Pam Bataillon, a graduate of the UNMC College of Nursing’s master’s degree in community health, has accepted the position of assistant dean of administration in the College of Nursing.
“This is my alma mater. I have followed with interest what the university and UNMC are doing. In traveling around the country, I hear about UNMC’s reputation,” Bataillon said. “I’m really excited about the chancellor’s vision and the college’s long range plan and want to be part of the plan.”
Mary McNamee, Ph.D., assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC, previously held the position, which has been vacant.
Bataillon is well known in Nebraska community health and policy circles. In her new position, she will provide oversight of the college’s administrative services, including human resources, academic and staff support, facilities, and fiscal and business management.
“Pam Bataillon brings a wealth of operations experience to the college,” said Virginia Tilden, D.N.Sc., dean of the UNMC College of Nursing. “Her background as chief operating officer and acting CEO of the Visiting Nurses Associations of Omaha, and Pottawattamie County, Iowa, combined with her experience as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy fellow, bring an excellent array of skills to the college. We are lucky to have her join us.”
She said her goals include enhancing the administrative structure, and supporting faculty, staff and students in their pursuit of excellence in education, research and patient care, and “keeping the machinery of the college going forward,” she said.
Bataillon said she accepted the position for various reasons. “One of the major things when looking at the position is I asked if there was a long range plan,” she said. “Dr. Tilden handed me one. I was impressed by the breadth and depth of the plan. It’s a big plan with lots of activity and vision. It’s dynamic and exciting.
“I am impressed by the dean’s energy and vision, and like the way she spent a lot of time talking to faculty and staff about the long-range plan. I like her management style.”
She said in researching the college and UNMC on the Web, she was really intrigued with what was going on at UNMC.
Since taking the position, she’s been most impressed by the excitement and enthusiasm UNMC employees have. “Everyone I’ve met has welcomed me and thanked me for choosing UNMC,” Bataillon said. Another thing she likes about UNMC is its diversity. “Having been in Washington where there’s an international community it’s made me much more aware of being a global citizen. That attracted me.”
She hopes to use her experience in Washington to make the college and nursing more visible.
In her most recent position as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow, she traveled the country and until 2004, as a legislative analyst and health policy advisor for Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Ark., a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Special Committee on Aging. Her duties included advising on a range of health issues, working with interest groups, drafting legislation, arranging hearings and briefing the senator for committee sessions and floor debates.
Bataillon currently is an adjunct faculty member teaching non-profit management in the College of Business at the University of Dallas, as well as an adjunct faculty member and guest lecturer for the Creighton University School of Nursing.
From 2000 to 2003, she was chief operating officer for the Visiting Nurse Association of Omaha, as well as acting CEO of the VNA of Pottawattamie County, and health department director of the county. She was a candidate for Nebraska lieutenant governor from 1997 to 1998. From 1988 to 2000, she served as vice president of the VNA, and from 1979 to 1988, she taught community health nursing at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Midland Lutheran College.
In addition, she served as a public health supervisor and public health nurse for the Douglas County Health Department and VNA from 1972 to 1979. From 1981 to 1985, she was an organizational and community health consultant.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Creighton University, her master’s degree from the UNMC College of Nursing, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Dallas.
She has published numerous papers on community health, health policy and business.