Linda Porter-Wenzlaff, Ph.D., RN, used a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to enhance cultural competency in the School of Nursing.
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By Rosanne Fohn

Linda Porter-Wenzlaff, Ph.D., RN, associate professor/clinical and Distinguished Teaching Professor in the School of Nursing, has received a national award for her work in promoting diversity within the nursing workforce. The Prism Award was sponsored by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and was presented by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) at its annual meeting mid-April in San Diego.

“Over the past two and a half years, Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff has done a marvelous job leading the School of Nursing through deliberate, multifaceted activities to establish an environment of enhanced cultural competency,” said Carol Reineck, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, CENP, NEA-BC, who nominated Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff for the award. Dr. Reineck is an associate professor and chair of the Department of Health Restoration & Care Systems Management in which Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff works.

“Through Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff’s outstanding work, hundreds of nursing students and more than 100 faculty members have developed greater cultural awareness,” Dr. Reineck said. “She tirelessly devotes many of her professional efforts to the development of cultural proficiency for both undergraduate and graduate students who will become the future nursing workforce.”

Multifaceted inclusion plan
Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff established and chaired an ad hoc committee on Diversity and Intercultural Issues that collaborated with a nationally recognized consultant over two years through the support of School of Nursing Dean Eileen T. Breslin, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, to develop two workshops each for faculty and staff as well as supporting materials to enhance understanding of diversity. Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff encouraged faculty to complete an extensive cultural continuing education program offered through the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Minority Health that included free teaching materials. Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff also worked with undergraduate faculty members to incorporate diversity content into the curriculum, that built across all four semesters. She also worked with the consultant to hold student focus groups to establish a baseline of understanding and to identify areas for further diversity education for faculty and staff.

In addition, Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff worked with Loretta James, assistant to the dean, and the consultant to initiate a process for developing culturally competent policies and procedures. Working with another nursing faculty member, Adelita Cantu, Ph.D., M.S., RN, and with financial support from Dean Breslin, Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff established access to an online multicultural calendar for the UT Health Science Center community to heighten awareness of different cultures and religions in order to promote understanding, culturally competent care and scheduling of campus activities with a sensitivity to holidays and holydays of other cultures.

Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff supported another faculty member, M. Danet Lapiz Bluhm, Ph.D., RN, in establishing the International Nursing Student Association, which has become a large and active organization celebrating diversity and supporting activities that increase understanding, student inclusion and success.


Broad career
A member of AONE, Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff has more than 36 years’ experience in the nursing profession, working as a pediatric clinical nurse specialist, administrator and teacher.

“As a member of the AONE National Diversity Council, I am aware of many outstanding diversity efforts and programs across the country so it is indeed a significant honor that our work was recognized by the AONE Board of Directors,” Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff said. “As is so often the case when one person is recognized, many are not and the changes in our School of Nursing were a collaborative effort, as must be the case with any successful movement toward greater understanding, inclusion and equity. It has been a joint accomplishment and speaks to Dean Breslin’s support and the common vision and hard work of a core group of dedicated faculty.”

Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff’s expertise includes family-centered care, nursing administration, teaching, diversity and animal-assisted therapy in health care. She is a licensed professional counselor, a nationally certified nurse educator, UT Health Science Center Master Teacher and UT System Distinguished Teaching Professor. She holds an advanced nurse executive certificate, is a certified executive in nursing practice and a Six Sigma Black Belt.