Message from the Dean: Recent Orlando Tragedy and Welcome New Faculty

Orlando Tragedy

For the past few days I have struggled with words to express my feelings about the senseless tragedy in Orlando on Sunday. I personally gave up making ‘sense of’ these events after Newtown, Conn. but each time they shock, sadden and terrify me. The number of families, friends and loved ones whose lives will never be the same is countless once more. I know each of these tragedies affect members of our community differently yet each of us must be saddened as we watch others suffer with no meaning. These events add nothing to our hope for a safe world for ourselves as well as those we love and care about.

Yet I have to believe we must maintain hope and belief in each other and do all we individually can to build compassion, evidence caring for those around us and speak out against violence, hatred and evil. To do no less allows resentment and hatred to seep slowly into the fabric of our community. Our school community has pledged to be inclusive but we must go beyond that with those we work and learn with-people must not only feel included but that they belong here with us. I pledge to be more and truly present with those in my everyday world. I can only hope we can continue our journey embracing diversity and inclusiveness for every member here we each make our own pledge to begin making ‘the world’ a better place starting right here.

I will continue to keep those affected directly and indirectly by the tragedy in Orlando in my thoughts and prayers. I asked School of Medicine Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Judy Seidenstein if I could pass on her meaningful message (below) sent to SOM yesterday and she agreed:

• "Colleagues, following this afternoon’s message from Dean Andrews regarding the Orlando tragedy,  I wanted to send a message to you, our council members with some additional thoughts specifically for people like each of you who are working tirelessly to impact change in the hopes that this type of pain and suffering comes to an end. At times like this, it is easy to feel defeated and to think that the work that each of us is doing is so small in comparison to the challenges that seem so insurmountable.  While this may be a natural and understandable feeling, I encourage you to remember that everything that we are working towards through our individual and collective efforts matters and each “small” act contributes to the possibility of progress, peace and healing in our work/ learning environments, in the various communities that we are members of, and beyond. This most recent tragedy impacts and effects members of all identity groups.  That being said, I believe that our LGBT+ and Muslim faculty, staff and students (groups who were already marginalized) are most vulnerable now so I remind you to remember that simple gestures of support do matter.  In the words of Dr. King, “Our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter.” You don’t necessarily need to have solutions or answers to make a difference. Consider reaching out where appropriate, check in with friends and colleagues and ask how they are doing, let them know you care and are available to listen and support.  And by all means, call upon me and each other for the support that you may need. Thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do to make a difference. In solidarity, Judy"

Welcome New Faculty Members Richard-Eaglin and Smallheer

Join me in welcoming two new faculty members that will be joining DUSON in August.

Angela Richard-Eaglin, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, will join DUSON faculty on August 31, 2016, and will lead our VA Nursing Academic Partnership in Graduate Education program. In this role, she will be responsible for veteran-centric content and clinical education within the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP master’s program. She will serve as faculty in the residency program being developed with the VA for newly certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NPs and will have a clinical practice there.  Dr. Richard-Eaglin will be a member of the DUSON Healthcare in Adult Populations Division. 

Dr. Richard-Eaglin received her BSN in 1994 from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, Louisiana, her MSN from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge in 2001, and in 2015 she completed her DNP in Executive Leadership from Loyola University in New Orleans. As a board certified FNP, she has more than 15 years experience in primary care and urgent care settings. During her career as an FNP, she has worked with patients across the lifespan and in various leadership roles.  Dr. Richard-Eaglin takes great pride in serving all patients and their families, especially underserved populations.  Notably, her work was instrumental in establishing and managing a mobile health clinic following Hurricane Katrina, while also providing patient care for residents of a travel trailer park for Katrina victims.

Dr. Richard-Eaglin is currently an assistant professor in the BSN program at Southern University and A&M College, with more than a decade of clinical teaching experience including as an NP student preceptor.  She is also in practice as an FNP with Volunteer Health Corps providing care for under- and uninsured individuals.

She can be reached at eaglinangela@gmail.com.

Benjamin Smallheer, PhD, RN, ACNP‐BC, CCRN, CNE, will join DUSON faculty on August 15, 2016. He will serve as the lead faculty for our Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner-Acute Care major within the MSN program, and will also be a member of the Healthcare in Adult Populations Division.

Dr. Smallheer earned his BSN at Florida State University in 1998, and his MSN in 2004 and PhD in 2011, both from Vanderbilt University. He has completed a post master’s certificate in Family Practice from Tennessee State University and is currently awaiting clearance to sit for his national FNP certification board examination.

Dr. Smallheer comes to Duke from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing where he has been a faculty member since 2006 and an assistant professor since 2011. At Vanderbilt, he works with both RN and Adult‐Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner students, is engaged in faculty mentoring in clinical and didactic environments, and has been recognized for his work incorporating alternative teaching methods and the innovative use of technology in the learning environment. In Nashville, Dr. Smallheer also practices as an NP in a Medical Intensive Care Unit and as the lead responder on the Rapid Response and Code Team for an area hospital.

He can be reached at benjamin.a.smallheer@vanderbilt.edu. 

Welcome to DUSON!