Dean's Corner

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When my co-editors assigned me the prestigious task of writing this column we did not know that it would be so special! It is rare to get to wish an outgoing Dean, Dr. Judy Karshmer, safe travels in her new life journey and welcome our new Dean, Dr. Margaret Baker to our fold. This segment will highlight some of the accomplishments of Dean Karshmer and the next edition will present Dean Baker’s vision for the SONHP.

I first met Dean Karshmer in 2007 at an informational session for the newly created Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. It has been a pleasure to first know her as a DNP student and then secondly as a boss. She has been such a tremendous influence on the visionary aspect of my career and several others. From the time that I came on board I have seen tremendous growth and increasing diversity in faculty, staff, and the student body. She works tirelessly to keep us from becoming extinct.

Once we were SON, School of Nursing and now we are SONHP, School of Nursing and Health Professions! She should be very proud of the respect that the School of Nursing and Health Professions holds in the Higher Ed Community. New programs developed under her wing include:

• Bachelor in Health Services
• Master of Science in Behavioral Health
• Master of Science in Health Informatics
• Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation
• Master of Science in Nursing for Non-Nurses (Orange County campus)
• Master of Science in Nursing for Registered Nurses (Online and at four Regional Campuses)
• Master of Public Health (Main Campus, Sacramento and Online)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice - Completion Program
• Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive Leadership
• Doctor of Nursing Practice - Family Nurse Practitioner
• Doctor of Nursing Practice – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

U.S. News & World report ranks us as follows:

#6 for Clinical Nurse Leader Programs
#85 for Best Nursing Schools - Doctor of Nursing Practice
#142 for Best Nursing Schools - Master’s 

Our charm at SONHP is that we are always innovating. The healthcare landscape requires our professional programs to be as nimble as possible without sacrificing rigor. Our students are highly encouraged to undertake trailblazing projects to help “Change the world from here”. These trailblazing projects can also be traced to our community engagement projects and partnerships. Our community partners are highly engaged in several initiatives designed to improve the quality throughout continuum of care. In addition, our various programs also practice together in community settings committed to a shared vision in positively augmenting patient and caregiver experiences.

Such achievements did not come easy. Judy collaborated with staff, faculty, students, and service partners to make the vision a reality. Our achievements are driven by the need to train our current and future healthcare providers and partners in creating a patient-centered approach to healthcare. Lastly, I am very grateful for the opportunity to be the Associate Dean for Educational Outreach for SONHP and to contribute to the transformation of our education and healthcare landscapes.

Wishing Judy a great transition in the next leg of her professional journey!