2009: Judith J. McCann, PhD, RN (Rush 1978 and 1991)

McCann is a professor in the Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing at Rush University College of Nursing and a research scientist with the Rush Institute for Healthy Aging. Her research into the care of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in nursing home, adult day care and community settings, as well as in the impact of long-term caregiving on caregivers’ psychological and physical health is being used by the Illinois Adult Day Services Association to guide the development of national outcome measures for use in licensing and third-party reimbursement.

McCann is the only nurse on the Illinois Department of Public Health review panel for Alzheimer’s disease research funding, as well as the only nurse in the multidisciplinary Rush Institute for Healthy Aging.  She is also the Illinois coordinator for the Caregiver Community Action Network — part of the National Family Caregivers Association. She has received numerous honors for her work, including fellowships in the Institute of Medicine of Chicago and the Gerontological Society of America and the Distinguished Scholar Award and Faculty Scholar Award from Rush University College of Nursing.

2008: Maria Connolly, PhD, RN, FCCM (Rush 1992)

Maria Connolly, PhD, RN, FCCM, is dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill., and created the Health & Wellness Center for the treatment of the medically underserved in the Joliet area. Her research with temporarily nonvocal trauma patients resulted in identification of gestures that can be universally applied to communicate with these patients. Her work on communication with critically ill patients as well as her extensive practice experience has led to her recognition as an expert in the field of critical care nursing and her induction as a Fellow in the College of Critical Care Medicine.

2007: Andrea Barsevick, PhD, RN (Rush 1975 and 1984)

Andrea Barsevick, PhD, RN, is director of nursing research and education and member in the division of population science at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. She is also an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Barsevick has been the principal or co-investigator on numerous grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense and the American Cancer Society and has served on numerous research and advisory committees in the Oncology Nursing Society.

“Rush was the launching pad for my career,” Barsevick said. “Being honored as the distinguished alumna means a great deal to me, especially by peers whom I admire and an institution for which I have such great respect.”

2006: Courtney Lyder, ND, GNP, FAAN (Rush 1989 and 1991)

Courtney Lyder, ND, GNP, FAAN, a nationally recognized expert in minority aging, is a professor of nursing, internal medicine and geriatrics at the University of Virginia and the inaugural holder of the University of Virginia Medical Center Professorship in Nursing. Believed to be the first black male ever to hold a named professorship in nursing, Lyder is considered a trailblazer in the nursing profession and has influenced significant change in public health policy. In 2008, Lyder was appointed dean of UCLA School of Nursing.

 “One of the greatest lessons I learned from Rush is that the work that you do should influence policy, be that on a unit where you work, locally, nationally or internationally.  That’s the essence of a leader,” Lyder said. “I owe my career to Rush.”