife.
Alicia Fields Receives Endocrine Specialty Certificate Alicia Fields, DNP, Class 26, recently became the first nurse practitioner in the state of Indiana to receive the Specialty Certificate in Endocrinology from Duke University. The endocrinology specialty offers nurse practitioners the opportunity to have advanced training in the care of individuals with diabetes and other endocrine conditions. Fields works as an FNP at Daviess Community Hospital in Washington, Ind.
Joan Moon Receives University of Wyoming Distinguished Alumna Award Joan Moon, CNM, Class 19, received the 2019 Distinguished Alumna for the University of Wyoming’s Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing. Moon graduated from Wyoming in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and then earned a Master of Science in parent-child nursing in 1987, both from UW. She continued in her graduate nursing accomplishments, practicing as a clinical nurse specialist, certified nursemidwife and university faculty member.
director of the Tiffin Mercy Hospital Prenatal Clinic, after which she practiced as a certified nurse-midwife. She currently holds a faculty position at Walden University in Minneapolis. Moon has been an entrepreneur and innovator in women’s health with the development of an educational module, “A Woman’s World: Discovering the Dynamic Menstrual Cycle,” which is used by faculty throughout the country and Australia. “Although I never set out to be a nurse, when I discovered this career, I truly found a passion in caring for women,” Moon said. “In following that passion, my professional life unfolded with the guidance of mentors, the support of peers and leaders, and the love of family and friends. I truly have been blessed.”
Rachel Prusak Serves as Keynote Speaker at Nurses for Sexual & Reproductive Health Event
Moon graduated from FNU in 1999 and, in 2003, became certified in medical and health education at the Medical College of Ohio. In 2007, she earned an Ed.D. in leadership and policy studies at Bowling Green State University.
Oregon State Representative and FNU graduate Rachel Prusak, MSN, FNP, DNP, Class 28, served as the keynote speaker at the 7th annual Nurses for Sexual & Reproductive Health in September. The event, entitled “Nurses Rising: Advocating for Sexual and Reproductive Health”, was held in Atlanta.
Moon has held a variety of positions in her nursing career, including serving as an obstetrical staff nurse, childbirth educator and lactation consultant at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie. Relocating to Ohio, she worked in the Mercy Health System as a clinical nurse specialist, director of education and
Rep. Prusak received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University in Boston where she was born and raised. She is an active member of her union, Oregon Nurses Association, and is a family nurse practitioner who currently works serving homebound elderly patients. Prior to this, she was
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an ambassador for the National Health Service Corps where she was dedicated to serving families in rural areas of the country with limited access to care. Rep. Prusak is a pro-choice champion and has spent years working at Planned Parenthood where she provided fullspectrum reproductive health services. She ran for office because she believes nurses belong at the table where decisions are being made that impact patients and communities.
Kendra Faucett Earns DNP from Yale School of Nursing Kendra Faucett, CNEP Class 72, earned her DNP from the Yale School of Nursing last May. She is pictured with her advisor, Holly Powell Kennedy, who earned her certificate of midwifery from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing and received Frontier Nursing University’s alumni award for Distinguished Service to Society in 2012. Faucett’s capstone project was titled “Accuracy in reporting of Kentucky’s Certified Nurse-Midwives as birth attendant in birth registration data.” Faucett, who serves as course faculty in midwifery and women’s health at FNU, finished her MSN at Frontier Nursing University in 2012 and worked as a full-scope practice CNM at Frankfort Regional Medical Center in Frankfort, Ky. While working towards her DNP, Kendra worked at KYOne OBGYN Associates seeing antepartum and postpartum patients in the office and inpatient setting.
FNU Alumna Donates Uterus and Recipient Successfully Gives Birth Elaine Candeloro, DNP, CNM, APRN, Class 178, is a nursemidwife at Inanna Birth and Women’s Care in Denton, Texas. It’s fair to say that she already does more than her share to care for women and families in her community. However, Elaine, a mother of seven, felt compelled to do even more. Inspired by an article about a successful uterine transplant that allowed the recipient to birth a child, Elaine sought information about becoming a donor herself. After considerable testing, Elaine matched with a recipient who was born without a uterus due to a rare condition called Mayer-RokitanskyKüster-Hauser (MRKH).
didn’t know. “My recipient and I had never met before,” Elaine said. “I didn’t even know her name, but I thought about her constantly. I was relieved to find out that her body did not reject the organ and was in awe when I learned that she had her first menstrual cycle.” Exactly one year after the surgery, Elaine received a letter from the recipient telling her that she was 30 weeks pregnant. “I cried tears of joy,” Elaine recalled. “My recipient had dozens of people from my circle hoping and praying for a successful transplant and delivery. This experience has been the closest I have ever felt to the spirit of midwifery. I am amazed at the bravery of the recipient, who took a leap of faith, knowing that the surgery may not be successful. I’m forever grateful to the transplant team who are creating families, fulfilling dreams, and changing lives.” The recipient’s baby was born on June 21, 2019, with both mother and baby in good health.
The surgery took place in May 2018 and Elaine’s uterus was given to a woman she
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Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 11
Rooted in the Mountains, Reaching to th Alumna Emily Grieve, CNM, Class 124 recently traveled to Tanzania in Africa on a midwifery placement. Her story illustrates the vast differences in care between two cultures and the universal sameness of the miracle of birth. Traveling abroad to experience midwifery in another country had always been a dream of mine. But it wasn’t until I went to Tanzania that I knew it was possible to fall more deeply in love with this career. Living in the city of Dar es Salaam and my time in a Tanzanian labor ward were two of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. We arrived at the airport and a member of the Work the World team (the organization that planned my placement) met us and took us to our accommodation to get us settled in. Meeting our housemates from around the world was incredible too. It was fascinating to learn how other midwives, nurses, and medical students practice in other countries. The next morning, we had an orientation that covered everything we needed to know to get by for the duration of our stay. We learned how to use the public transportation system (or call an Uber) to get to our placement hospital each day. We visited the hospital itself and met the staff, then took a tour of Dar es Salaam.
My Placement My two colleagues and I were placed at a regional hospital for our two-week stay. As soon as we stepped into the labor and delivery department, we realized that it wasn’t anything like equivalent departments you’d see in North America. Not only did it vastly differ in appearance, but in supply availability, staff to patient ratios, and accommodation made for women seeking care. There were no fully stocked private rooms that were freshly cleaned. Instead, there was one large room divided by curtains that offered minimal privacy. The curtains separated the beds which lined each side of the room. There was space in the middle of the room to walk through. Some beds were in slightly better condition than others. And women only had what they brought with them—linen, medication, gauze, syringes, umbilical clamps, a razor blade, food, and water. If they didn’t bring these things with them, they were very unlikely to have them provided. Yes, supplies were short (or totally absent). But the resourcefulness that local staff used was astounding. The labor ward turned over at lightning speed and was almost always full. As soon as a woman gave birth, her placenta was delivered, lacerations were repaired with whatever supplies were on hand. She would then get up, get changed into her kanga, and leave the ward to make room for the next laboring woman. That description may seem stark, but there was a lot of positivity here. The physicians who did the ward rounds, the nurses and midwives looking after the unit, and the students all had the best intentions for each woman who was there. They welcomed us visitors, and as each day passed, we were able to talk more, gain their trust, and then care for women side by side. We all learned from each other. We often heard, “Would you do this in America?” or “How do you take care of x, y, or z?” And when we’d answer, we’d describe how to do a procedure or maneuver using what was available to them. In the next breath, they’d give us insight into the reasons behind the care they provided and how they felt it helped women. We assisted in catching twins; aided stoic women birth their stillborn children; observed infants being resuscitated; assisted with breech babies; managed eclamptic seizures; and supported countless women with normal, physiologic labors and births.
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to the World My advice to you is this: if you’ve considered traveling to Tanzania, do it. Experience all you can, learn all you can, soak up the culture, and get to know some of the most endearing people you will ever meet. I could not have had a better experience.
I enjoyed explaining to local students how we carry out procedures in America. In return, they taught me Swahili. I was delighted to see them each day. And although the days were long, emotional, and sometimes tiring, they were also immeasurably rewarding. It’s funny, but one difference between our cultures that struck me most was the pace of our lives and reactions to specific situations. In America, we react fast, show up at specified times, and just get things done. In Tanzania, things were different— whether at the hospital or anywhere else. When talking about plans, one man said, “Are we talking American time or Tanzanian time?”.
Tanzania is a beautiful, lively country, and I am so thankful its people shared it with me so openly. The women of Dar es Salaam are strong and inspiring, and I was honored and humbled to have had the pleasure of spending time with them, caring for them, and learning from them. When people ask if I liked Tanzania, I tell them I’d move there tomorrow if I could. This entire experience helped me find a piece of myself that I didn’t know was missing. Dar es Salaam will always hold a special place in my heart, and I long for the day I am able to return.
One of my favorite days at the hospital is one I still think about often. It was an oddly slow day at the hospital, and a young woman came in laboring with her first child. Her broken English danced circles around my Swahili, but despite the language barrier, we managed to communicate with each other all day long. I was happy to be able to give the labor support that she otherwise wouldn’t have had, and I didn’t leave her bedside. Her labor started as many do, and as the hours passed, she grew tired. Self-doubt about her strength and her ability to birth her baby crept in. She was in pain and she was scared. She knew it was getting late and said, “Don’t leave me, nimechoka (I’m tired).” I squeezed her hand and looked her in the eyes. I didn’t need to say anything—she knew I was staying. Time passed, and she summoned the courage she needed to give birth to a beautiful baby boy, whom we named together at her request. She was able to engage in immediate skin to skin contact with him and breastfed within 20 minutes of his debut. There we were—two women coming together from completely different backgrounds, getting through the exhaustion of labor. Even when words couldn’t relay what we really wanted to say to one another, we spoke and responded to each other through the entire process. Labor and birth have a language all their own.
“There we were—two women coming together from completely different backgrounds, getting through the exhaustion of labor. Even when words couldn’t relay what we really wanted to say to one another, we spoke and responded to each other through the entire process. Labor and birth have a language all their own.” -Alumna Emily Grieve, CNM, Class 124
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Legacy Giving FNU nurse-midwives and nurse practitioners are increasingly helping to address the healthcare gaps present in communities across the country, particularly within rural, diverse, and underserved populations. Further, our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree program, which launched in 2017, is preparing our students to help address our nation’s shortage of mental healthcare providers. However, there is still much work to be done and we need your help.
“There has never been anything for which I have had more respect than the money given by charitable people. I know from experience that what you give, you go without.” – Mary Breckinridge 14 Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin
Though FNU has one of the most competitive tuitions in the nation for graduate nursing, most of our students still graduate with debt and many struggle to support families when they reduce their working hours to complete their clinical education. By making a legacy gift, you can make a huge impact on these students, their lives and the health of their communities. All gifts to FNU are utilized to benefit our students and to keep tuition affordable. In the following pages is information on various ways of making a legacy gift to Frontier Nursing University. If you are interested in learning more about the impact of legacy giving or how to make a gift please contact our development office at: development@frontier.edu 859 - 251- 4573
Planned Giving A planned gift provides the ability to make a more substantial gift than may be possible through a single donation. A planned gift can maximize your giving potential and can even ensure future financial security for you or a loved one. For instance: • Did you know that a charitable remainder trust can provide an annual or quarterly income to you or a family member throughout your lifetime, with the remaining balance being transferred to FNU? • Did you know you can name FNU as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy? • Could your home benefit your favorite charity? Yes, and with a retained life estate, you can give away your house, keep the keys, and get a current tax deduction.
THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF PLANNED GIFTS THAT INDIVIDUALS OF ANY INCOME LEVEL CAN UTILIZE TO MAKE AN IMPACT.
OUTRIGHT GIFTS Bequests: Property, Stocks, or Funds given through a will
Stocks: Stocks, bonds, or any other securities can be transferred to FNU as a gift at any time, or as a part of your estate through a bequest
Life Insurance: You can assign FNU as the beneficiary of a portion or all of a life insurance policy
Retirement Plans: Owners of individual retirement accounts who are at least age 70 1/2 can contribute some or all of their IRAs to charity. Additionally, remaining balances of retirement accounts can be given to FNU through a bequest.
Cash Gifts: You can give to FNU online with a credit card, or by mail using cash, check, or credit card
GIFTS THAT PROVIDE INCOME Charitable Gift Annuity: Involves a contract between a donor and a charity, whereby the donor transfers cash or property to the charity in exchange for a partial tax deduction and a lifetime stream of annual income from the charity
Charitable Remainder Trusts: These gift instruments allow you and/or your loved ones to benefit from monies placed in the trust during your/their lifetime. Upon the death of the named beneficiary, the remaining balance in the trust is transferred to FNU.
Perpetual Income Trusts: These gift instruments allow the income from monies you place in trust to benefit FNU in perpetuity. The principal of your gift remains intact for the life of the trust, and the income it generates is transferred periodically to FNU.
GIFTS THAT PROTECT ASSETS Lead Trust: An irrevocable trust designed to provide financial support to one or more charities for a period of time, with the remaining assets eventually going to family members or other beneficiaries.
Retained Life Estate: The donor irrevocably deeds a personal residence or farm to charity, but retains the right to live in it for the rest of his/her life, a term of years, or a combination of the two.
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 15
Legacy Giving Giving through Retirement Assets For many people, a retirement account like an IRA or 401(k) may be the most significant source of assets accumulated in their lifetime. Others may find that, due to their other resources and investments, they are not in need of all the funds accumulated in their retirement accounts. For those who wish to give to charity, a natural question is whether they can donate retirement assets—and if there are any tax advantages for doing so. A gift from an IRA can provide potential benefits for donors who: • are required to take a minimum distribution from an IRA, but don’t need the funds and would face increased tax liabilities if they took the distribution as income. • would like to reduce the balance in an IRA to lower future required minimum distributions. • would like to make a larger charitable gift than they could if they simply donated cash or other assets. The value of charitable gifts that can be deducted from a tax return usually ranges from 20 to 60 percent of the donor’s adjusted gross income. This AGI-based limit does not apply to gifts that come from IRAs, allowing donors to make larger gifts. When you name a charity as a beneficiary to receive your IRA or other retirement assets upon your death, rather than donating retirement assets during your lifetime, the benefits multiply: • Neither you and your heirs nor your estate will pay income taxes on the distribution of the assets.
• Because charities do not pay income tax, the full amount of your retirement account will directly benefit the charity of your choice. • It’s possible to divide your retirement assets between charities and heirs according to any percentage you choose.
How do you give from Retirement Assets? Donating during your lifetime: In order to donate retirement plan assets during your lifetime, you would need to take a distribution from the retirement account, include the distribution in your income for that year, account for any taxes associated with the distribution, and then contribute cash to the charity—with one exception. People who are age 70 ½ or older can contribute up to $100,000 from their IRA directly to a charity and avoid paying income taxes on the distribution. This is known as a qualified charitable distribution. It is limited to IRAs, and there are other exclusions and considerations as well. As part of an estate plan: By contrast, there can be significant tax advantages to donating retirement assets to charity as part of an estate plan. When done properly, charitable donations of retirement
assets can minimize the amount of income taxes imposed on both your individual heirs and your estate.
How to designate a charity as the beneficiary of an IRA or 401(k) When you’re ready, making a charity the beneficiary of your IRA or other retirement assets is typically straightforward: Fill out a designated beneficiary form through your employer or your plan administrator. Most banks and financial services firms also have beneficiary forms, or they can provide you with suggested language for naming beneficiaries to these accounts. Once the designated beneficiary forms are in place, the retirement assets will generally pass directly to your beneficiaries (including charities) without going through probate. If you are married, ask the plan administrator whether your spouse is required to consent. If required but not done, this could result in a disqualification of the charity as your beneficiary. Be clear about your wishes with your spouse, lawyer and any financial advisors, giving a copy of the completed beneficiary forms as necessary.
Scholarship Spotlight “I am both humbled and inspired by your gift, and I very much look forward to helping fellow students in the same or similar ways in the future... I am in awe at the support I received from my FNU community- my advisor, instructors, and your generous financial assistance and encouragement. I cannot imagine how I would have gotten through this without your help, and I sincerely thank you. I hope you realize the impact you have on students like me!” -- Johnni Jo (JJ) Cansler, MSN, PMHNP, Class 170
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The information about gifts and donations provided in this section is intended to provide basic information about the different types of gifts and the impacts they can have. For more information, please seek financial and/or legal counsel relating to your specific circumstances.
Legacy Spotlight: Jenny and John Pilarowski Endow JEND Scholarship in Memory of Parents
John and Jenny Pilarowski
As the below story of Jenny Pilarowski so beautifully illustrates, giving through stock assets is a great way to make an impact at FNU.
“I inherited stock from my parents,” she said. “We would have been hit with a huge capital gains tax if we sold the stock. So I was able to pass on shares of that stock to the university and they could sell it without being taxed. It was a tax break for us and it gave us the satisfaction of making a difference.”
Jenny Pilarowski learned about The donation was used to Frontier Nursing Service (FNS) endow the JEND Scholarship. while she was attending nursing The scholarship is named after school in the 1960s. Her instructor Jenny’s parents, Janet and Ed, Jenny Pilarowski (right) visits with FNU President was a midwife who had trained Dr. Susan Stone (left ) and Joan Moon, CNM, and John’s parents, Norbert and at Yale University but was also who is featured on page 10. Dorothy. very familiar with FNS. She spoke frequently about FNS and the “They were giving people,” Jenny importance of midwives. Being a good student, Jenny never said of the four individuals memorialized in the scholarship forgot what she learned about FNS. “Midwifery is the way to name. “We decided on a scholarship in their memory to help make great experiences in birthing,” she said. a midwifery student.” Jenny, who lives in northern Ohio, went on to be a childbirth educator for 37 years. Though she never attended Frontier she said, “I’ve kept in touch with FNS all these years.” Inspired by FNU’s work and believing in the importance of nurse-midwives in the care of mothers and babies, Jenny and her husband John wanted to help make a difference.
Jenny advised that, while the topic might not be pleasant, people should talk to their families about what causes or organizations they would like to support via memorial donations. She said that hearing about recipients of the JEND Scholarship is very rewarding. “We love hearing from the students and knowing that they appreciate it,” she said.
Scholarship Spotlight
2019 JEND Scholarship Recipient Allison Platukis, student in the Community Based Nurse-Midwifery Program.
“With three children, a full-time job, and life commitments I have been able to maintain a 3.88 GPA in Frontier Nursing University’s MSN, CNEP program. I have been dedicated to excellence in my coursework since day one of the start of this program. I take great pride in my schoolwork and I believe my children are able to see the hard work I have put in. I truly hope that my children will recognize one day that hard work pays off. Also, I hope they are able to see that if you want something bad enough, and you put the work in, anything is possible. My success in this program gives me so much pride. Immediately after completion and graduation from FNU, I plan to work in in-hospital midwifery practice. I would like a year minimum of in-hospital experience first. After this time I plan to move into an out-of-hospital birth center. There is a birth center in Pennsylvania that largely serves the Amish community. I plan to serve the underserved within this community and normalize birth.” -Allison Platukis, CNEP Student
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 17
Courier Corner Apply today for the 2020 Summer Courier Program! Applications are currently being accepted for the summer 2020 Courier Program! Questions may be directed to courier. program@frontier.edu. You can also join our public Facebook group to learn more about our program and stay up-to-date.
In addition to the completed application, applicants must submit the following to CourierApplicants@frontier.edu:
In order to successfully apply, applicants must submit a completed application and all supporting materials. Please note, the application cannot be saved. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants complete the application questions in a separate document and submit the application once everything is complete. Applicants will receive a confirmation email if the application is successfully submitted.
• Up to three letters of recommendation with the applicant’s name listed as the subject line.
• Copy of unofficial transcript • Copy of valid driver’s license
Please find the application at https://portal.frontier.edu/ web/fnu/how-to-apply. Once your application is submitted, you are required to send a confirmation email to courier. program@frontier.edu.
Thank you for your interest in the 2020 Courier Program!
Interested in Being an FNU Courier? To learn more about the FNU Courier program, please email the Courier Coordinator, Tara Dykes, at courier.program@frontier.edu.
Calling All Former Couriers! Have a story you remember and want to share? We publish stories about former Couriers on our website and in the Quarterly Bulletin. Or you can share your story via “Courier Coffee,” our vlog series that showcases present and former Couriers. If you are interested in doing recording a Courier Coffee, please email Courier.Program@frontier.edu for more information.
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What are the goals of the Courier Program? • To introduce Couriers to the value of public health, advanced practice nursing, and primary healthcare services to people living in rural and underserved communities; • To support clinical and other community sites; • To foster cultural humility through Courier engagement with diverse communities and fellow Couriers; • To facilitate Couriers’ experience of FNU’s mission in action and encourage them to embody the Frontier legacy in their later vocations and personal lives.
Wendover Report Special Knit Items Homemade baby caps, blankets, and scarves continue to be very needed for our FNU Students. Frontier nurse-midwifery students present a baby cap to the family of a baby whose birth they attend, and our nurse practitioner students present lap quilts or scarves to their patients. As our university continues to grow, we will need more and more of these wonderful items. The size needed for lap quilts is approximately 40 by 42 inches. Yarn should be a worsted weight.
The Perfect Place for Special Occasions Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center is the perfect place for your special occasions because simply put, it’s a special place. Readers of the Quarterly Bulletin already know about Wendover’s scenic mountain setting, its recent renovations, and its importance in the history of Frontier Nursing University. But did you know that Wendover is also recognized as a National Historic Landmark? It was so designated in 1991 and is widely considered the birthplace of nurse-midwifery and family nursing in America. In 2020, as you’re planning special events such as anniversary dinners, Valentine’s dinners, family gatherings, weddings, prom photos, group retreat, or just a relaxing vacation, we invite you to consider Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat. It’s the perfect place to make a special moment historic.
We greatly appreciate the many knitting groups and friends who send items to us. These baby caps, scarves, and blankets are circling the globe as our students pass them on to women and families and share the story of Mary Breckinridge and the Frontier Nursing Service. It’s such a special way to pass on the vision and mission of Frontier! Please send your donated items to: Michael Claussen, Development Officer 132 FNS Drive Wendover, KY 41775 Thank you to the following individuals who have recently sent items to Wendover: Emily Lippert Harriet Palmer Ann Pongrace Dawn Sneathen Lois Strauss
Book Your Stay or Retreat at Wendover Bed & Breakfast and Retreat Center To plan your stay, please contact Wendover Operations Manager, Debra Turner, at 606-672-2317 or visit wendover@frontier.edu to book online. You can follow Wendover on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
To make reservations online. Please visit our website at wendoverbb.com
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 19
News and Notes Dr. Laura Manns-James Published in Public Health Nursing FNU Associate Professor Laura Manns-James, Ph.D., CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE was published in the September issue of Public Health Nursing. MannsJames, who earned her WHNP-BC and CNEP from FNU, co-authored the article entitled “Development of a culturally informed protocol for hair cortisol sampling in Black women” with Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett. The abstract for the article explains, “this article describes the development of a culturally informed hair collection protocol for cortisol research with Black women. We first conducted a formative research study investigating the acceptability of hair cortisol sampling for African-American college women, where acceptance reached 54%. Findings, including the reasons reported for participation, were then used to develop a culturally informed hair sampling protocol for two studies in a community setting where acceptance improved to 75%. Specific barriers to hair sampling for research in this population were supported. Recommendations to increase participation in hair sampling are provided.”
You’re Invited to Participate in VIDM20 A free online conference will be held on May 5, 2020, as part of the Virtual International Day of the Midwife. The conference is a free 24-hour student stream. Anyone interested in presenting a talk or poster or simply attending the event can learn more at www.vidm.org.
New Book Provides Historical Analysis of Frontier Nursing Service A book entitled Frontier Nursing in Appalachia: History, Organization and the Changing Culture of Care was published in September 2019 by Springer Nature. According to author Edie West, Ph.D., ACNS-BC, RN, the book provides a historical analysis of the Frontier Nursing Service in the Eastern Appalachians of the United States, as well as a review of the oral history tradition of former frontier and nonfrontier nurses. The data was gathered from 2003 to 2007, and the historical part covers the years 1900 to 1970.
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“The objective of the study presented here was to conduct interviews with former Frontier and non-frontier nurses in
order to better understand their family and personal relationships, and the experiences that motivated their career choices,” West said. “These interviews also give a voice to the working and middle-class women of the FNS. The emerging themes include moral inhabitability in work/education environments, the generational mix, nurse-physician and male-female relationships at the workplace, the role of technology, humanitarian versus financial rewards, and the public image of nurses.” West credits Molly Lee, former Dean of the Frontier Graduate School of Midwifery, with paving the way for her to collect the stories that make up the book. “Without Molly, it would never have happened,” West said. “Once she was satisfied I was a decent sort, she connected me with most of the other former FNS nurse-midwives, encouraged them to speak with me and they did.” West is a Professor of Nursing at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She completed her Ph.D. at Bangor University, Wales, the United Kingdom in 2008 and has maintained an Advanced Practice Clinical Nurse Specialist-Basic Care Certification since 2004. She began her nursing career with a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Duquesne University in 1984. Professor West’s research and scholarly writings stem from her interests in and passions for nursing ethics, history, public/community health and international/global nursing, and has resulted in professional recognition and solicitation to serve as both reviewer and editor for several scholarly national and international journals of professional nursing.
In Memoriam / Tributes
Trustees
TRUSTEES Mrs. Tia Andrew, Hamilton Parish, Bermuda Ms. Sarah Bacon, Brooklyn, NY
Mrs. Marian Leibold, Cincinnati, OH
Mrs. Andrea Begley, Hyden, KY
Dr. Ruth Lubic, Washington, DC
Mrs. Heather Bernard, Hamilton, NY
Mr. William Lubic, Washington DC
Gov. Steven Beshear, Lexington, KY Mrs. Betty Brown, Louisville, KY Mrs. Amy Pennington Brudnicki, Richmond, KY
Frontier Community Mourns Passing of 1961 FNS Graduate Mary Nell Harper
Dr. Timothy Bukowski, Chapel Hill, NC
Mary Nell Harper ( July 27, 1925-October 10, 2018) was born to William and Alta Harper in Everett, Washington. She graduated from Everett High School then went to Seattle Pacific University to study nursing.
Dr. Holly Cheever, Voorheesville, NY
At the age of 25, Mary headed to Africa to be a missionary nurse in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Malawi. She returned to the U.S. in 1960 to come to Frontier Nursing Service, graduating in 1961. She then returned to Ethiopia to continue her mission work. Mary was a midwife most of her 40-year career, retiring at the age of 65 and returning home to Everett, where she volunteered at Everett General.
Dr. Wallace Campbell, Berea, KY Miss Anna Carey, Hyden, KY Mrs. Jean Chapin, Oldwick, NJ
Mrs. Lois Cheston, Topsfield, MA Mrs. Julia Breckinridge Davis, Winston-Salem, NC Mrs. John Dete, West Liberty, OH Mrs. Selby Ehrlich, Bedford, NY Mrs. Robert Estill, Raleigh, NC
The following people gave contributions to Frontier in memory of their friends of loved ones. The names in bold are the deceased
Mr. Robert Montague, JD, Urbanna, VA Mr. Wade Mountz, Louisville, KY Ms. Judy Myers, Ph.D., RN, New Albany, IN Ms. Barbara Napier, Irvine, KY Ms. Sandra Napier, Stinnett, KY Dr. Spencer Noe, Lexington, KY Mr. Dean Osborne, Hyden, KY Mrs. Helen Rentch, Midway, KY Mrs. John Richardson, Washington, DC Mrs. Linda Roach, Lexington, KY Mrs. Georgia Rodes, Lexington, KY Mrs. Sandra Schreiber, Louisville, KY Mrs. Sherrie Rice Smith, Franklin, WI
Mrs. Noel Smith Fernandez, Pomona, NY
Mrs. Austin Smithers, Lyme, NH
Ms. Mary Ann Gill, Versailles, KY
Mrs. Mary Clay Stites, Louisville, KY
Mr. John Grandin, Chestnut Hill, MA
Mrs. Robert Steck, Arlington, MA
Mr. Richard Sturgill, Paris, KY
Dr. Joyce Fortney Hamberg, Southgate, KY
Ms. Mary Frazier Vaughan, Lexington, KY
Dr. Horace Henriques, Lyme, NH
Mrs. LouAnne Roberts Verrier, Austin, TX
Mr. & Mrs. John Hodge, Berwyn, PA
MEMORIAL DONATIONS
Mrs. Henry Ledford, Big Creek, KY
Dr. Patience White, Bethesda, MD
Mrs. Robin Frentz Isaacs, Lincoln, MA
Mr. Harvie Wilkinson, Lexington, KY
Mrs. Rosemary Johnson, Versailles, KY
Ms. Vaughda Wooten, Hyden, KY
Mrs. Mary Carol Joseph, Mayor, City of Hyden
Jane H. Hope Jane Tyrrell
Ms. Deborah M. King, Westport, MA
Meg Tonkin’s Great-Granny Grace Nick Tonkin
Mrs. Patricia Lawrence, Westwood, MA
Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin 21
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22 Frontier Nursing University • Quarterly Bulletin
P.O. Box 528 • 195 School Street Hyden, KY 41749 FNU@frontier.edu • 606.672.2312
Frontier.edu Our mission is to provide accessible nurse-midwifery and nurse practitioner education to prepare competent, entrepreneurial, ethical, and compassionate leaders in primary care to serve all individuals with an emphasis on women and families in diverse, rural, and underserved populations.