News

April/May 2002

As the current academic year nears end, and many students are anxious for school break, the Nurse-Midwifery students of class 2002, will be forging on to complete Integration and prepare for completion of the program. All the while, class 2003 will begin the task of Antepartum coursework and full immersion into Nurse-midwifery clinical experiences. What a very busy and exciting time of year. The following are a few highlights and significant dates to place on your calendars.

In March 2002 the 7th Annual Region V-18 Nurse Midwifery Conference was held at the KU School of Nursing. Despite the snow, the event was memorable and attendance neared 100 participants. Highlights include the keynote presentation by Helen Varney Burst, author, historian, early founder of promoting CNM education in the U.S. and 1961 alumni of KU School of Nursing’s BS program. Dr. Thomas Strong, Perinatologist also presented some challenging thoughts about current knowledge and need for new research related to preterm labor.
Congratulations to Masters Graduates in May! Karen Mull and Jeane Schroeder from University of Kansas, and Samantha Petersen from University of Missouri-Kansas City. Celebrate your achievement!
Scholarship - During the March Conference 2 KU Nurse Midwifery students were chosen from those registered to receive a $500 scholarship from the local ACNM Chapter. Recipients were Ann Wright and Susan Cohen. CONGRATULATIONS!
Class 2002 - The Integration experience is once again providing out of state opportunities for some of the students. Jeane Schroeder is going to Ada, Oklahoma to the Carl Albert Indian Health Center; Karen Mull is leaving for Battendorf, Iowa to work with a CNM who was previously in Kansas City, Laura Murphy-Dellos; Suzanne Bentley is leaving for Denver, Colorado to work with the University Midwives in Denver; Cathy Gordon will be completing part of her integration in China with Ginger. Kelly Fritz will be located at the Birth and Women’s Center in Topeka; Ann Wright will be with Sharon Foster, CNM in Wichita, and Sam Petersen will be in Kansas City.
The 2002 Completion Ceremony is set. On July 27th, Saturday at 2:00 PM, KU School of Nursing Auditorium and Atrium area. Stephanie Moore, wife of Congressman Dennis Moore was the selected keynote speaker by the students. For all students in the program, please considering volunteering to help the 2002 class prepare, and mark your calendars to come and enjoy, celebrate, and congratulate them all!
ACNM Annual Convention is in Atlanta, May 24th-30th, 2002. Most of the faculty and preceptors will go. Many exciting events will be happening at this conference! Ann Wright was selected as the KU Nurse Midwifery Wyeth Ayerst Student Reporter and will receive a $1000 scholarship to help attend the conference. Judie Wika was selected by 2002 Class as Instructor of the Year. A ceremony will award her and other faculty from programs across the country. Sr Jeanne Meurer, CNM from St. Louis who many of you have met and heard speak as she was the keynote speaker for the 2002 Completion Ceremony, will be awarded the highest honor in the ACNM, the Hattie Hemschemeyer award for life-long outstanding service to the ACNM. Ginger will become a Fellow of the ACNM. With so much to celebrate, we will for sure by partying once again with the annual KU friends, alumni, preceptors and student Wine/Cheese gathering at the conference. Final details to be posted at convention.
Distance Education - Class 2003 will be the first nurse-midwifery class to have televised courses, through ITV format, to Ft Hays State University. We are new at this medium, but are excited for the opportunity. An advanced practice nurse from the community setting in Kansas City will also be auditing the course for continued professional development.
Local Chapter Meetings are winding down as summer approaches; however you are all invited to the meetings – they are first Wednesday of the month, 6:30 PM and locations change on a monthly basis so watch your e-mail often! May is another sponsored dinner by Wyeth, location not yet known.
Grants - Three have been diligently worked on by Marta Skalacki to assist our education program with practice development and enhancement of education for students. A large 5 year grant from the DHHS, for practice development was sent in January, a 3-year grant from AHEC called HETC for student development with family medicine, nutrition and dietetics and midwifery will be mailed this month, and a small grant to the Prime Health Foundation was sent last week. We hope for success in all three venues. Marta will continue to identify funding sources and submit proposals through the end of this year and into the foreseeable future!
Accreditation - In late June we will hear from ACNM Board of Review regarding our accreditation status. Thank you again for all your help!