[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 81 (Tuesday, June 18, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1080]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DR. HELLER NAMED FIRST DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR HEALTH WORKFORCE 
                              DEVELOPMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 2002

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to advise my colleagues 
that Dr. Barbara R. Heller, a former constituent, and friend, who 
served in my office as a legislative fellow, will leave her position as 
Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She will be 
accepting a position as the first Executive Director of the newly 
formed Center for Health Workforce Development and the first 
Rauschenbach Distinguished Professor, an endowed professorship 
dedicated to the improvement of nursing and nursing education.
  A nationally and internationally known nursing educator, Dr. Heller 
will leave behind a significant legacy after twelve years of visionary 
leadership at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. During her 
tenure, the school has received four consecutive top 10 rankings by 
U.S. News & World Report, moved into a new state of the art nursing 
school building, and raised nearly $10 million for Maryland's premier 
public institution.
  The State of Maryland has been the beneficiary of Dr. Heller's energy 
and commitment to the School's mission of community service. Since 
1990, the school has developed a new model of clinical instruction and 
health care service, resulting in five Wellmobiles, 14 school-based 
wellness centers, a high school based family support center, the Open 
Gates Health Center, as well as the Pediatric Ambulatory Care Center, 
which serves our most vulnerable populations.
  Dr. Heller's leadership has transformed the School of Nursing into a 
nationally recognized center of excellence. She has recruited prominent 
nurse researchers and scientists, resulting in a 900% increase in 
grants and contract awards for the School of Nursing. During a critical 
period of the national nursing shortage, the School of Nursing has also 
seen increases in both enrollment and diversity due to aggressive 
strategies of outreach, enhanced scholarship support, marketing and 
student recruitment. In fact, the School's minority student population 
has more than doubled in the past dozen years, from 15% to 35%.
  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 leadership. I Join them in saluting her 
for her critical role in preparing nurses for the 21st century.

                          ____________________