UNMC has selected Linda Cronenwett, Ph.D., professor and dean of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing, to receive a 2005 Honorary Doctor of Science degree.
During her visit, Dr. Cronenwett will present a lecture titled, “Nursing’s Contributions to Healthcare Quality: Raising the Bar,” on Thursday, May 12, from 11 a.m. to noon, in the lower level of the Storz Pavilion in Clarkson Tower. She will receive the honorary degree during Friday’s commencement ceremony in Omaha.
Dr. Cronenwett is a national leader in health care quality improvement. Her national services include co-chair of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors, member of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Transforming Care at the Bedside National Advisory Committee, member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and Steering Committee member for the Program on Health Outcomes at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The University of Nebraska awards honorary doctoral degrees to recognize
individuals who have attained achievements of extraordinary and lasting distinction. Criteria for the honor include distinguished service to UNMC, the state of Nebraska, a graduate, former student or employee who’s achieved distinction, or a person of high distinction from the United States or abroad.
Dr. Cronenwett’s nominator said she has dedicated her career to improving lives of patients and has improved patient care through involvement nationally.
“She has a strong background in forging clinical-academic partnerships that result in better patient care at the bedside and better teaching and research in academics,” her nominator wrote. “Her expertise in this area will be valuable at UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center.”
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing currently ranks third in the country in National Institutes of Health research funding. Increasing research at the UNMC College of Nursing, and being among the top five in nursing research, is one of the top priorities of Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. Currently, the college is ranked 21.