My tenure as faculty, department chair, associate dean, and dean of the School of Nursing has been the most memorable and rewarding time in my career. For that reason, making the decision to retire on May 31 of this year has been a difficult one. The School has been my second family for over 32 years. While leaving will be hard, I am ready to enjoy family, friends, travel, renewing old hobbies and starting new ones.

School of Pharmacy Dean Mark Luer, PharmD, has been named interim dean of the School of Nursing. Becky Luebbert, PhD, RN, chair and professor of primary care and health systems nursing, will serve as interim associate dean and chief nursing administrator until a new dean is appointed. Together they will serve with a strong leadership team in the School of Nursing to carry on its exciting momentum. I am confident that you and I will be reading far into the future of the continued progress and triumphs the School will achieve.

A national search for a new School of Nursing dean has already begun, with a goal of appointing a new dean by early 2022.

Thank you for all of your support of the School and of me, and join me in watching what is next for the School. I know it will be great!

Sincerely,
Laura W. Bernaix, PhD, RN
Dean and Professor

Breast cancer awareness will be heightened and access to services increased for underserved populations thanks to a $20,000 grant from Komen Missouri to the School of Nursing’s WE CARE Clinic, located in East St. Louis. The funding will expand the WE CARE Clinic’s services, which will include clinical breast exams, mammograms (screening and diagnostic), ultrasounds, biopsies, transportation, and additional support services such as mastectomy bras upon review of cost and need.  

“Our contribution to the SIUE WE CARE Clinic will help patients overcome barriers in the healthcare system by having access to breast screenings and educational information that could save their lives,” said Komen Missouri Acting Executive Director Dawna Currigan. "We’re proud to support the breast health services provided by the clinic in East St. Louis and surrounding counties.”

Learn more about the grant.

The School of Nursing’s Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program hosted its second annual virtual continuing education conference in March. This year’s theme was “Mental Wellness – A Journey through the Peaks, Plummets, and Plateaus of Life.” The School and clinical partners collaborated on the development of the 2021 regional conference for primary care providers, highlighting behavioral and mental health education. 

The ANEW program exemplifies the School's pioneering advancement of the nursing profession across Illinois, and is funded by a competitive four-year $2.75 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.

Read more about the conference.

The School of Nursing hosted its 2021 Scholarship Ceremony and Tea virtually on Tuesday, April 20, in celebration of the accomplishments and aspirations of its students and sponsors.

The program announced 54 scholarship awards, totaling approximately $45,000. Attendees, including School faculty, staff, students, parents and donors, learned about the future aspirations of scholarship recipients and heard audio presentations from alumni who previously benefited from scholarship support and are now achieving professional success and advancement.

Read more about the virtual ceremony.

The School of Nursing attained four new partnership agreements to offer an accelerated path to a bachelor’s in nursing (BS). This enables students to complete their general education courses at their community colleges, earning associate degrees in nursing, and complete their baccalaureate nursing coursework online through SIUE while they begin working in their profession.

The accelerated RN to BS in nursing option is offered in a flexible, entirely online format to accommodate the needs of working registered nurses (RNs). The program format consists of eight-week courses, and can be completed in one year (three semesters) if most of the general education requirements are met at the time of admission. A student’s academic progression plan is customized to meet their individual needs. Those interested in attaining an RN to MSN or DNP may apply for accelerated graduate nursing options.

Learn more about new partnerships with the following colleges.

• Carl Sandburg College
• Illinois Valley Community College
• Joliet Junior College
• McHenry County College