for immediate release

Contact: Candice Douglass
(206) 221-8429
(425) 214-2704 (cell)
candiced@u.washington.edu

UW School of Nursing Faculty and Alumna Recognized by the AAPPN

March 30, 2019 Seattle—The Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses (AAPPN) honored UW School of Nursing Associate Professor, Elaine Walsh, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, with the Gretchen Schodde Lifetime Achievement Award today at the AAPPN’s 2019 annual conference in Kenmore, WA. In addition, the AAPPN recognized UW School of Nursing alumna, Virginia “Ginni” Buccola, with the Nursing Excellence Award.

“Elaine’s strong leadership, research, and collaborations have distinguished her as an outstanding leader and nurse researcher. Her important work focuses on combating burnout and promoting resilience in the nursing profession, and her research studying suicide prevention in a variety of settings is invaluable and necessary. This award is well-deserved,” stated Azita Emami, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, FAAN, and the Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean of the UW School of Nursing.

Walsh is the Vice Chair for Education at UW School of Nursing and the Nurse Scientist in Resiliency at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She also serves as an affiliate faculty member with Forefront: Innovations in Suicide Prevention, a Center of Excellence at UW that aims to empower individuals and communities to take sustainable action, champion systemic change and restore hope.

The Gretchen Schodde Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals based on their personal qualities, for recognizing and meeting a need, and their work to advance nursing, mental health and well-being in healthcare. The award is named after the first recipient of the AAPPN’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Gretchen Schodde. Schodde, a UW School of Nursing alumna, was one of the first nurse practitioners in Washington State and founded the retreat and wellness center, Harmony Hill.

“I am also pleased that the AAPPN recognized one of our alumna, Ginni Buccola, with the Nursing Excellence Award. Her work in behavioral health is critical to the health and well-being of our community,” Emami stated.

Buccola received her Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2013 and has been serving as a post-graduate fellow in the UW School of Medicine. She currently serves as a Psychiatric Consultant with Community Health Care in Tacoma, Washington and is an Affiliate Assistant Professor and Instructor at the UW School of Nursing Seattle campus.

The Nursing Excellence Award recognizes AAPPN members for their significant contributions, reaching beyond the organization, to advanced practice psychiatric nursing, the mental health profession or clients the AAPPN serves.

About the School of Nursing

Celebrating 100 years in nursing education and research, the University of Washington’s School of Nursing is consistently a top-ranked nursing school, according to U.S. News & World Report. Ranked No. 3 in research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the UW School of Nursing is a national and international leader in improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities. The school addresses society’s most pressing challenges in health care through innovative teaching, award winning research and community service. For more information, visit www.nursing.uw.edu.

 

# # # # #