[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 63 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4488-S4489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO DR. FAYE GLENN ABDELLAH

 Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Faye 
Glenn Abdellah, who is about to retire after 49 years of service to the 
Federal Government and the Nation. Dr. Abdellah is currently serving as 
the Founding Dean of the Graduate School of Nursing, GSN, Uniformed 
Services University of the Health Sciences, USUHS. It does not seem so 
long ago that the United States Senate recognized Dr. Abdellah's 
induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame in October of 2000 for 
a lifetime spent establishing and leading essential health care 
programs for our country.
  I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Abdellah for many years, and 
I would be remiss if I were to focus only on the last nine years of Dr. 
Abdellah's service as Dean of the GSN. Dr. Abdellah is a nurse, and 
educator, a researcher, and an internationally recognized leader in 
nursing. As the first nurse to hold the rank of Rear Admiral, Upper 
Half, and the title of Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, her 
incredible leadership abilities have resulted in many truly remarkable 
accomplishments. Her numerous achievements include: the development of 
the first tested coronary care unit, which saved thousands of lives, 
the authorship or co-authorship, of more than 152 publications, some of 
which have been translated into six languages and which have altered 
nursing theory and practice, and the receipt of almost 90 professional 
and academic honors and eleven honorary degrees, all recognizing her 
innovative work in nursing research and health care. She has the unique 
honor of being elected as a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of 
Nursing where she later served as the Academy's Vice President and 
President.
  Dr. Abdellah was also the recipient of the prestigious Allied Signal 
Award in 1989 and the Institute of Medicine's Gustav O. Lienhard Award 
in 1992. In 1994, the American Academy of Nursing presented her with 
``The Living Legend'' Award; in 1999, she was elected to the Hall of 
Fame for Distinguished Graduates and Scholars at Columbia University. 
On April 30, 2001, she received the ``Breaking Ground in Women's Health 
Award'' in Chicago, IL. Her military awards include: the Surgeon 
General's Medallion and Medal, two United States Public Health Service

[[Page S4489]]

Distinguished Service Medals; the USUHS Distinguished Service and 
Meritorious Service Medals, the Secretary of the Department of Health 
Education and Welfare Distinguished Service Award, and two Founders 
Medals from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. 
Dr. Abdellah is renowned as an expert in health policies related to 
long-term care, mental retardation, the developmentally disabled, 
aging, hospice, and AIDS; her pioneering contributions have 
substantially and lastingly improved our Nation's health.
  In 1993, the Congress directed the initiation of a demonstration 
program for the preparation of family nurse practitioners to meet the 
needs of the uniformed services. Of course, the individual who stepped 
forward to assist the USUHS President, James A. Zimble, M.D., Vice 
Admiral, Retired, was Dr. Abdellah. In the short time since its 
establishment, the USUHS Graduate School of Nursing has: recruited and 
retained a qualified faculty, successfully established curricula for 
two programs, identified accredited clinical practice sites and 
completed memoranda of understanding with 19 military treatment 
facilities, submitted self-studies and received full accreditation for 
the two GSN programs from three professional accrediting entities, 
received formal approval and permanent status on February 26, 1996, 
from Health Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense, initiated, 
implemented, and continuously reviewed the outcomes evaluation process 
for both academic programs, and has awarded 157 Masters of Science in 
Nursing Degrees to advanced practice nurse graduates through the Nurse 
Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia Programs. All 
GSN graduates have passed their certification examinations, and 97 
percent, of 152, of the GSN graduates remain on active duty.

  One of the most successful and innovative programs between the 
Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the Distance Learning 
Program established at the USUHS GSN. In 1999, the collaborative 
efforts of Dr. Abdellah with the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, in 
the area of distance learning successfully demonstrated a cost-
effective form of advanced education where nursing students can receive 
advanced training in critically-required specialty areas while 
maintaining their current positions at the VA medical centers. Twenty-
six students, through a ``virtual commencement exercise,'' graduated 
from the VA/DoD Distance Learning Program on May 18, 1999. The virtual 
graduation was broadcast from USUHS and linked with eight VA Medical 
Centers located across the United States, and all graduates were 
eligible to sit for the American Nurses Association Credentialing 
Examination for Adult Nurse Practitioners. This graduation marked the 
first virtual advanced-level graduation for either the VA or DoD. A 
second class, with students located in ten VA Medical Centers, 
graduated in May of 2001, for a total of 60 distance learning 
graduates. A third class is on-going. The exerpience gained by both the 
GSN and the VA will allow future projects in distance learning to 
benefit from the lessons learned and the technologies tested during the 
twenty-month program.
  I believe that the recent grant of full accreditation by the National 
League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, NLNAC, sums up Dr. 
Abdellah's successful leadership at the USUHS GSN. The accrediting 
commission pointed out in its summary findings to the University that 
the mission and philosophy of the USUHS GSN is grounded in the 
University's mission and in the mission of the Uniformed Services. The 
GSN curriculum is designed to be specific to the unique mission of 
military service nurses: to serve in times of war and peace. The GSN 
students expressed a clear understanding that the program keeps them 
connected to their mission and prepares them to function immediately 
after completing the program. The GSN is successfully preparing unique 
advanced practice nurses to deliver care for the Uniformed Services 
during disaster relief and humanitarian interventions and, by doing so, 
ensures military readiness.
  As my friend Dr. Abdellah reaches the conclusion of her second career 
of service to our Nation, I take this opportunity to say, without 
reservation, thank you for all that you have done and will continue to 
do for our great nation. You may be assured that the Congress, the 
United States Public Health Service, the Department of Defense, and the 
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences take great pride 
in all of your accomplishments. Thank you for another job well done and 
for your tremendous dedication and love for our country.

                          ____________________