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Virginia A. Lynch,
RN, MSN, FAAN, FAAFS (MSN, UT Arlington, 1990) is the founder of the science
of forensic nursing. Her interest in forensic nursing was first ignited in
1982 as she initiated her forensic career as a medical death investigator
for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner in Fort Worth. In 1986 she submitted
a proposal for her graduate studies to UT Arlington where she and Dr. Samuel
Hughes, Assistant Dean, conceptualized and implemented an educational
program in forensic nursing. This concept has expanded from the scientific
investigation of death to a clinical specialty in the management of victims
of violence, the accused and the condemned. Her master’s thesis, “Clinical
Forensic Nursing: A Descriptive Study in Role Development”, became the first
publication related to role development of a forensic specialist in nursing.
The founding president of the International Association of Forensic Nurses,
she is an internationally recognized forensic scientist. Her book
Forensic Nursing is required for UT Arlington’s summer elective in
forensic nursing. |
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Distinguished Alumna 2007
Lillie M. Biggins |
Lillie M. Biggins, RN, MSN, (BSN 1975), is a 31 year veteran of health care
and a lauded community volunteer. Currently serving as vice president of
operations at Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital in Fort Worth, she has
served on numerous councils, boards, committees and professional
organizations. She is vice chair of the Dallas/Fort Worth International
Airport board and chairs the Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County board
and the American Cancer Society board. In 2006, she received the country's
highest honor for volunteer service, the President's Volunteer Service
Award. With more than 23,000 hours of community service, President George W.
Bush recognized her for a spirit that encourages others to get involved in
their communities through volunteer work.
Lillie's
comments at
the Gala |
Distinguished Alumna 2006
Corrine M. Anderson |
Corrine M.
Anderson is an advanced practice
nurse for palliative care management at Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort
Worth. She became a registered nurse in 1961, received her bachelor’s degree
in nursing from UT Arlington in 1985 and earned her master’s in 1999, which
lead to certification as a geriatric nurse practitioner. Her nursing
practice areas were varied until she entered hospice and palliative care 20
years ago. Anderson was one of six nurses selected from across the country
in 1994 to develop a national certification program for hospice and
palliative nurses. She was the founding president of the Fort Worth chapter
of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association. In 2004 the Texas
Partnership for End of Life Care honored her as a Texas Champion for End of
Life Care. |
Distinguished Alumna 2005
Robin W. Newman |
Robin W. Newman is co-founder and chief scientific
officer at MedTrials, a clinical research consulting firm founded in
1992 and
headquartered in Dallas. She received her B.S.N. from The University
of Texas at Austin and in 1991 her
M.S.N. from UT
Arlington. She is certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner and
also maintains certification as a clinical research associate and as
a regulatory affairs professional. She is an adjunct graduate
faculty member at the University of North Texas Health Science
Center and chair-elect of the board of trustees for the Association
of Clinical Research Professionals. Her clinical specialties are
cardiology, pediatrics and interventional technologies. MedTrials
has extended learning opportunities to undergraduate and graduate
level nurses interested in exploring research consulting as a career
option.
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Distinguished Alumna 2004
Col. Laura Valencia Alvarado |
Col.
Laura Valencia Alvarado is vice commander of the U.S. Air
Force 311th Human Systems Wing in Brooks City-Base, Texas. She
supports the commander in directing the Air Force’s single special
mission wing focused on the many facets of aerospace medicine. Prior
to becoming the 311 HSW vice commander, Col. Alvarado was the
commander and dean of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace
Medicine at Brooks City-Base. She earned a bachelor’s degree from
the University of Incarnate Word before receiving her master of
science in nursing from UTA in 1992. She has served as chair of the
Department of Surgical Nursing and Operations at Keesler Air Force
Base in Mississippi and has been stationed in Bethesda, Md.,
Washington, D.C., and Spain. |
Distinguished Alumna 2003
Mary Clark Robinson, RN, PhD
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Mary Clark Robinson is regional director of clinical education for Harris
Methodist Fort Worth. She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing at UTA. She began her
nursing career as a staff nurse at Harris Methodist in 1981 and in 1986
became the hospital’s special care education coordinator; she later was
named unit manager and department head of the special care area. From 1988
to 1995, Dr. Robinson served as coordinator of education and research before
becoming director of education services. She was named regional director in
2002, when she also received the YWCA Tribute to Women in Business honor.
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Distinguished Alumna 2002
Luz Remedios “Remy” Tolentino MSN, RN
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Serving
as Chief Nursing Officer and Vice-President of Cardiovascular Services
Baylor University Medical Center, her professional efforts over the past 20
years have focused on the improvement of patient care for adult intensive
care units and cardiovascular areas through projects and programs that
support a collaborative work environment and provide for excellence in
patient/family-centered care.
Ms. Tolentino is a respected speaker at local, regional and national
conferences on a variety of topics. She was awarded the 2001 Vision Partner
for the Dallas Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
She received her Masters in Nursing at UTA in 1985 and has served as
an adjunct faculty member since 1987.
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Distinguished Alumna 2001
Sandra Bruce, RN, MSN
Lt Col, U.S. Air Force
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Currently
serving as Chief, Air Force Nursing Education, Lt Col Bruce has been
dedicated to the advancement of staff development within the Air Force Nurse
Corps. Using innovative
evaluation methods to reinforce learning, students cite her enthusiasm as
"infectious!" She
helped establish the nation’s first Joint Trauma Training Center, to train
military trauma teams. The
National Nursing Staff Development Organization, recognizing her
contributions and dedication to adult learning principles, honored her with
its highest honor in 1996, the "Belinda E. Puetz Award".
Since that time she has received two other national awards from this
organization and the “Field Grade Nurse of the Year” award for the year
2000.
Ms.
Bruce received her MSN in Adult Health at UTA in 1991. She is an advocate
for advancing nursing education and promotes the UTA programs in
undergraduate and graduate nursing education.
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Distinguished Alumna 2000
H. Lea Barbato Gaydos RN, PhD
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Dr. Gaydos has brought honor and national attention to
nursing through her unique artistic presentations and exhibitions. Her
investigation of what it means to live the life of a healer is exhibited
through her artistic renderings of life journey portraits of contemporary
women.
Previous honors have included the Holistic Nurse of the
Year Award given by the National Organization for Holistic Nurses in 1998
and a regional award from the Nightengale Committee in recognition of her
efforts to open new doors in Nursing.
Dr. Gaydos received her BSN (1976) and MSN (1981) at UTA
and served on the Alumni Board 1986-1988. She held a clinical specialist
faculty position at the School of Nursing 1983-1989.
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Distinguished Alumna 1999
Freda Murray RN, MSN, CFNP
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A former president of Texas Nurses
Association District 3, Freda Murray has distinguished herself in the
metroplex. She has received recognition for her work with the community
and has received numerous awards. Ms. Murray is an active member of
many professional organizations and serves as a preceptor to nurse
practitioner students from UTA.
Other awards include the Lamplighter
Award from Sigma Theta Tau and recognition as a Great One Hundred Nurse
in 1994.
Ms. Murray was a returning student at
UTA receiving a BSN in 1983, an MSN in 1988, and formal post-masters in
family nurse practitioner in 1996.
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Distinguished Alumna 1998
Kay Willis RN, MSN, CNS
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Ms. Willis has distinguished herself
and the University throughout her professional career as she has
contributed to the management of health care and the providers.
Leadership positions have taken her from Texas as Vice President for
Patient Services at St. Joseph's Hospital in Fort Worth and St. Paul's
Medical Center in Dallas to Utah, Oklahoma, and Wichita, Kansas.
She has served as an officer in
numerous professional organizations and was named TNA District 3 Nurse
of the Year in 1985.
Ms. Willis earned her RN through the
diploma program at John Peter Smith Hospital and completed her BSN at
UTA in 1977 through the IPE program (RN to BSN).
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Distinguished Alumna 1997
Ellen Palmer RN, MSN, PhD
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Distinguishing herself internationally
as an exemplary nursing professional, Dr. Palmer was selected for her
work with the International Child Care program and her dedication to
providing nursing education to third world countries. She has made
numerous trips to Haiti as a member of a surgical eye team and annually
leads a group of nursing faculty and students to present workshops for
health care providers in the Dominican Republic.
A returning UTA student, she earned
her BSN in 1976 and her MSN in 1981.
Previous honors include: Great One
Hundred Nurse and International Mission Volunteer of the Year from
Methodist Global Board of Missions. She served as president of the
International Child Care during 1998-1999.
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Distinguished Alumnus 1996
Kenneth Lowrance
MS, RN, CS, FNP-C
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Mr. Lowrance
was honored for his work as an advanced practice nurse serving a
rural community. He has gained respect and recognition in other
areas through his community involvement including a gubernatorial
appointment to the Board of Nurse Examiners for the State of Texas
1995-2001. Named President of the Board, he has brought honor to
the school through his leadership.
Mr. Lowrance received his BSN from
UTA through the RN to BSN program in 1980 and returned to UTA for
his post-masters in the family nurse practitioner program in 1992.
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Distinguished Alumna 1995
Margaret L. Martin MSN, RNC, CIC
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As administrative director of patient
care resources at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Margaret Martin has
been responsible for the management of nursing, allied continuing
education and support operations. She has distinguished herself at
previous positions directing nursing education for All Saints Hospital
and Harris Methodist Hospital both in Fort Worth. In 1991, District 3
of the Texas Nurses Association named her Nurse of the Year. A year
later, she received statewide recognition when the American Heart
Association presented her with the Mildred McIntyre Nurses Award.
Ms. Martin earned her Master of
Science in Nursing degree from UTA in 1979 and she served as President
of the UTA Alumni Association in 1989-90.
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Distinguished Alumna 1988
Donna Bertram RN, BSN, MBA
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Selected to represent the University
as Distinguished Alumna for 1988, Donna Bertram was the first nursing
alumna selected for this honor.
Ms. Bertram earned her BSN in 1980
through the IPE (RN to BSN) program at UTA. Honored for her work as a
nurse administrator, she has distinguished herself and brought honor to
the school through her leadership in health care. When the award was
presented, Ms. Bertram was Vice President at Harris Hospital Methodist.
In her address at the alumni gala, she praised the IPE program which
allowed her to continue her education and profession at the same time.
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Nomination Form 