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SNA's active autumn

The Student Nursing Association (SNA) has had a busy fall term. On Oct. 28, they held a Bake Sale to raise funds for future activities, and the group participated in UDM Safety Street on Oct. 30.

SNA also hosted a successful Blood Drive, Nov. 3. In all, 75 donations were collected, with five double red donations, and 20 first-time donors. Says site coordinator and Nursing senior Erin Eichenlaub, "This was one of our better drives, we had a great turnout. We have a great group of students and faculty who are always looking to give back." The next blood drives will take place in 2010 on Jan. 16 and April 6 and are open to students, faculty, and alumni.

Other activities are in the works for late 2009 and 2010. The SNA is open to all Nursing students and all are encouraged to participate; meetings take place on the first Monday of every month at 1 p.m. in the Maureen A. Fay, O.P., Center in the Health Professions Facility.

Sigma Theta Tau & CHP Alumni Council sponsor BRCA gene presentation

On Nov. 12, Jacqueline Smiley MSN, RN, ANP-BC, shared the inspiring story of her journey from a diagnosis of breast cancer to treatment with the BRCA gene mutation. Approximately 125 individuals attended the event, which was sponsored by Sigma Theta Tau and the CHP Alumni Council.

Smiley is a nurse practitioner in Women's Health Programs with the Genesee County Health Department. Her expertise in hereditary breast cancer stems from her clinical experience as an adult nurse practitioner practicing in Women's Health for nine years and from her own personal experience as a breast cancer survivor with a hereditary breast cancer mutation. She spoke about the BRCA gene, the decision to opt for genetic testing, treatment options that are available, impact on affected families, and the vital role of health care professionals.

Smiley was recently featured on WJRT-TV's ABC12 News. View it onlline.

MSON Clinical Track instructor Lori Glenn MS, RN, CNM, also spoke about hereditary breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. She has been a certified nurse midwife since 1993 and provides health services to women in the Breast and Cancer Control Program both at the Genesee County Health Department in Flint, and McAuley Health Center in Detroit. She teaches pathophysiology, which addresses genetics and cancer, and "Professional Issues in Nursing" and "Families in Crisis," in which the topics of family dynamics and ethical decision making regarding genetic testing are reviewed.

Alumni of the Year

The Alumni Council of College of Health Professions at the University of Detroit Mercy seeks nominations for Alumni of the Year Awards beginning mid-December. Eligible candidates include UDM graduates from the College of Health Professions who work as nurses, nurse educators, physician assistants, nurse anesthetists, allied health professionals or health service administrators.

Keep an eye out for the online nomination form on the CHP web site soon. The awards will be presented to a special graduate from each discipline during a ceremony in March 2009 on the UDM campus.

Thinking of graduate school?

Please contact Mary Beth Langan in Graduate Nursing at 313-993-1670 or langanmb@udmercy.edu if you would like to be invited to the next Graduate Nursing Information Session.

At the information session, you can learn more about our three unique MSN degree programs as well as our certificates in