[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO DR. BARBARA HELLER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2002

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, on June 20, 2002, Maryland elected 
officials, University officials, faculty, staff, students, alumni and 
friends will honor Dr. Barbara Heller for her many years of visionary 
leadership as Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. 
After 12 years, Dr. Heller is leaving to accept a position as the first 
Executive Director of the newly formed Center for Health Workforce 
Development. She will also assume new responsibilities as the School of 
Nursing's first Rauschenbach Distinguished Professor, an endowment 
professorship dedicated to the improvement of nursing and nursing 
education.
  During her tenure as Dean, Dr. Heller is credited with building a new 
state-of-art nursing school building to support the School's research, 
teaching and service mission. Another key milestone in Dr. Heller's 
tenure is the recruitment of nationally known nurse researchers and 
scientists, resulting in a 900% increase in grants and contact awards 
for the School of Nursing since 1990.
  As Dean, Dr. Heller has guided the School of Nursing through many 
challenges, not the least of which is the national nursing shortage. 
With aggressive strategies of outreach, increased scholarship support, 
marketing and student recruitment, Dr. Heller's term has been marked by 
significant increases in enrollment and diversity. The School's 
minority student population has more than doubled in the past dozen 
years, from 15% to 35%.
  U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked the School among 
the top ten in the nation, and in 2000, accorded the same status to 
five of the School's graduate specialties. Recently, the School was 
designated a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization 
Collaborating Center for Nursing in Mental Health Promotion, 
significantly expanding opportunities for international research and 
dialogue for faculty and students.
  Dr. Heller's leadership in service to the community also deserves 
special notice. During her tenure, a new model of clinical instruction 
and health care service has expanded to include five Wellmobiles, 14 
school-based wellness centers, a high-school based family support 
center, the Open Gates Health Center, and the Pediatric Ambulatory Care 
Center. The latter is managed and operated jointly by the Schools of 
Nursing and Medicine, providing primary care services to more than 400 
children each week who would not otherwise have access to adequate 
health care.
  Due in great measure to Dr. Heller's leadership, expertise, knowledge 
and determination, the University of Maryland School of Nursing is well 
positioned to meet the challenges of the future. It has been a great 
privilege to work with Dr. Heller. I wish to congratulate her on her 
successful tenure as Dean and extend best wishes to her in her new 
position.

                          ____________________