Faculty Member Joins Select Group of Fellows
ELIAS PROVENCIO-VASQUEZ,
Ph.D., N.P., F.A.A.N., F.A.A.N.P.,
associate professor at the School of
Nursing and Health Studies, was one
of 20 nurses nationwide to recently
be selected as a 2009 Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation (RWJF)
Executive Nurse Fellow.
Now in its 12th year, the national
fellowship program focuses on expanding the role of nurses to lead change in
the U.S. health care system, provides extensive leadership development for
nurses in executive roles in public or community health, science and research,
corporate health, academia, government or military health service. Fellows in
the three-year program remain in their current positions while they receive
training, mentoring, and the opportunity to implement innovative health
care strategies in their communities.
“Nurses provide a unique perspective in the health care system, understanding both the patient experience and the way policies and procedures affect health outcomes,” said Marilyn P. Chow, D.N.Sc., R.N., F.A.A.N., the RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows national program director. “We are thrilled to have Dr. Elias Provencio-Vasquez join the 2009 group of fellows. The experience will enable him to bring new skills and resources to improve healthcare in the South Florida community.”
As part of the fellowship, Provencio-Vasquez will have an opportunity to design and implement a leadership project to address issues of essential importance to the future of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, as well as to the broader health care system.
“I am honored and excited to have this opportunity to explore new solutions that will ‘bridge the gap’ and build collaboration between academia and service,” says Provencio-Vasquez. “I will create an alliance between the School of Nursing and Health Studies and University of Miami Hospital to design a model that will result in a smoother transition from student to staff nurse, better nurse satisfaction levels, reduce turnover rate, and increase retention.”
The Executive Nurse Fellowship is supported through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and matching funds from the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
