TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing honored a Talladega nurse for her contributions to the College and the nursing profession.
The College awarded Laurie Joan McDougal Gautney with its Janet S. Awtrey Distinguished Nursing Leader award. Gautney is director of case management at Baptist Montclair and Princeton hospitals in Birmingham.
As chair of the education committee of the College’s Board of Visitors, Gautney provided critical input into the College’s new Case Management graduate program, said Dr. Sara Barger, dean of the UA Capstone College of Nursing.
“She served as a mentor and consultant to a member of our faculty as she gained expertise in the case manager’s role,” Barger said. “As an adjunct faculty member, she has been a frequent lecturer in the College, and now, in May, will offer a special graduate course during Interim term on Case Management Information Systems in Nursing.
“If all our alums could assist the College as Laurie has, I can only imagine what great things we could accomplish,” Barger said. Since the fall, Gautney has served as chair of the College’s advisory board.
In her role as director of case management, Gautney works with nurse case managers and social workers to achieve the goals of the hospital and to improve quality.
A 1981 graduate of UA’s Capstone College of Nursing, Gautney started as a staff nurse at Baptist Montclair and rose through the ranks to her current corporate position. She earned a master of science in nursing, with a focus on nursing administration, in 1993 from UAB.
The College recognized Gautney as part of UA’s annual Honors Week activities. Throughout the week, scholarship and leadership among UA students and faculty are honored.
Contact
Chris Bryant, Assistant Director of Media Relations, 205/348-8323, cbryant@ur.ua.edu