FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               

For more information, contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Sheila Champlin – (901) 448-4957, schampli@uthsc.edu

 

 

Carrie Plummer, Doctoral Nursing Student at

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center,

 Receives $100,000 from American Academy of Nursing

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Memphis, Tenn. (February 13, 2012) – Carrie Plummer, MSN, ANP, a doctoral nursing student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), has received one of 15 national John A. Hartford Academic Geriatric Nursing pre-doctoral scholarships.  The award, which is active for two years, is a part of the American Academy of Nursing’s Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) Predoctoral Scholarship Program.  Plummer’s work will focus on community-based accumulation of home medications (CACHES) and their associated adverse health outcomes for older adults.

            Plummer will use her scholarship to obtain new competencies in gerontological nursing research, leadership and education.  Her PhD advisor and Hartford mentor is Veronica Engle, PhD, GNP, FGSA, FAAN, professor in the UTHSC College of Nursing.

            "It is an honor to receive the John A. Hartford predoctoral scholarship,” said Plummer.  “This award provides two years of financial support for my dissertation work, covers tuition and travel costs, and a living stipend. In addition, it presents the opportunity to learn from and network with leading nurse scholars and scientists.  As a scholarship recipient, I will have the chance to develop my skills as a nurse researcher, leader and educator."

            According to its Web site, the goal of the BAGNC Predoctoral Scholarship Program is to increase academic geriatric nursing capacity in the United States by “increasing the number of well-prepared geriatric nursing faculty.”  BAGNC scholars, in collaboration with their mentors, will implement a tailored professional development plan, which supports expansion of new competencies and enhanced effectiveness as an academic leader.  The program also focuses on the development of academic leadership in gerontological nursing through: strong mentorship in the components of academic geriatric nursing (research, teaching and community service); leadership skill development; a national network of scholars, fellows and academic geriatric nurses, and exposure to a wide range of experts in gerontology and geriatrics.

            The John A. Hartford Foundation funds nine Centers of Geriatric Nursing Excellence.  These Hartford Centers demonstrate strong commitment to gerontological nursing, and have outstanding leadership and capacity in gerontological research, practice and education.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service.  In 2011, UT Health Science Center celebrated its centennial: 100 years advancing the future of health care.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  The UTHSC campus in Knoxville includes a College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and an Allied Health Sciences unit.  In addition, the UTHSC Chattanooga campus includes a College of Medicine and an Allied Health Sciences unit.  Since its founding in 1911, UTHSC has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care professionals on campuses and in health care facilities across the state.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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