College of Nursing Remembers Two Trailblazers

In the past month, two longtime USF College of Nursing educators who played critical roles in the evolution of the college, died within a day of each other.

The College of Nursing is mourning the loss of two esteemed faculty members who first met as teacher and student, but became research peers and colleagues. Linda E. Moody, PhD, RN, FAAN, was the inaugural director of the college’s PhD program and Adrienne Berarducci, PhD, ARNP-BC, CCD, FAANP, was a member of the inaugural PhD cohort.

Dr. Linda E. Moody

Dr. Moody, who passed away on March 24, served as the college’s first director of research. In addition, she held the Lewis and Leona Hughes Chair in Nursing Informatics from 2002 to 2007. Prior to joining USF, she was professor of nursing and co-director of the PhD program at the University of Florida College of Nursing.

Focusing her research on the area of palliative care, Dr. Moody was committed to improving patient care and safety through the development and testing of clinical informatics applications. Dr. Moody’s scholarship and background in advancing nursing science through research distinguished her internationally. She published widely on nursing research and health-related topics, including her books Advancing Nursing Science through Research, Vol. 1 and 2 (1990). She served on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Gerontology and was a review panelist for the Journal of Nursing Research, Journal of Rural Health, Gerontology, and Nursing Science Quarterly.

Dr. Moody was inducted as a fellow into the American Academy of Nursing in 1987 and served on the Expert Panel on Aging. She was appointed to Governor Jeb Bush’s committee to adopt electronic health care systems in Florida, serving from 2002 to 2006. Dr. Moody also supported the Hartford Foundation’s national project to promote gerontology research as an area of expertise for nursing faculty.

During the Vietnam War, Dr. Moody served as registered nurse, treating patients with tropical diseases, as well as injuries and infections.

Throughout her career, she received numerous state and national awards, including the Florida Nurses’ Association Researcher Award and a 2006 Dorothy M. Smith Leadership Award. At USF, she was honored as a Distinguished University Professor in 2007 and named professor emeritus after her retirement. Always eager to promote research, scholarship, and student success, she created the Linda E. Moody Doctoral Dissertation Support Fund to assist doctoral students who are working on their dissertations.

Dr. Adrienne Berarducci

Dr. Berarducci, who passed away March 25, was an associate professor at the USF College of Nursing.

Dr. Berarducci was born in Lackawanna, New York, and received her undergraduate degree from Daemen College in Amherst, New York. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing Primary Care from the University of South Florida in 1989 and was recruited to be a member of the College of Nursing’s inaugural PhD class, graduating in 2001.

She joined the USF College of Nursing as assistant professor in 2001 and was promoted to associate professor in 2007. In addition to serving on the College of Nursing faculty, she was an assistant professor for the USF Morsani College of Medicine and maintained a part-time practice as a nurse practitioner. She had expertise in curriculum development and participated on several college committees.

Dr. Berarducci was dedicated to research in women’s health with her dissertation focused on “The effects of an educational intervention on Knowledge of osteoporosis, self-efficacy, and role strain in Peri-menopausal Women.” She continued her research and scholarship by publishing extensively on the prevention of osteoporosis among women.

A devoted dog lover, Dr. Berarducci owned championship black and yellow Labrador retrievers and enjoyed spending time with her companion dogs. She was also known for her love of cooking, wine, and good friends.

“She was a dear colleague, dedicated PhD student, and friend,” said Cecile Lengacher, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAPOS, College of Nursing professor and the Lyall and Beatrice Thompson Professor of Oncology. “Over her many years of teaching and practice, she mentored several master’s and undergraduate students at the USF Colleges of Nursing and Medicine, and left an indelible mark on their educations, while also being valued by her clients for excellence in her nursing practice.”

The USF College of Nursing inaugural PhD class with Dr. Adrienne Berarducci (seated in front) and Dr. Linda Moody (standing at far right).

– USF College of Nursing