Thoughts From The Interim Dean Linda Sarna (2015 Edition)

This year has been one of transition and change – both in our school of nursing and the profession of nursing. And while change can be unsettling, it also brings with it new opportunities to not just shape, but to lead the future of nursing education and nursing practice.

After serving as Acting Dean since July 2014, in March, I was named Interim Dean and will continue leading the School through June 30, 2017 while a search for a permanent dean moves forward. As a proud alumna, it is my privilege to continue in this role to further the legacy and heritage of our school. I have been overwhelmed by the positive support I have received from faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the School and for that I say thank you. Also, a big thank you to all of you who have donated and those who have continued to donate to the School during UCLA’s centennial campaign. Remember 2019 is our 70th birthday!

Early in my role as Acting Dean, I discovered there were several issues that needed to be addressed at the School to position us for a strong and vibrant future. In January, we announced a new administrative structure as well as new leadership within the School. Adey Nyamathi is serving as Associate Dean for International Research and Scholarly activities, Deborah Koniak- Griffin is continuing as the Associate Dean for Diversity and Equity, and Lynn Doering will be assuming the role of Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. All have been with the School for many years and are committed to addressing the challenges and creating the opportunities for leadership for students, faculty and staff.

Changes in Westwood weren’t just limited to the School, there are also major changes afoot in the Health Sciences leadership. Vice Chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences and Dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine, Gene Washington and CEO of the UCLA Hospital System, David Feinberg, have stepped down and are moving on to new opportunities. But while there was big fanfare about their departures, there is another change of leadership in the system – Heidi Crooks, the long-serving Chief Nursing Executive, will be stepping down from her role on June 30. I am pleased that the School of Nursing will be at the table to participate in the selection of the new leadership and to redefine the relationship between the health sciences and the school.

And, as if that is not enough, there are big changes and opportunities coming for the nursing profession. As we know, many of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act are aimed at advancing the roles and responsibilities of nurses in delivering healthcare. For example, we are expanding our placements for primary care nurse practitioner students with the additional funding from the Song Brown program.

We have always been pioneers in nursing education. UCLA was one of the first schools in the country to offer an interdisciplinary course – pairing advanced practice nurses and third-year medical residents together in class. Students learned about the roles each type of practitioner plays and how to collaborate and work as partners with other health professionals. Participants have been very positive in their reaction to the class.

Another new and very exciting interdisciplinary program is the new partnership UCLA Nursing and the David Geffen School of Medicine have created with three other schools of nursing and medicine (Yale, University of Michigan and University of Pennsylvania) to create the National Clinician Scholars Program with high quality mentoring and a tailored two-year postdoctoral curriculum for physicians and nurses to address regional health challenges and eliminate health disparities. Recruitment is underway with the first cohort beginning in 2016. This is an historic opportunity to advance team-based approaches in research, leadership, policy and education and I am proud of our leadership role in this arena.

As we continue to redefine our future, no doubt there will be more change, but I believe that all of this change – in the School and in the profession - positions us well to provide critical nursing leadership in healthcare.

#OfNote