Dear THSON Family,I hope this message finds you well. As I approach my 10th month with the Tanner Health School of Nursing, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement for all that we’ve accomplished together—and all that lies ahead.
This has been a remarkable season of growth and achievement. From securing the largest grant in UWG history to welcoming our largest-ever BSN cohort, our faculty and students continue to shine. Many of our MSN and EdD students have also earned national recognition through prestigious awards and scholarships, a testament to the excellence we foster at THSON.
I am incredibly proud of our faculty, staff, and students. Together, we are not only preparing exceptional nurses for Georgia’s workforce but also finding innovative ways to serve our communities more effectively.
One exciting development is the revitalization of our BSN curriculum. We are transitioning to a streamlined 4-semester program at both campuses, replacing the previous 6- or 8-semester tracks. This change will enhance our competitiveness and help us attract the brightest future nurses to THSON.
Additionally, our MSN program has been thoughtfully updated to align with the latest AACN Essentials, ensuring our graduates are well-prepared for the evolving demands of healthcare.
I cannot emphasize enough how fortunate we are to have such a dedicated community of partners and supporters. Your continued encouragement and collaboration are vital to our mission and success.
With gratitude,
Imelda Reyes, DNP, MPH, APRN, FAANP
Dean & Professor
Tanner Health School of Nursing
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Join us at Homecoming!
Homecoming is this week!! We will have a table within the academic tent for tailgating before the game. See our own Jalen Adams, nursing student and candidate for Homecoming King. Alumni, students, faculty, staff, all - join us!
UWG vs. Central Arkansas Football
Tailgate 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Football Kickoff – 2 p.m.
For more information about game tickets and parking, visit this website.
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UWG Tanner Health School of Nursing Highlighted on AACN-TV
Tanner Health School of Nursing collaborated with AACN TV to create a four-minute video that highlights the BSN, MSN and EdD programs. We showcased both campuses and had students and faculty share their experiences. We are very excited to showcase faculty, students and our community partners and to highlight the wonderful resources we have available on both campuses.
AACN-TV specializes in working with individual departments of universities to create high-impact video content that helps them meet their strategic goals.
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Nursing Awarded $3.6 Million HRSA Grant
Dr. Kelly Dyar and Dr. Amy Yarbrough are the recipients of a $3.6 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The grant program is the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Workforce Expansion Program. Students from UWG THSON and from the Murphy Campus of West Georgia Technical College will be eligible to apply to receive funding through this grant to complete their nursing program. This grant will help increase the number of nurses working in rural West Georgia, reducing the impact of the national and local nursing shortage.
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A Shot in the Arm: UWG’s Tanner Health School of Nursing Gets $483K Boost for Simulation Training
by Julie Lineback
At the University of West Georgia, the future of healthcare is getting a high-tech upgrade.
The Tanner Health School of Nursing (THSON) was awarded a $483,000 grant from the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce (GBHCW) Nursing School Grant program, which will bring cutting-edge simulation equipment and immersive learning tools to campus – bridging the gap between classroom theory and clinical practice while helping more students step confidently into the scrubs of tomorrow’s nurses. Read More
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Summer Nursing Program Brings Out the Best in UWG Student
by Makalah Wright Being able to be a part of one of the most selective programs within a student’s desired field is a dream come true. For Savannah DeVane, a senior nursing major at the University of West Georgia, the experience of being in a rigorous program opened her eyes up to something that she didn’t expect – but she enjoyed every minute of it. Read More
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International Spotlight - Dr. Kim Crawford, Kampala, Uganda
For the second year in a row, Dr. Kim Crawford, Assistant Professor, UWG Tanner Health, School of Nursing, was a visiting professor at African Bible University in Kampala, Uganda, during their interim week in May.
This year, she talked about the gastrointestinal system, common diseases, treatments, and nutrition to non-healthcare students. Every year, she also spends a day talking about CPR and first aid care. Health promotion and disease prevention in Uganda are almost non-existent. When it is present, it focuses on infectious diseases. What common ailments that Americans experience and go seek out their own treatment for, Ugandans will go to a healthcare professional or try herbal treatments, which, for this low-income country, can become very costly.
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2025 Nursing Study Abroad
October 31 is Deadline to Apply for 2026 Study AbroadDr. Oliver Duah and Dr. Kelly Dyar traveled in May to Foligno, Italy with 11 UWG students for a study abroad program. The students included six from the THSON BSN program, one student from the UWG Community Health and Wellness program, and four THSON graduate students. This was the first year that graduate students participated in the study abroad program.
The THSON partnered with the nursing program at the University of Perugia. Learning experiences included visiting the University of Perugia’s archival library, attending classes at the university’s nursing school location in Foligno, and at the Hospital San Giovanni Battista in Foligno. Students spent time on several of the nursing units and were able to compare nursing and health care in Italy with care in the United States. Students also had opportunities to experience and learn about Italian culture in the Umbrian region through a guided tour of Foligno, and Italian cultural and language lesson, and through a cooking lesson in Spoleto.
We will return to Foligno in May 2026. Applications are open, with a deadline of October 31st. Interested students can apply on the Nursing Study Abroad webpage.
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National League for Nursing Awards Scholarships
Four UWG Tanner Health School of Nursing EdD students received National League for Nurisng Scholarships (NLN) at the NLN Education Summit. Read More
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Nursing Students Involved in More Than Nursing and Clinicals
Nursing students have much to do with classes, simulation lab, clinicals and more and some nursing students add to their resumes with extracurricular activities like Athletics, Blue Coats, Honors College and Nursing Ambassadors. Read More
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Nursing Alum Received Achievement Award
Congratulations to Kelly A. Forrest, alumna, UWG Tanner Health School of Nursing, for receiving the 2025 Nursing Alumni Achievement Award at the UWG Alumni Awards. Read More
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Even Cancer Couldn't Stop Me!!
by Morgan Doorley
When I was 20 years old, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma, a cancer that occurs in the immune system. I had to get my chemotherapy treatments in the hospital, and because of the pandemic, I had to be alone. Read More
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My Journey at UWG
by Jada Hatcher
Starting college in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic is where my journey begins at UWG. Being a freshman during this time meant navigating hybrid classes, isolation, and uncertainty at times. Read More
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School of Nursing Welcomes New Faculty and Staff
The School of Nursing welcomed three new faculty and one staff member this year as well as transitioning Simulation Operator Technicians within the Experiential Learning Center. Read More
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Three School of Nursing Faculty/Staff Members Retiring
Congratulations to three members of our team who collectively have contributed to the success of Tanner Health School of Nursing for almost half a century and are retiring effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Cynthia Brown (13 years), DNS, RN, AHN-BC, NBC-HWC, CNE, faculty member, who taught online and didactic instruction in RN-BSN, MSN, and EdD programs in more than 15 different courses as well as serviing on Doctoral Committees as chair and committee member. Karen Duke (18.5 years), Admnistrative Support and Building Manager, whose responsibilities included our Pinning Ceremonies, accrediations, and contracts. Karey Groover (14 years), Administrative Support, who worked on certifications, onboarding processes and was a true asset to students as students repeatedly mentioned her by name in student exit surveys stating she made their time better at the School of Nursing. It is impossible to say how much these three integral team members will be missed here at Tanner Health School of Nursing. Still, we wish them "Happy Retirement!"
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Faculty, Staff and Students Get Honors, Awards and Publications
UWG THS School of Nursing faculty, staff and students are recognized with honors, awards and publications. Read More
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Apply for MSN and EdD in Nursing Education
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