Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame

[Love-A-Nurse]

Thought I would share.

The Birmingham News

Nursing hall of fame inducts 12

10/20/03

Twelve people, including the director of a World Health Organization center, a woman who advised four U.S. presidents and a hospital administrator who developed a new patient classification system, have been inducted into the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame.

A gallery honoring those inducted earlier this month and previous Hall of Fame members is in the Capstone College of Nursing, according to a statement from the University of Alabama. Members of the College's board of visitors nominate people to the hall, and a selection committee determines who will be added each year.

From Our Advertiser

New Hall of Fame members are:

Dr. Kathryn Barnett, who pioneered therapeutic touch and established one of the nation's first nursing doctoral programs, at Texas Woman's University. She was the founding dean of Auburn University Montgomery School of Nursing, where she served for 17 years.

Dr. Rachel Booth, who is director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center for International Nursing and has served as a consultant to universities and foreign countries. She is dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Dr. Charlie Dickson, the first black Registered Nurse to serve as president of the Alabama Board of Nursing, who worked for implementation of rules setting out continuing education requirements for nurses' license renewal.

Evelyn Hardy, who independently sought financing to convert a Tuscaloosa house across the street from her own home into a nursing home. She and her mother rotated 12-hour shifts taking care of patients, and she still is on call 24 hours a day.

Dr. Mary Harper, who has twice won the surgeon general's Medal of Honor as an expert on issues of aging and mental health. She has established research and development centers throughout the country and now spearheads a program for caregivers, under the auspices of the Rosalyn Carter Institute for Human Development.

Ruth Harrell, who directed the Alabama Department of Public Health from 1987 to 1993 and who now co-directs the Southern Rural Access program, designed to improve access to health care for people living in rural areas.

Mary Catherine King, who served for four decades at St. Vincent's Hospital School of Nursing in Birmingham, including as director. Now retired, she is a driving force behind the school of nursing's alumni association and scholarship program.

Dr. Kathleen Ladner, who serves as vice president of patient care services at Baptist Medical Center Princeton in Birmingham and who leads some of its recruitment and retention efforts. She has held faculty appointments in nursing at Samford University, UA and the University of South Alabama.

Dr. Linda Olivet, professor emeritus in the Capstone College of Nursing, who has served in many posts including director of graduate studies and assistant dean. She now provides educational programs on nursing and health care through UA's College of Continuing Studies.

Dr. Hildagarde Reynolds, who served two terms on the state's Board of Nursing and worked toward a revised Nurse Practice Act. She also has helped develop associate degree programs and expand baccalaureate programs.

Surpora Thomas, who has nearly 40 years of experience at Children's Hospital in Birmingham, developed a patient classification system and in 1982 initiated a pre-admissions screening program that is still in use.

Maxine Walker, who has devoted almost 60 years to nursing including helping educate nursing students and helping the elderly with medication. She joined what would become DCH Regional Medical Center in 1955, advanced to director of its nursing school, and helped start the nursing program at UA.