Norma Martinez Rogers, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, (left) immediate past president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, presents School of Nursing Dean Eileen T. Breslin, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, with the Presidential Award.
Printer Friendly Format

Contact: Rosanne Fohn, 210-567-3079

SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 10, 2010) — The National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) presented its highest award to Eileen T. Breslin, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is the first nursing school dean and first non-Hispanic nurse to receive the Presidential Award, presented at NAHN’s 35th annual conference July 21 in Washington, D.C.

The presentation of the award was supported by a unanimous decision of NAHN’s board of directors. “This is the highest award that the association presents,” said immediate Past President Norma Martinez Rogers, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, who presented the award. “Dean Breslin received this award for the visible commitment she has made not only to the association, but in promoting an increase of Hispanics in nursing,” added Dr. Rogers, who also is a professor in the Health Science Center’s Department of Family & Community Health Systems.

Graduating more nurses for South Texas
In February, the School of Nursing received $3.9 million from Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc. to begin three new nursing degree programs to address the nursing shortage in South Texas, a 38-county medically underserved area that is largely populated by Hispanics with lower incomes.

Making nursing careers more accessible for Hispanics
The new programs include an innovative accelerated bachelor’s degree for students with a degree in another field, an online master’s degree program and a Doctoral Degree in Nursing Practice. These programs, in addition to the traditional programs offered by the School of Nursing, will provide better educated nurses for bedside practice, clinical leadership, research and education for South Texas. Part of the $3.9 million also provides scholarships for minority nurses entering the DNP program.

Clinical Simulation Center to offer more realistic educational experience
In July, the School of Nursing announced additional funding of about $3 million to construct a Clinical Simulation Center on the school’s lower level that will not only offer realistic clinical education for Health Science Center students, but continuing education and certification programs for nurses in South Texas and the opportunity for more extensive collaborations with the School of Nursing’s educational and clinical partners in the region.

“I am honored to receive this award from the National Association of Hispanic Nurses,” Dean Breslin said. “We have been able to accomplish these initiatives as a result of our wonderful and diverse faculty and staff, and our many community partners.”

Advocating for Hispanic community
NAHN also commended Dean Breslin for her support of Dr. Rogers’ two-year commitment as president of NAHN, which was completed at the annual conference. “Dean Breslin has shown her advocacy for the Hispanic community by providing all of this support,” Dr. Rogers said.

Dr. Rogers to head new National Association of Hispanic Nurses Fund
Dr. Rogers will continue her involvement with NAHN as a founding board member and chair of the new National Association of Hispanic Nurses Fund. “Our mission is to support our association by obtaining sponsorships to provide scholarships for our student members, mentorship programs and educational programs to help eliminate Hispanic health disparities,” Dr. Rogers said.

Adelita Cantu, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor in the Department of Family & Community Health Systems, will serve on NAHN’s Board of Directors overseeing the association’s bylaws.

One program that the NAHN fund will shepherd is a new mentoring project for Hispanic nursing students based on Dr. Rogers’ successful Juntos Podemos (Together We Can) program at the Health Science Center. The $500,000 in federal funding for the new program will be released this September through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Dr. Cantu to serve on NAHN board
In addition to Dr. Rogers, Adelita Cantu, Ph.D., RN, will represent the Health Science Center on NAHN’s board of directors. The assistant professor in the Department of Family & Community Health Systems will serve as the board member in charge of the association’s bylaws.

# # #
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, one of the country’s leading health sciences universities, ranks in the top 3 percent of all institutions worldwide receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding. Research and other sponsored program activity totaled a record $259 million in fiscal year 2009. The university’s schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have produced approximately 26,000 graduates. The $739 million operating budget supports eight campuses in San Antonio, Laredo, Harlingen and Edinburg. For more information on the many ways “We make lives better®,” visit www.uthscsa.edu.