OCU nursing school gets new dean

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), May 16, 2001 by Kirby Lee Davis

Dr. Marvel L. Williamson is the new dean of Oklahoma City University's Kramer School of Nursing.

She replaces Dr. Andrea West, who has been dean of the OCU Kramer School of Nursing since 1997.

Williamson comes to OCU from the American Nurses Association in Washington, D.C., where she wrote grant proposals, directed federal and private grant programs, and directed the American Nurses Foundation's strategic planning process.

A nursing professor for more than 20 years, Williamson has taught at the University of Kentucky, the University of Iowa, and Albany State University. During the 1990s, she was dean of health sciences and professor of nursing at Park University, directing two branch campuses and the university's testing and evaluation service, responsible for more than 75 faculty and staff and management of a multimillion dollar budget.

Williamson was also in private health care for 15 years, nursing at Wesley Medical Center's surgery unit in Wichita, Good Samaritan Hospital's coronary intensive care unit in Lexington, Ky., and Family Practice Medical Clinic in Nicholasville, Ky. From 1989-91, she was vice president for patient services at Ransom Memorial Hospital in Ottawa, Kan., where she managed the nursing, pharmacy, social services, housekeeping, laundry, food services, and nutrition/ dietetics departments.

She has authored two books, 11 professional journal articles, two book chapters, and articles for five other publications.

Other people

Glenda Colon is the new director of the St. Anthony Hospital Volunteer League. Colon, who expects to become an OCU graduate in December, had served the American Red Cross for a decade.

Marie A. Bernard, chair of the University of Oklahoma Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatric Medicine, has been named co-editor of the online textbook eMedicine.com. She will share duties with Dr. Toni Miles, a professor of family medicine at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in San Antonio.

Business

The 10 OU Health Sciences Center physicians taking their otolaryngology training recorded the nation's highest scores on the annual in-service exam. "Our residents have always done well on the exam," noted Dr. Jesus Medina, chair of the OU Department of Otolaryngology, "but this year's performance is really outstanding. "Out of 106 ear, nose and throat residency programs in the United States, no program scored higher than OU."

Events

From 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Thursday, St. Anthony Hospital will present the eighth annual "A Stroke of Courage" conference at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center, 4345 N. Lincoln Blvd. Featured will be presentations by stroke survivor and Miss America 1963 Jacuelyn Mayer and Drs. David J. Karasek, Michael Jacoby, David P. Faxon and Phillip Comp. The luncheon will cost $10; all other sessions are free. Sponsors for "A Stroke of Courage" are Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dupont Pharmaceuticals, the Oklahoma Beef Industry Council, and Pharmacia. Reservations are required; call St. Anthony OnCall, 231-8866.

Etc.

Integris Oncology Services offers support groups on leukemia, bereavement, breast cancer and families. For details on the free community service gatherings, call 951-2277.

From 9 a.m.-noon May 24, Midwest Regional Medical Center's Geriatric Mental Health Program will present a free Senior Health Fair at the Midwest City Community Center. For details, call 610- 8270.

At 10 a.m. May 25, Deaconess at Bethany will present a free presentation on the risk factors and warning signs of stroke. Register by calling Deaconess HealthLink at 848-4079.

From May 29-31, officials with the Senior Health Insurance Counseling Program, which is operated by Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher, will offer training for volunteers who wish to counsel senior citizens about their health insurance needs. Successful completion of the program makes participants certified volunteer counselors for the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Call 521- 6628 for more info.

At 8:30 a.m. June 9, registration begins for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's "Walk to Cure Diabetes" at Remington Park. Last year's 3,000+ participants raised $372,000. For details, call 810- 0070.

Kirby Lee Davis welcomes your comments and contributions. You may reach him by phone at 278-2843, by fax at 278-2890 or by e-mail, kdavis