UB School of Nursing (SON) has a 75 year history of providing high quality nursing education in a dynamic university setting. Founded in 1936 as a Division of Nursing in the School of Medicine, UB School of Nursing (SON) is one of five schools composing the UB Academic Health Center. In 1940, the School of Nursing was established as an independent unit of UB. Initial baccalaureate degrees were designed to meet the needs of hospital school graduates. The generic baccalaureate program admitted its first students in 1950. Subsequently, RN-BS and RN-MS programs were added and now closed to admissions because of low enrollment. Under the leadership of Dr. Jean K. Brown, then Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, an accelerated baccalaureate program for second degree students was developed and approved in 2003. This program has been very successful and continues to grow in applications and enrollment.
A Master’s degree program was established in 1943. Reflecting the development of nursing education and the profession, early graduate programs focused on specialization in teaching, supervision, and administration. In 1964, a major curriculum revision established clinical concentrations within the program leading to a Master’s degree in nursing with functional areas in teaching, nursing service, and administration. As health care delivery changed and the need for advanced clinical nursing knowledge became a priority, the functional areas were dropped, and students could select preparation as a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner (NP), or nurse anesthetist. UB SON has been fortunate to have national leaders such as Drs. Bonnie Bullough, Adele Pillitteri, and Patricia Burns, pioneers in the NP movement, and Ira Gunn, a pioneer in nurse anesthesia education, on our faculty to develop these programs.
A Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS) program was added in 1988 with the last student graduating in 2008. Admissions to this program are now closed. Under the leadership of Dr. Jean K. Brown, a PhD program was developed and approved in 2004. This is one of two PhD in nursing programs in the SUNY system. It is also one of two nursing PhD programs in NYS that are outside the New York City metropolitan area.
A Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program was established in 2011 offering both post-master's and post baccalaureate programs of study in five areas; Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthetist. The post-baccalaureate program is designed for completion in three years of full-time study or up to seven years of part-time study, while the post-master's program can be completed in five semesters of part-time study and may be completed through distance learning.
The UB SON currently offers three programs leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree, a Doctor of Nursing Practice in five programs of study including Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthetist; a Master's Degree in Nursing Leadership in Health care Systems and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. Based on September 2012 enrollment, we have a student body of 216 undergraduate and 185 graduate students taught by 40 full time and 15 part time faculty. In addition, we have 497 intended freshmen and sophomore nursing majors who have not been accepted into the program. Our latest undergraduate diversity statistics (Fall 2012) indicate that 89.8% of the students are female, 66.6% are White, 13.4% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 13.5% are Black, 16.6% are Hispanic, 0.4% are Native American or Alaskan, and 6% are unknown. Our latest graduate diversity statistics (Fall 2012) indicate that 80% of the students are female, 69.1% are White, 6.4% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 8.1% are Black, 1% are Hispanic, 1% are Native American or Alaskan, and 14% are unknown. Undergraduate and graduate international student enrollment is 4.0% and 7.6%, respectively. From September 2011 to June 2012, we conferred 132 BS degrees, 55 MS degrees, 4 PhD degrees. We have over 7600 alumni, 5769 undergraduates and 2483 graduate.
The School maintains membership in the national honor society in nursing, Sigma Theta Tau, Inc., through the Gamma Kappa Chapter. The School also holds membership in the National Student Nurses Association.
Marsha Lewis, PhD, RN is the Dean of the UB School of Nursing (UB SON). Dr. Lewis was recruited to the position in February 2012 following a national search. Dr. Lewis was appointed Dean by University President Satish Tripathi on February 2, 2012.
Dr. Lewis earned her BSN in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, her MS in nursing and her PhD in education from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Lewis has demonstrated exceptional leadership for UB SON faculty, staff, and students during her short time here at UB as well in her past positions prior to joining UB SON. Prior to being appointed Dean of the UB SON, Dr. Lewis began her career in higher education as an instructor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in 1977, became assistant professor in 1992 and rose to director of graduate studies in 2001. In 2006, Dr. Lewis was appointed as an associate professor and associate dean for education in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta. Over the years Dr. Lewis has mentored countless faculty, students and fellow researchers in their academic achievements. Based on her leadership skills she was recruited to be the school’s seventh dean.