INFORM: A Champion’s Perspective

In Fall of 2011, Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, senior associate vice president of University of South Florida Health and dean of the  USF College of Nursing, named philanthropist Barbara Harken Monsour as the first Champion of the College of Nursing. The Champions are members of the community who have unselfishly given of themselves to further the aims of the USF College of Nursing as we Transform Healthcare and Transform Lives.

Barbara Harken Monsour has been an unwavering supporter of nursing at the USF. Most recently, she established a fund for the Institute for Nursing Faculty Recruitment, Retention and Mentoring, or INFORM at USF Nursing.

“INFORM was just an idea on paper, and Barbara, in her understated way, made it a reality” said Dean Morrison-Beedy. Recently, Dean Dianne Morrison-Beedy met with both Barbara and her husband Roger Monsour to review how much INFORM has accomplished at the USF College of Nursing.

•  Nationally recruiting 20 world-class, doctorally prepared  faculty & post-doctoral fellows.
• Appointing John M. Clochesy, PhD, RN, FAAN, FCCM, CDP, Professor and Faculty Mentorship Program Director
• Creating an Educational Design & Technology team to support web course development
• Developing six new mentorship programs to support faculty in education and research

At the luncheon Dean Morrison-Beedy told the Monsours, “I wanted to give you an idea of the amazing impact you have had already through INFORM at USF Nursing, This will continue to generate more cutting edge academics, waves of new nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, nurse scientists, faculty and leaders prepared to handle the nation’s most urgent healthcare needs.”

Dean Morrison-Beedy presented Barbara with the award developed for the USF Nursing Champions and asked her for her thoughts on INFORM and USF Nursing.

“I have supported a nursing student scholarship in the past,” said Barbara Harken Monsour. “After Dianne and I talked it became clear that no matter how many students you support, if they do not have the best faculty to teach them, they cannot reach their full potential in healthcare.”

“The USF College of Nursing is an amazing program that produces nurses who are among the best in their profession,” said Roger Monsour, a retired physician and member of the USF College of Nursing Clinical Collaborative Advisory Board.

In addition to establishing INFORM, Barbara Harken Monsour funds a scholarship for nursing students and is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council.