College of Nursing honors distinguished alumnae

M. Louise Fitzpatrick, EdD, RN, FAAN, Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor and Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, University President, joined alumnae honorees on April 14th. (L-R) Susan Warner Salmond ’73 B.S.N., Ed.D., R.N., CNE, CTN; Bridgette Carter Brawner ’03 B.S.N., Ph.D., APRN, and Susan Fretz Paparella ’86 B.S.N., ’02 M.S.N., R.N.

Achievement and leadership were the common themes among awardees at the College of Nursing 23^rd Annual Mass & Alumni Awards on Saturday, April 14^th in the St. Thomas of Villanova Church. Two distinguished alumnae received the College of Nursing Medallion, the College’s highest award, and one received a newly established award.  

Medallions were bestowed upon Susan Fretz Paparella ’86 B.S.N., ’02 M.S.N., R.N., vice president, Institute of Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), Horsham, Pa.; adjunct assistant professor at Temple University School of Pharmacy for Distinguished Contributions to Clinical Practice and Susan Warner Salmond ’73 B.S.N., Ed.D., R.N., CNE, CTN, dean, School of Nursing, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey for Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Education.

Bridgette Carter Brawner ’03 B.S.N., Ph.D., APRN, Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Health Equity Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing received the Emerging Scholar Award.  The awards were presented by M. Louise Fitzpatrick, EdD, RN, FAAN, Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor of Nursing.

Paparella demonstrates continued leadership in patient safety on a national and global stage.  She is responsible for the development and oversight of ISMP’s consulting and educational services and networks with constituents such as government agencies, accrediting bodies, health care providers and consumer stakeholders. Paparella facilitates proactive safety risk assessments, root cause analyses and patient safety-oriented conferences in the U.S. and abroad. In short, she uses her comprehensive knowledge and background to influence changes in practice and to improve patient care outcomes.

Paparella noted that Villanova ignited her desire to learn and taught her she could have a voice outside the walls of a hospital. She was “inspired by faculty to think critically and act compassionately in service to others.”

Dr. Salmond has a long and distinguished career in nursing education. Among numerous accomplishments, she has led her school’s implementation of New Jersey’s first Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program, and also established master’s degree programs in nursing education, women’s health and clinical leadership. She is co-director of the nursing school’s New Jersey Center for Evidence-Based Practice, one of three partnering centers in the country of the international Joanna Briggs Institute.

Dr. Salmond explained that Villanova prepared her for a career and the subsequent opportunities that were presented to her. She was appreciative of the “values-based education” she received which also gave her the confidence that she could change the world.

Dr. Brawner is an emerging scholar of distinction. Having earned her PhD by age 27, she has been the principal investigator on several funded grants and within the last few months was awarded a grant by the U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention in the amount of $932,000 entitled: “Prevention Among Heterosexually-Active Black Adolescents with Mental Illness”. Her interest in finding ways to assist vulnerable populations, create health equity and eliminate health disparities is further demonstrated in what is already a long and impressive list of her refereed publications. Her premise that mental and physical health concerns must be treated in an integrated manner is a hallmark of all her work. In addition, Dr. Brawner has been involved in community activities, mentors students , has been a consultant in Botswana and a Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS at Yale University.

Dr. Brawner described Villanova nurses as “healers in practice, education, and research for the communities we serve.” She says her undergraduate nursing education, embodying the spirit of caritas and veritas, shaped her as both a nurse and individual.