UA-Sponsored Nursing Hall of Fame to be Oct. 5

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Five professionals will be inducted into the 2017 Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame.

Established by The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing’s board of visitors in March 2001, the Hall of Fame was created to honor nurses and others who, through their work and accomplishments, have brought honor and fame to the profession of nursing and the state of Alabama.

The 2017 recipients include Dr. Marsha Adams, John Beard, Frances Ford, Dr. Linda Moneyham and Dr. Marietta Stanton. The ceremony will take place Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom in Tuscaloosa. Tickets may be purchased for $100 by phoning 205-348-7429. Deadline for tickets is Sept. 28.

Individually and collectively, this group of inductees have greatly influenced the profession of nursing and health care in the state of Alabama and the nation. To honor them is to honor the most noble of  professions — nursing.

Marsha Adams

Dr. Marsha Adams has been a transformative leader in nursing education in Alabama. She is dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Before assuming the nursing deanship at UAH, Adams held leadership positions at UA’s Capstone College of Nursing. Her scientific papers, books, book chapters, monographs, presentations and consulting activities attest to her national and international reputation as a researcher, scholar and educator. Adams developed KidCheck, an innovative partnership that links nursing programs and community partners to improve the health of Alabama’s children. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing Education and the American Academy of Nursing. Adams has been a leader in elevating nursing education and practice throughout the state, the country and the world.

John G. Beard

John Beard has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to health care, particularly palliative and hospice care. For over 40 years, he has been affiliated with Alacare Home Health and Hospice, where he is chairman and president. Although not a nurse, he has contributed greatly to the profession of nursing in Alabama through his support of nursing practice and nursing education. He is a valued partner with nursing education programs throughout the state. Beard has received multiple honors, all of which demonstrate his tireless efforts on the behalf of nursing and nursing education in Alabama.

Frances Dobynes Ford

Frances Ford has dedicated her life to enhancing and transforming health care in Alabama’s Black Belt region. She is a devoted public servant whose nursing training and experiences are foundational to her health care advocacy. Ford is executive director of Sowing Seeds of Hope, a faith-based organization that strives to improve access to health care for people living in the Black Belt. She also serves as the health-care coordinator for the Perry County Commission. She has received multiple awards recognizing her work advocating for access to quality health care in rural settings. Described as a registered nurse with a missionary’s heart, Ford exemplifies the transformative impact of nurses in the communities in which they live and work.

Linda Moneyham

Dr. Linda Moneyham has devoted her career to nursing practice, education and research. She is senior associate dean and professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her scientific and professional work emphasizes two aims: empowering women with HIV living in rural areas to cope and to develop self-care skills and mentoring minority and disadvantaged students preparing to become leaders in nursing. She has published more than 100 scientific articles and book chapters, and she has received multiple honors and awards recognizing her work. As an intellectual leader in nursing, a highly regarded researcher and a dedicated mentor, Moneyham has made extraordinary contributions to the nursing profession in Alabama, nationally and internationally.

Marietta Stanton

Dr. Marietta Stanton is a dedicated nurse, decorated veteran, nurse educator, researcher and administrator. She is professor and assistant dean of the graduate program in The University of Alabama’s Capstone College of Nursing. Her practice and research encompass three primary areas: case management, nurse veterans and nursing practice and education. Her expertise in these areas is demonstrated through her extensive body of scientific publications and contributions to books. Described as an educator who empowers students to soar to new heights, Stanton has made a powerful state, national and international impact on nursing and nursing education.