USF Nursing Dean Dianne Morrison-Beedy Named Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2012 Health Care Heroes Educator

Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, Senior Associate Vice President of USF Health and Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of South Florida, was named Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2012 Health Care Heroes “Health Care Educator” category winner. Dr. Morrison-Beedy was honored with the distinguished award at the 2012 Health Care Heroes Awards ceremony at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

“I am honored to have been named winner of the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2012 Health Care Heroes Educator,” said Dr. Morrison-Beedy. “It is indeed a privilege to be distinguished by the Tampa Bay Business Journal from the many Health Care Heroes in our community for my role as a nurse educator and Dean of the USF College of Nursing. This recognition highlights the impact of the College of Nursing’s contributions to improving the healthcare and well-being of the Tampa Bay region.”

Tampa Bay Business Journal recognized Dr. Morrison-Beedy for the tremendous impact she’s made in health care as an educator, researcher in HIV/AIDS prevention in adolescent girls, a women’s health nurse practitioner, and health care leader in the Tampa Bay area. She was chosen from a group of five finalists for the Healthcare Hero Educator category based on her many awards and accomplishments; her contributions to the University of South Florida and the community; her personal motivation to choose a healthcare career; and her mission to increase awareness of the complexity and multi-faceted nature of nursing.

Dr. Morrison-Beedy is the first nursing leader to be named Healthcare Hero Educator, and one of only a few ever chosen in any category since the Tampa Bay Business Journal began the awards in 2006. Underscoring the importance of the College of Nursing to the University of South Florida and throughout the Tampa Bay community, Dr. Morrison-Beedy joins past USF luminaries as Healthcare Hero Educator including Dr. John Sinnott (2011), Dr. Steven Klasko (2007) and Dr. Kay Perrin (2006).

USF Nursing Dean Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, (center) posing with husband Michael and colleagues from the USF College of Nursing.

The USF College of Nursing has seen unprecedented growth under Dr. Morrison-Beedy’s leadership as Dean. In less than 2 years the College’s National Institute of Health research ranking has increased from 66th to 25th in the nation. The college has added a first of its kind in the nation program for Registered Nurses to complete their baccalaureate degrees and prepare for graduate education, increased enrollment of undergraduate students despite shrinking budgets to address community and national need, increased enrollment in graduate programs that prepare future nurse faculty and primary caregivers addressing shortages in both areas, and added new clinical tracks to meet the healthcare demands of the Tampa Bay area. She has received national recognition for the college’s work and collaborations in research and education to address military and veteran’s health. In April 2012, Dr. Morrison-Beedy was one of a select group invited to take part in the Joining Forces Nursing Summit with First Lady Michelle Obama, where nursing leaders set direction for the profession to address healthcare issues of the nation’s veterans. In a time of significant faculty nursing shortages, Dr. Morrison-Beedy has retained and recruited  world class faculty who will educate the next generation of nurse leaders; this is the most successful recruitment of faculty of any college of nursing in the nation. Dr. Morrison-Beedy has served at the national level on committees and task forces as a nursing education representative. She has tirelessly lobbied for nursing and healthcare at the state and the national level, and promoted nursing globally to promote partnerships in countries such as China, Ghana, Panama and the United Kingdom.  Most recently Dr. Morrison-Beedy was honored as a charter class member of the AACN-Wharton Executive Leadership Program and as a member of Leadership Tampa Bay Class of 2013.

The finalists and winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges out of a total of 200 nominations. Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2012 Health Care Heroes Awards recognize 11 individuals who have a significant impact on the quality of health care in their community, and have dedicated their lives to helping others.

Dr. Michael Flannery, USF Morsani College of Medicine professor, was honored with a special award from the judges for his work directing the USF Internal Medicine Residency. He remains active at USF although he’s been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease.

For a complete list of the winners read TBBJ’s 2012 Health Care Heroes winners named.

For more information about 2012 Health Care Heroes Awards ceremony visit the Tampa Bay Business Journal and read about the 2012 Health Care Heroes Awards.

Related story: USF Nursing Dean Dianne Morrison-Beedy Named a Tampa Bay Business Journal 2012 Health Care Heroes Awards Finalist