Alumni & Friends - Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement

For significant accomplishments in nursing

2008

Barbara J. Zoeller received her diploma in Nursing from Wichita-St. Joseph School of Nursing in 1969, a BSN from the University of Iowa College of Nursing in 1971 and a Master’s in Nursing Administration in 1976. Ms. Zoeller was a staff nurse at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, a nurse manager at the Veterans Administration hospitals in both Wichita, KS and Iowa City, and served as a faculty member at the University of Iowa College of Nursing, University of Dubuque Nursing Department and The Finley Hospital School of Nursing. From 1978-1983, she served as executive director of the Dubuque Visiting Nurse Association.

In 1987, Ms. Zoeller was hired as the only employee of a small voluntary hospice agency. She has led Hospice of Dubuque through the Medicare certification process, resulting in its becoming a full-service, certified agency in 1990. This certification process opened other doors for the agency, providing access to the Hospice Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and access to federal and state funding available for care of the dying. She has also overseen the extension of the agency’s service area to Illinois and Wisconsin. In addition, Ms. Zoeller established the Hospice of Dubuque Foundation in 1996 to expand fundraising capabilities and ensure long-term viability for the program. Currently she provides administrative oversight and leadership to 60 staff members and approximately 120 professional and community volunteers serving communities within a 35-mile radius of Dubuque. Ms. Zoeller is involved with National Hospice and Palliative Care, National Council of Hospice Professionals, Iowa Hospice Organization, Mercy Medical Center ethics Committee, Clarke College Nursing Advisory Committee, and Gamma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. She is also involved with the Dubuque Salvation Army Advisory Board and Women’s Leadership Network.

PAST AWARD WINNERS:

2007

Joanne Herman, MSN'75

Dr. Joanne Herman was selected for her commitment to theory, clinical reasoning and nursing scholarship. She is the Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Graduate Director at the University of South Carolina College of Nursing. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University in 1966, and went on to earn her Masters at the University of Iowa in 1975 and a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984.

Dr. Herman’s area of teaching expertise is nursing theory, clinical reasoning, and research. She teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. Additionally, she is a mentor to students through her service on dissertation and thesis committees as well as undergraduate research projects.

Her research focus is on stress and health; psychophysiological interventions; internet interventions and stress in pregnancy. Since 2001, she has generated over $3.3 million in grant support. Dr. Herman co-authored Clinical Reasoning: Art and Science of Critical and Creative Thinking, with Dan Pesut. Dr. Herman serves on many university, professional and community organizations and committees and has been published in several nursing journals.

2006

Karen Martin, BSN'69

Karen Martin has extensive experience in home care and community health practice, research, client records, information systems, quality improvement and management. She is a Health Care Consultant for Martin Associates after being the Director of Research, VNA of Omaha, Omaha NE from 1978-1993. In the capacity of Director of Research, she developed grant proposals, organized and managed a research team, conducted and evaluated projects and disseminated results. In addition, she was the PI for two projects funded by the National Center for Nursing Research, which exceeded $1.2 million. Prior to these positions, she also worked as a Nursing Director, Office Nurse and Staff Nurse.

Karen has participated in more than 300 national and international workshops and presentations. She has been a Sigma Theta Tau Distinguished Lecturer since 1990 and was a Visiting Professor in Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, Japan and Taiwan. Karen has also been involved in workshops in New Zealand, Austria and Slovenia as well as serving as Co-chair of the Omaha System International Conference.

Karen is the author of more than 80 articles, chapters, and books and 70 editorials. She is the author of the Omaha System: A Key to Practice, Documentation, and Information Management (2nd ed., 2005). She is also the Co-Developer of the Omaha System Web site (www.omahasystem.org) and has served and serves on numerous editorial boards and review panels.  

2005

Ida (Ki) Moore, BSN'73; MA'78

Ida Marie (Ki) Moore, D.N.S., R.N., F.A.A.N. graduated from the University of Iowa College of Nursing in 1973 (BSN) and earned her MA from the College of Nursing in 1978.  She continued her nursing education at the University of California, San Francisco College of Nursing, where she earned a DNS in 1985.  Dr. Moore currently is Professor and Division Director of the Nursing Practice Division at the University of Arizona College of Nursing in Tucson, Arizona.  She also serves as Co-Chair of the Supportive Care research Program in the Arizona Cancer Center at the University. 

Over her career Dr. Moore has worked in different care settings related to her main interest of cancer in children (i.e., Oncology floors, Cancer Center) in the western part of the country.  She started her academic career as a lecturer in the University of Iowa College of Nursing and then assumed a position as an Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing in the Department of Physiological Nursing.  She continued her academic experience with her appointment in the same department to the rank of Assistant Professor where she remained until fall 1988.  In 1988, Dr. Moore began her career at the University of Arizona School of Nursing with her appointment to the Division of Family and Community Nursing at the rank of Assistant Professor.  Since that initial appointment and within the span of 10 years, Dr. Moore has been promoted to the rank of Professor and appointed as Division Director of the Nursing Practice Division.

Dr. Moore has received recognition and awards from NIH, University of California-San Francisco, University of Arizona College of Nursing, Oncology Nursing Society/Schering Laboratory, Sigma Theta Tau International, Roche’ Laboratories,  Davol Inc., and the Western Institute of Nursing.  She was also inducted as a Fellow, American Academy of Nursing in 1994.   These awards represent her significant contribution to oncology nursing education and nursing research.

As a nurse scholar, Dr. Moore has published widely in professional nursing and science journals.  She has 45 referred journal articles, 19 single-authored columns, 12 book chapters and monographs.  Dr. Moore has given 33 papers at national and international professional meetings.  In addition, over the last five years, she has been  invited to present 11 papers regionally.  Funding history for Dr. Moore started in 1989 with support from NINR for a Brain Injury and Cognitive Deficits after CNS Treatment. 

Over her academic career as either a PI or Co-Investigator, she and her colleagues have received over $7.5M dollars in research support from NINR, Oncology Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau International, Oncology Nursing Foundation, Leukemia Foundation, National Institute of Child Health and Development, Arizona State Legislature and Arizona Disease Control Research Commission. 

Dr. Moore participates in the professional organizations of Sigma Theta Tau International, Oncology Nursing Society, Association of Pediatric Oncology Pediatric Oncology Group, American Society for Cell Biology and Fellow, American Academy of Nursing.   

2004

Colleen J. Goode, BSN'61; PhD'93

Colleen J. Goode graduated from the University of Iowa College of Nursing in 1961 (BSN) and earned her MS from Creighton University in 1984. She continued her nursing education at the UI College of Nursing, where she earned a PhD in 1993. Dr. Goode currently is the Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver , Colorado . She is also an Adjunct Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Nursing Affairs at the University of Colorado School of Nursing.

Dr. Goode is an outstanding nurse executive and nurse leader who inspires her staff and colleagues to achieve the highest level of performance. She is an innovator and risk taker who motivates others by example and through excellent skills of persuasion.

Over the course of her career, she has successfully implemented three different care delivery models: team nursing (1970's); total patient care (1980's); and case management (1990's). In addition, she has contributed to nursing knowledge related to autonomy, recognition, care delivery models, and research-based administrative protocols.

As the former Director of Nursing in a small regional hospital, Dr. Goode led her staff to develop a model of practice based upon research. Numerous educational products (i.e., videos, guides, articles) have been produced about the model.

Under her leadership in 2002, The University of Colorado was the 44th hospital in the United States to be awarded Magnet status. To achieve this level of distinction, a hospital must exhibit high registered nurse job satisfaction, excellent registered nurse to patient ratios, the highest quality of patient care as assessed by its nursing staff, and low registered nurse turnover rate. This is one of the highest achievements a hospital can attain.

Dr. Goode is an active researcher and has single-authored or jointly-authored 47 publications and participated in approximately 100 poster and oral presentations. To this date, Dr. Goode continues her research work through active submission of grants with Dr. Mary Blegen to advance nursing practice.

Dr. Goode currently serves on the Standards and Survey Procedures Committee-At Large Representative of the Nursing Profession for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Most recently, she has been awarded the Leadership Excellence Award from Nurse Week magazine and the Research Award from the American Organization of Nurses Executives.

2003

Rebecca Johnson, MA'88; PhD'93

Dr. Rebecca Johnson graduated from Rock Valley College in 1978 in nursing and received a BSN from the University of Dubuque in 1980. She earned a M . Phil. in nursing in 1982 from University of Edinburgh , and a MA in Nursing from the University of Iowa College of Nursing and a PhD in gerontology. She currently serves as the Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing and Public Policy at the University of Missouri-Columbia Sinclair School of Nursing, Director of the Center on Aging, and as the Associate Director for the Research Center for the Study of Animal Wellness. She also holds a joint appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Dr. Johnson has carved a clear program of research in gerontology related to frail elders and preventing premature admission to nursing home facilities.

Dr. Johnson became the first nurse to hold an adjunct position at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. In her position as Associate Director for Research at the Center for the Study of Animal Wellness, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, she has solidified this interdisciplinary alliance.

Dr. Johnson disseminates her research widely in health science and gerontology journals; she also presents her results at major research conferences. Her work on pet therapy and the animal-human bond has received considerable publicity and she has been profiled in Time and CNN interviews (April 2003).

She is viewed as an exceptional collaborator, evidenced by her success in multidisciplinary research teams, her leadership of the Center on Aging at the University of Missouri, and her initiation of the nursing-veterinary collaboration. Her ethical principles are the highest and her commitment to the most vulnerable (ethnic and frail elders) is striking.

2002

Doris (Dori) J. Biester, BSN'63

Doris (Dori) J. Biester, (BSN '63) is a native of Dixon , Iowa and received her BSN degree from the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She practiced pediatric nursing for six years before beginning leadership roles in nursing at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and then The Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence , Rhode Island . Her leadership at The Children's Hospital, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center began with nursing roles, but soon expanded to leadership roles within the hospital as Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer and then President and Chief Executive Officer.

The nomination letter submitted by Professor Martha Craft-Rosenberg states, "...The hallmark of her leadership has been a focus on the improvement of health for children and families." Further evidence of her accomplishments within the profession is her participation in statewide outreach educational programs and her direction of prenatal nursing educational efforts in Rhode Island . Since being at The Children's Hospital in Denver , she has established the Family Advisory Council and has led a collaborative statewide High Risk Perinatal program including the University Hospital , the School of Medicine , and The Children's Hospital.

Other professional responsibilities include serving as the Chairperson of the Board, National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions and serving on the Board of Trustees for the Children's Miracle Network. Dr. Biester is also on the Board of Directors for Child Health Corporation of America and recently completed a term on the Board of Directors of Kid Smart, an integrated pediatric health care system involving primary care, specialty physicians and the Children's Hospital.

In her professional career, Dr. Doris J. Biester has distinguished herself and the University of Iowa College of Nursing through consistently increasing the depth and scope of her contributions to the health of children and their families, the nursing profession, and national leadership in health services delivery. Her vision and strategies have been shared with the profession through numerous national presentations and publications, with the profession recognizing her contributions in 1990 with her induction into the American Academy of Nursing.

2001

Karen A. Harmeyer, BSN'75

Karen A. Harmeyer, BSN '75 joined the Navy Nurse Corps upon graduation from the University of Iowa College of Nursing. Over the past 25 years, she has worked in the nursing profession in a variety of civilian and military positions.

As a Navy reservist, Karen Harmeyer participated in numerous staff and leadership positions culminating in her promotion to Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in 1997. In this role she serves as the Deputy Director of the Navy Nurse Corps representing more than 2,000 Naval Reserve nurses worldwide. The Director of the Navy Nurse Corps usually is a one-star active duty nurse. She is only the third woman to be selected to the one-star rank in the Naval Reserve. In her role as Admiral she has effectively promoted nursing and women's roles in the military. She has testified before Congress on the state of Navy nursing and this is the first time a Navy Reserve Nurse Corps officer has been asked to this.

In June 2000 she was asked to serve as the Interim Director (four months) for the entire Navy Nurse Corps. While serving in this capacity, she presented 3,000 active duty nurses and 2,000 reserve nurses.

Throughout her recent Navy experiences, Rear Admiral Harmeyer continues her civilian position as a half-time Discharge planner at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Rear Admiral Karen A. Harmeyer has recently received word of her promotion to the two-star rank of Rear Admiral (Upper Half). This is noted in her support letter as an historic event as she is the first two-star female Admiral in the entire Naval Reserve and the first nurse to have been selected to two-stars.

2000

Rozella Schlotfeldt, LA'35; GN'35

Rozella M. Schlotfeldt (1935 BS, GN) has collected a lengthy list of honors and awards, including several honorary doctorate degrees, distinguished service awards from the University of Iowa, the University of San Diego, and Boston University, election to the Institute of Medicine, several distinguished lectureships, and numerous other citations. She received Wayne State University's Centennial Award in 1968, and in 1972 had a scholarship fund and an endowed lectureship named for her by Case Western Reserve University.

Such recognition doesn't just hapen - indeed, Dr. Schlotfeldt's contributions to nursing are even more numerous than the awards she has received. Through teaching, scholarly publications, public appearances, consulting, and many other professional activities, Dr. Schlotfeldt became a seemingly tireless advocate for nurses and their unique role in the health care system.

A consistent theme of Dr. Schlotfeldt's work has been to define the nature and scope of nursing practice and the education required to provide competent nurses to meet society's needs. As dean and professor of nursing at Case Western Reserve University's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Dr. Schlotfeldt promoted the nursing doctorate, or ND degree as the minimum preparation required for nursing practice; the school was the first to implement the nursing doctorate in 1979.

1999

Sandra Smoley, BSN'58

Sandra R. Smoley (RN, 1959 BSN) recently launched a private consulting firm, The Sandra Smoley Group, after more than 25 years of distinguished service in state and local governments in California.

The first woman elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in 1972, she went on to serve five four-year terms, making policy in the areas of health, welfare, law enforcement, public works, parks, land use planning, and flood control.

In 1993, then-Governor Pete Wilson appointed Smoley to be secretary of California's Health and Welfare Agency, a cabinet-level position responsible for a $48.4 billion budget and 42,000 state employees. Under her leadership the agency implemented welfare reform, expanded access to health care for children of the state's working poor, established the Office of Women's Health and the Rural Health Policy Council, converted California's Medicaid program to managed care, increased resources for elderly services and services for people with developmental disabilities, and set up response teams in the wake of the Northridge earthquake.

She has served on the boards of numerous public and private nonprofit organizations and has received awards and honors from the American Cancer Society, the California Commission on the Status of Women, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and others. Her new venture, The Sandra Smoley Group, specializes in health care consulting with an emphasis on rural and international health.