UTA HEALTH BULLETIN
APRIL 2021

DEAN'S MESSAGE

Dear CONHI Community,

The spring semester is currently in full swing and much is happening across our College. Even during the ongoing pandemic, our students, faculty, and staff are staying engaged, connected, and finding ways to volunteer their time to support local and rural communities. Through helping local food drives, volunteering to administer the vaccine and the many other ways they are giving back.

Our faculty also continue in their research endeavors, as many projects initially delayed by COVID-19 are now resuming and many other researchers have recent publications of their findings. The staff also continue to work hard helping to plan and coordinate the virtual learning happening at our school, provide advising, and ensure our business operations continue normally.

On the horizon, UTA has MAVSDAY 2021 happening on April 22. Be on the lookout for updates from us about the ways that donations and support help our College and students.

As every adult recently became eligible for the vaccine in Texas, it is also incredibly promising news that things will slowly return to normal. I continue to stay optimistic about the progress being made in this effort.

Wishing you all a happy Spring.

All the best,
Dean Elizabeth Merwin, PhD, RN, FAAN

AWARDS & RANKINGS

UTA GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAMS RANKED AMONG NATION’S BEST

The master’s program in nursing at The University of Texas at Arlington jumped 25 spots to No. 60 in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School rankings.

The magazine’s annual rankings also recognized a second graduate program in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI), listing its doctor of nursing practice program (DNP) as No. 100.

There were 220 master’s programs included in the U.S. News rankings and 163 DNP programs.

“Through its nationally ranked graduate offerings, CONHI prepares nurses for advanced practice, administration, quality improvement, and research endeavors to address a changing health care landscape, and nurse educators to prepare the next generation of nurses,” said Elizabeth Merwin, CONHI dean.

GONZALEZ RECOGNIZED AMONG DFW'S GREAT 100 NURSES

John D. Gonzalez, chair of graduate nursing programs and a clinical assistant professor in The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation, has been honored this year as one of 100 great nurses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The “Great 100 Nurses” program recognizes nurses in DFW for their excellence in the art and science of nursing and is a special honor bestowed upon a select group of exemplary nurses over the past 30 years.

PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENT SELECTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIP

Alexa Washington, a Master’s in Public Health student at The University of Texas at Arlington, was recently selected for the highly competitive Texas Health Resources Gunnin Fellowship. The fellowship provides financial assistance and a 400-hour internship with Texas Health Resources to help Washington complete her degree.

“We are incredibly proud of Alexa’s accomplishment. She is a great ambassador for UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the public health program. She has such a bright future ahead of her,” shared Dr. Erin Carlson, director of graduate public health programs.

Candice Calhoun-Butts, Assistant Dean, Office of Enrollment and Student Services: A dose of optimism and positivity from CONHI’s leader of the largest administrative unit in the College

CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

Throughout March, the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation celebrated Women's History Month by highlighting our past and present trailblazers across the college. We shared stories through posts across social media about those women who laid the groundwork for the College and profiled features on our website about the current women who are leading CONHI today. You can read their profile spotlights with the links below.

Rhonda Prisby, Professor and researcher: A passion for research and new discoveries for this professor in Kinesiology

Kim Siniscalchi, Professor of Practice: Former two-star general who joined academia after military career to prepare future nursing leaders.

Jeanean Boyd, Chair for Undergraduate Nursing: Nursing is not just a job, but a calling for Dr. Boyd who has over 50 years of nursing experience.

Joy Don Baker, Clinical Professor: A lifelong learner and teacher, Dr. Baker has been at CONHI for over 20 years.

CONTRIBUTIONS DURING COVID-19

UTA NURSING STUDENTS BRING INCREASED ACCESS OF COVID VACCINE TO RURAL COMMUNITY

A group of six students at The University of Texas in Arlington found an impactful way to give back to a rural community in need during the pandemic by volunteering to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. These second-semester senior nursing students in the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation drove over two hours to help a clinic in Fannin County give more than 1300 doses of the first and second injection of the COVID-19 vaccine in January and February.

PATIENT SAFETY IN PRIMARY CARE DURING PANDEMIC

Telehealth, once a niche primary care delivery method, is now common across the United States since COVID-19 emerged in March 2020. Researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation are studying pandemic-related disruptions to primary care delivery and their implications to patient safety. Specifically, the reluctance or inability of patients to visit primary care clinics care and wide use of telehealth are expected to fundamentally change the landscape of primary care. The researchers hope better understanding of the impact on patient safety will lead to best practices to improve primary care delivery during this crisis.

SPOTLIGHT ON

ALUMNI PROFILE: TONYCHRIS NNAKA, POLICY ADVISOR TO DALLAS MAYOR

Philanthropist. Bedside Nurse. PhD student. Leader. Those are just a few ways to describe Tonychris Nnaka since he graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“UTA was my first choice, it was where I wanted to go. I went to orientation and preview days, spoke to many people in the College, and knew there was no better match. After applying, I got a full scholarship, everything just felt right,” said Nnaka. He also realized in his career exploration that nursing was the right choice for him.

He has since received a dual master’s in epidemiology and environmental and occupational health science from The University of North Texas Health Science Center and is currently a PhD student in nursing with a concentration in health economics and policy at The University of Texas at Austin. Recently while with Parkland Health & Hospital System, he worked bedside taking care of COVID-19 patients and within months promoted to the role of Associate Manager of Tactical Care Unit – a unit dedicated to caring for critically ill COVID-19 patients. Currently, he has begun a new role as a policy advisor to City of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson.

COMING UP IN CONHI

MAVSDAY 2021

On this ONE DAY FOR UTA, a day of giving, we will harness the power of one - joining together to create a lasting impact for students at The University of Texas at Arlington.

Can we count on you?

Learn more

Make a contribution to the college. Help us educate the next generation of health care workers. Email CONHIgifts@uta.edu for more information.

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