The Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Alumni Association recognized 11 alumni and friends for their extraordinary work during the recent 2022 Reunion State of the School Address and Awards Ceremony.
One of the 2022 honorees is Bethel nurse S. Abigail Morgan.
S. Abigail Morgan, MSN’05, received the Alumni Award for Clinical Achievement in Nursing. Morgan works for the Yukon Kuskokwim Healthcare Corporation in Bethel, Alaska, where she and her colleagues care for predominantly Alaska Native patients in clinic and through village visits. Morgan’s focus is on high-quality women’s health care, despite limitations to supplies and staffing. She conducted a research study on addressing gynecological disparities, which helped mitigate sexually transmitted infections and improved testing processes. She helps support healthy pregnancies and prevention of cholestasis and other common issues found in her patient population. She excels at training staff and creating efficiencies. Her nominator said, “Abigail works tirelessly to improve outcomes for patient and improve processes for providers.”
“Excellent nurses positively affect the lives of those in their care and in their communities,” said Dean Pamela R. Jeffries, PhD, FAAN, ANEF, FSSH. “Our alumni and friends who received these awards show just how far a degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, paired with the drive and dedication to make a difference, can take someone’s career.”
Honorees were nominated by fellow alumni and colleagues and selected by the association’s board of directors. The awards recognize alumni at varying stages of their careers and in different areas of impact, from academics to public service to clinical excellence and support of the School of Nursing.
Family, friends and colleagues looked on as awardees stepped up to receive recognition and accept each honor. The ceremony was followed by a reception and tour of the renowned VUSN nursing simulation lab.
Joining Morgan are other 2022 Honorees Taaka Cash, DNP’13, MSN’12, Rebekah Lee Hayes, DNP’20, MSN’16; Karen Hande, DNP’13; Cara (Calloway) Young, PhD’10, MSN’06; Gilbert Gonzales, PhD, MHA; Jade (Ward) Vergara, MSN’13; Erin Miller, MSN’19; Amy (Conklin) Pettigrew, PhD, BSN’72; Bonnie Pilon, PhD; and Laura (Logsdon) Buchanan, MBA, BSN’84.
The 2022 Vanderbilt Alumni Association Awards were presented during Vanderbilt’s Reunion Oct. 7-9. Nominations are collected each spring.
