Goldfarb School of Nursing News

Humble. Funny. Positive. Warm. Those are just some of the fond words colleagues use to describe Michael Ward, PhD, RTR, FASRT, vice dean of student affairs and diversity for Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College.

"I call him a king among people," says Angie Wade, director of communications and marketing at the college. Her team reports to Dr. Ward. "He's very humble so people don't always see how much he has done in so many people's lives, including our students and the people who work alongside him. He's also a very funny person. We tease each other all the time."

Wade and other Goldfarb team members say they will miss these qualities, along with his positive leadership style, strategic planning skills and signature bow tie as Dr. Ward retires from the college at the end of 2022.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, presented its highest honor, The Margretta Madden Styles President’s Award, to Dr. Michael Ward, Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Diversity for Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College located in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Ward received the prestigious award on October 13 at the 2022 ANCC National Magnet and Pathway to Excellence Conferences in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where nearly 11,000 nurses participated. According to ANCC, this was a record number of conference attendees for the organization.

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College receives $300,000 to ReduceBarriers to Nursing Education 

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College is one of 11 Missouri colleges to receive funding from a $3 million dollar grant aimed at making nursing education more accessible.  

Missouri Governor Mike Parson approved the grant on September 21, which will allocate $300,000 to Goldfarb School of Nursing.  “It is vitally important that we continue to invest in Missouri’s health care workforce,” said Governor Parson. “These grant funds will assist with expanding clinical partnerships and nursing resources to better provide students with a valuable education as well as increase enrollment capacity in the future.” 

At Goldfarb School of Nursing, our people make our school exceptional. For the first time, we partnered with The DAISY Foundation to show our gratitude to our instructors with the DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty.

Please join us in congratulating our 2022 DAISY Award® for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty winner Dusty Scheper, MSN, RN! 
 

Elizabeth Gillam, MSN, RN, APRN, FNP-BC, CCRN, CNML, knows that nursing is hard. And she knows that recently, it’s only gotten harder. But she believes that’s just an opportunity to grow. 

“I think of it as a challenge that we get to face. We get to be creative,” Elizabeth says. “Thinking of things differently can be scary but a cool challenge. And we get to be creative.” 

We’re honored to present Elizabeth with one of our 2023 Young Alumni Awards for her leadership and dedication to extraordinary care. 

“I’m so honored,” she says. “I’m so grateful for the time I had there. Everything I’ve done since was unlocked by being a student there.” 

There is no formula for what makes a good nurse, according to Trina Kumodzi, Ph.D., RN, CCRN. What makes you a good nurse is what makes you different. 

"When entering this profession, you would be surprised at how it turns out. How you turn out,” Trina says. “Nursing is a constant discovery. There are things I’m still finding out every day.” 

It's a vital perspective to pass down to the next generation of nurses, which Trina does as an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. With an impressive resume and commitment to training the next generation of nurses, it might seem evident that Trina would be a 2022 Goldfarb Young Alumni Award recipient — except for Trina. “When I got the email, I thought, Is this real?” She recalls. “I didn’t say anything. Two days later, I finally told my husband.” 

The award was humbling. 

“I’m so excited. I feel renewed in the work that I’m doing,” Trina says. “It was the validation of the community. I didn’t have to do any work but be myself.”

Please join us in congratulating Trina as one of our 2022 Young Alumni Award recipients.

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College wishes to acknowledge the personal, professional and community contributions of its alumni. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented in recognition of exemplary dedication to the profession of nursing to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to nursing education, research and service.

2022 Distinguished Alumni Award

Shirley Bradford Johnson, BSN, MS, MBA, NEA-BC, 1976 Barnes School of Nursing

MBA in Nursing Management and Business

Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College has been a whirlwind of activity thanks to summer commencement, an alumni reunion, and an inspiring visit by Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of the American Nursing Association (ANA).

As the 36th president of ANA representing 4 million nurses—and the first man to be elected president—Dr. Grant has a distinguished background of more than 30 years in nursing and is an internationally recognized expert in burn care and fire safety.

Dr. Grant recently spent four days in St. Louis with Goldfarb leaders, alumni and students, among others, with a call for advocacy and action for every generation of nurses.

The Young Alumni Award is presented in recognition of exemplary dedication to the profession of nursing to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to nursing education, research, and/or service in the first 10 years of their nursing career post baccalaureate This awards will be presented to the alumni recipient at the annual GSON Homecoming on Friday, September 23rd.  

The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented in recognition of exemplary dedication to the profession of nursing to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to nursing education, research and service. This awards will be presented to the alumni recipient at the annual GSON Homecoming on Friday, September 23rd.