A milestone year

By Tracy Wright

Partnering to Improve Patient Care, Education and Clinical Research. Irene Alexaitis, DNP, RN, Vice President, Nursing and Patient Services, UF Health Shands; Anna McDaniel, PhD, RN, FAAN, College of Nursing Dean; Laurie Duckworth, PhD, ARNP, Clinical Associate Professor and UF Health Shands Director of Clinical Research; Sandra Citty, PhD, ARNP, Clinical Assistant Professor

The College of Nursing kicked off its 60th anniversary in early February with the Dorothy M. Smith Nursing Leadership Conference, a biennial event featuring nursing and health care leaders speaking about current health care topics. This year’s conference theme was “The Power of Partnership” and featured keynote speakers and panels focusing on partnership at all levels, including education, research and patient care. One speaker panel, pictured here, specifically focused on the strengthened partnership between the College of Nursing and UF Health and included, from left, Anna McDaniel, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, dean of the College of Nursing; Irene Alexaitis, D.N.P., R.N., NEA-BC, vice president for nursing and patient services, UF Health Shands; Laurie Duckworth, Ph.D., ARNP, a clinical associate professor in the College of Nursing and director of clinical research of UF Health Shands; and Sandra Citty, Ph.D., R.N., ARNP-BC, a clinical assistant professor in the College of Nursing.  — Tracy Wright