Fairfield University and Sacred Heart graduate nursing students win prestigious AMSA National Primary Care Week Project 2004 award

Fairfield University and Sacred Heart graduate nursing students win prestigious AMSA National Primary Care Week Project 2004 award

Image: nursing award
Jennifer Nelson; Susan DeNisco, M.S., S.N.P., A.P.R.N., B.C., assistant clinical professor of nursing and coordinator of the family nurse practitioner program at Sacred Heart University; Sharon Benard; Jean Lange, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor of nursing at Fairfield University

Two local graduate nursing students, Sharon Benard of Fairfield University and Jennifer Nelson of Sacred Heart University, have become the first nurse practitioners to win the Most Collaborative National Primary Care Week Project (NPCW) 2004 award. Along with a plaque recognizing the students' efforts, both Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University were awarded $100.00.

The pair were chosen by the 2004 National Primary Care Week Advisory Board to receive the national award. The nursing program students were selected out of a pool of more than 230 schools that planned events for NPCW. Generally the honor goes to a medical school. The pair received the award in early May.

The students were honored for a project in which they joined forces with the Bridgeport Community Health Center to host three free health lectures during Connecticut's National Primary Care Week. The American Medical Student Association Foundation awarded the two local nursing students $100 each to defray the costs of providing the lectures at the Bridgeport Community Health Center. The association also provided another $200 to Connecticut's Southwestern Area Health Education Center, based at Sacred Heart University, to make additional support available to the schools in this effort.

Both women were happy to have received the award. Benard stated that she was "quite shocked and really excited having been the first nurse practitioners to ever participate and win." Nelson agreed and said that she was also "very excited, surprised and deeply honored."

"We were very lucky to have found speakers and representatives for the lectures that were willing to donate their free time," Nelson said of the effort.

The Board noted that its members "were all very impressed with the project planning and implementation."

Caitlin Phelps, health project manager of the AMSA Foundation, also noted that the project "stood out as an example of excellence among a great group of diverse projects."

Benard said was pleased that she and Nelson were able to support the profession in such a nice manner and to share their efforts with the public.

The students kicked off their project with a written request to Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, who responded by proclaiming the week of October 17-23 as National Primary Care Week in the state.

Connecticut's initiative was part of a nationwide National Primary Care Week effort promoted by the American Medical Students Association (AMSA). The year 2004 focused on health care for the underserved population. Health professionals from across the country hosted and participated in special educational programs, symposia, workshops, lectures, community outreach programs and health fairs.

Benard said she "was happy to have done the project as she gained a lot from Fairfield University and wanted to give something back to the community."

Media Contact: Funda Alp at Sacred Heart University, (203) 396-8241

Posted On: 05-11-2005 10:05 AM

Volume: 37 Number: 255