Eight UArizona Nursing faculty honored as 2023 Fab 50 Nurses
Eight University of Arizona College of Nursing faculty were honored by their peers during the 2023 Tucson Fabulous 50 Nurses gala hosted by the Tucson Nurses Week Foundation.
The 22nd annual event was the city's capstone celebration to National Nursing Week in May. The Fabulous 50 nurses were selected by their peers for being role models and mentors, demonstrating concern for humanity and contributing to the Tucson community and the profession of nursing.
The Tucson Nurses' Week Foundation was formed in 1994 by a group of Tucson nurses who wanted the city to come together to celebrate local nurses during National Nurses Week. The goals of the foundation and Nurses Week events are to enhance education and research among Tucson-area nurses and to celebrate excellence by recognizing nurses and the role they play in the health of the community.
Below are comments from the each of the eight College of Nursing Fabulous 50 Nurses about their recognition:
Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
assistant clinical professor
Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
“It’s incredibly meaningful to be selected as a Tucson Fab 50 nurse for 2023, especially since this honor came from a nomination by Connie Miller, DNP, RNC-OB, CNE, CCCE, a colleague I highly admire and respect. Belonging to a faculty group that is so willing to uplift and recognize the work that each of us does speaks to the high regard we have for one another and is nothing short of inspiring. Receiving this recognition is extremely fulfilling and motivates me to forge ahead in our efforts to impact health equity in practice, education, research and policy.
“In addition, the honor of being acknowledged as a noteworthy nurse by the Tucson Nurses Week Foundation is immensely humbling. Since I’ve been a Tucson resident, I have been in awe of the local nursing community. Time and time again, my love for this community has been reinforced through demonstrated camaraderie, resilience and commitment to care for one another. I can’t express what it means to have this incredible group of nurses deem me as a nurse worthy of recognition, and I thank our UArizona College of Nursing community and the community of Tucson.”
Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA
associate clinical professor
Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA
“It means the world to me to be recognized for the work I do as a CRNA, educator and leader in advanced practice nursing. As the Nurse Anesthesiology Program Administrator, it is imperative for me to ensure patient safety and access to care and training of our nurse anesthesiology residents to meet the needs of Tucson and Arizona. The Nurse Anesthesiology program has only been in existence for five years, but we have grown and will graduate 24 CRNAs each year.
Because CRNAs can practice independently, they fill critical healthcare staffing shortages. For instance, 80% of rural anesthesia care is provided by CRNAs, thus ensuring access to care. Their preparation is a responsibility I take to heart, because I want every person in Arizona to have the best care possible. I love my profession and I hope this passion inspires those around me.”
Julio Loya, PhD, RN
assistant professor
Julio Loya, PhD, RN
“I feel honored to be selected as one of this year’s Fab 50 nurses. I believe that being nominated and selected for this award recognizes and highlights the importance of the research in partnering with the community to improve their health. Specifically, my research partnership with Clinica Amistad enables me to answer important questions about the community and, at the same time, benefits individuals by assisting them to incrementally change their health-related behaviors. This award is not simply a product of my own efforts, but rather it is a compilation of the many people that have helped me along in my journey as a nurse and a person.”
Allen Prettyman, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP
clinical professor
Allen Prettyman, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP
“I’m grateful to be selected as one of this year’s Fab 50 nurses. My educational trajectory has focused on families and using a holistic model and approach to healthcare. I work to provide nursing students with an interdisciplinary telehealth educational platform to learn and apply clinical skills. In addition, I successfully balance the role of expert nurse practitioner providing care to individuals with administration responsibilities such as staffing and budget. I strive for unsurpassed excellence in clinical outcomes and to this end develop ongoing collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary translational team members.”
John Sparks, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC
assistant clinical professor
John Sparks, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC (Photo courtesy of BrainDance Productions)
“Upon hearing that I had been nominated and selected to be part of the 2023 Fabulous 50 Nurses cohort, I felt deep humility that a fellow nurse believed I was worthy of such recognition and had taken the time and energy to nominate me. I am honored that the selection committee chose to pick my submission from among other dedicated and worthy fellow nurses. During my time as a nurse, I have always looked to those individuals selected to be part of the Fabulous 50 cohorts as examples of dedicated services to the community and the advancement of the nursing profession. Being honored has, and will, continue to increase my drive, desire and passion for serving the greater Tucson community as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and heighten my efforts to represent and further the ideals of the nursing profession in my role as an educator.”
Morgan Stock, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE
lecturer
Morgan Stock, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE
“Why winning the Fab 50 is important to me: teamwork. That’s what creates a productive educational environment for our students. As a 2023 Fab 50 nurse, I know that success does not happen in a vacuum. I am successful because of the wonderful BSN educators and leadership team at the College of Nursing and am grateful for the motivation and encouragement I receive from them. My success is their success — and theirs are mine. We are a solid team, all dedicated to the success of our amazing nursing students. The Fab 50 award underscores the university’s dedication to students. I am privileged to be part of that dedication.”
Shu-Fen Wung, PhD, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN
associate professor
Shu-Fen Wung, PhD, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN
“In my 35-year nursing career, I am grateful to have spent 22 years serving the Tucson community in my role as an educator to train advanced practice nurses and researchers, lead interdisciplinary research to advance science in personalized health monitoring across different care settings and provide direct care to older adults with acute and multiple chronic conditions. It is my honor and privilege to be recognized for this award along with my outstanding colleagues. I send my deepest appreciation to my mentors, mentees, colleagues, family and friends who believe in me and support me so I can make meaningful contributions to this great community.”
Janay Young, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C
assistant clinical professor
Janay Young, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C (Photo courtesy of BrainDance Productions)
“I am very grateful to receive this award, as it represents the important work that all nurses are doing to promote, treat and de-stigmatize mental health in Southern Arizona. I am honored that my work to study, bring attention to and find effective interventions to treat the increasing rates of post-traumatic-stress disorder, vicarious trauma and suicide is being recognized. I am thankful for the opportunity to help educate and promote resiliency in the next generation of health care providers, and to do clinical work that supports healing from PTSD with non-ordinary states of consciousness; it is meaningful that this resonates with others.”
A version of this story was originally published by the College of Nursing.