Belmont University recently announced the inaugural group of the Lettie Pate Whitehead scholarship recipients, a gift given to six students from the College of Health Sciences and Nursing. These six nursing students will participate in 32 hours of community service and will participate in high-impact leadership development in both curricular and co-curricular spaces through the University’s new Office of Leadership Development.

Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans was a generous philanthropist and accomplished businesswoman. She was the wife of Joseph B. Whitehead, one of the original bottlers of Coca-Cola. At his death, she assumed management of his business affairs, establishing the Whitehead Holding Company and the Whitehead Realty Company and leading the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Atlanta. She also became one of the first female directors of any major U.S. corporation when she was appointed to the board of The Coca-Cola Company in 1934, a position she held for nearly 20 years. To those who knew her well, Mrs. Whitehead’s greatest legacy was her genuine concern for others. Continue reading →

Dr. Jennifer Hicks, a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Belmont alumna, recently received the Excellence in Public Health Nurse Award at the Tennessee Public Health Association’s annual meeting held in Nashville last week.

This highly competitive award recognizes a nurse who is respected by co-workers and peers in the community and demonstrates clinical excellence in supporting public health goals and objectives.

Hicks is a May 2016 graduate of Belmont’s DNP program and currently works as a Family Nurse Practitioner at the Rutherford County Health Department.

To kick off Healthcare Simulation week, Belmont University and The Tennessee Simulation Alliance hosted the documentary “To Err is Human” on Monday, September 17. Created to bring patient safety back into the national discussion through the power of documentary storytelling, the film aims to showcase solutions that are easy to implement and would dramatically improve the quality of health care. Continue reading →

Graduate students from Belmont’s College of Health Sciences and Nursing have been volunteering throughout the community to provide well child exams and sports physicals to Nashvillians. A recent purchase of portable equipment has allowed students and faculty to travel throughout the city, providing essential care while ensuring students have access to meaningful clinical experiences.

Professor and Associate Dean of Nursing Dr. Martha Buckner said, “This is a beautiful example of innovative service-learning and the spirit of giving we see in our faculty and staff. Opportunities for clinical placements for FNP students are difficult to secure, especially in pediatrics. Our faculty found a way to use their own community engagement to provide much-needed services while also giving our students high quality learning experiences. We see this as an ongoing opportunity for our students to see how their passions can meet the world’s needs.” Continue reading →

Nashville Mayor David Briley recently appointed Assistant Professor of Nursing Dr. Loretta Bond to the Hospital Authority of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Board of Directors for a 5-yr term. The Hospital Authority of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County was formed by City Charter in 1999 and is the governing body that oversees Nashville General Hospital at Meharry. Bond’s rich experience in practice and education, as well as her professional focus on health care disparities, made her an ideal candidate for this position.

Associate Dean of Nursing Dr. Martha Buckner said, “Dr. Bond has a heart for improving access to care for all. She teaches health care policy to our graduate nursing students and chairs the Government Affairs committee for the Tennessee Nurses Association. She has a deep understanding of the social determinants of health and I know she will serve our city beautifully. We are proud of her work.” Continue reading →