Dean's Message (2017)

Greetings!

We have accomplished much over the past year, and one of the keys to our success has been our valuable stakeholders. From our outstanding students, to our inspiring faculty, prominent community partners and engaged alumni, this issue of UBNursing focuses on celebrating our achievements as we advance our reputation and pursue our mission of academic excellence.

U.S. News & World Report has once again ranked UB School of Nursing in the top 20 percent of undergraduate and graduate programs nationwide. Thanks to mentorship from faculty and community partners, and our ability to provide transformative immersive experiences, we position our students to become highly sought after in the professional marketplace upon graduation.

This past March, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the New York State Education Department were on site for a re-accreditation of our undergraduate, DNP and MS in Leadership in Health Care Systems programs. We are pleased to announce we have met all of the standards and are anticipating our final report this coming fall. This is important as it identifies our school as providing and upholding quality educational standards of professional preparation for our students.

As the health care landscape continues to evolve, the preparation of our students to address complex health care needs is our highest priority. Tackling health disparities, educating baccalaureate prepared and advanced practice nurses who lead change, and conducting evidence-based research have gripped the attention of health care professionals and the public alike. Here at UB, we have been proactive in preparing our students to ensure delivery of culturally competent, high quality and accessible health care.

This summer, we lost a valued faculty member, Ellen Volpe. She embodied the values we hold dear, including the School’s commitment to underserved populations highlighted in this issue. Throughout the magazine you will learn about many of Dr. Volpe’s accomplishments and contributions to the SON, UB and the community.

Sincerely,

Marsha L. Lewis, PhD, RN, FAAN
Dean and Professor