From the Dean

Dear Friends,

Since our last issue, the School of Nursing celebrated its 110th anniversary with a magnificent gathering at McNamara Alumni Center of alumni, faculty, students and special guests. It was such a vibrant combination of commemorating our rich history and affirming our bright future.

Among the speakers that night was retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. and OptumServe CEO Patricia Horoho. Lt. Gen. Horoho, who was the first woman and first Nurse Corps Officer to hold the appointment of U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command, highlighted the School of Nursing’s longstanding connection with the military and of serving veterans. And in discussing the school’s role of training the most military nurses of any university during World War II, she thanked the school for having “the moral courage, the resiliency and what it takes when a nation is watching to be able to stand up and have an impact.”

This issue of Minnesota Nursing takes a look back at the school’s history of military collaboration, our 40-plus year relationship with the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and most importantly, shows how our partnership with the VA has enabled the school to integrate veteran centered health curriculum into the health education of our Bachelor of Science in Nursing students. In these pages to follow, we also explore the work our faculty are doing to improve the lives of citizens both in our backyard and around the world.

The cover story shares Assistant Professor Melissa Horning’s research on how a mobile market can improve the management of weight, blood pressure, diabetes and mental health in underserved communities and reduce health disparities. Another article sheds light on the potential for big data and the school’s partnership with OptumLabs to deliver precision medicine for the millions who take statins to reduce their LDL cholesterol. We highlight yet another example of how the health of our planet is intricately linked to the health of people. Our nursing research creates interventions to mitigate effects of climate-driven displacement in the Horn of Africa.

This Fall/Winter issue formally introduces Empowering Health, the School of Nursing’s $45 million philanthropic campaign, illustrating the impact strategic investment today will have on advancing nursing education and research in the years to come.

We invite you to enjoy reading Minnesota Nursing and look forward to your thoughts and comments.

Connie White Delaney
Professor and Dean