November 2, 2010

The Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions announced today that Associate Dean Patricia Gerrity, PhD, has received the 2010 National Nurse of the Year awarded by Nursing Spectrum magazine. Gerrity’s involvement in the revolutionary 11th street clinic – a holistic, community-focused practice - earned her the honor “I was the university’s delegate to this community and had to answer the question. The residents wanted a place of their own in their community that was easily accessible and that offered high-quality care. I made a bold commitment – to work with the community to realize their vision of health care: not just to treat illness but to improve our health and our lives.”

Gerrity’s efforts were recognized as a National Nurse of the Year and regional winner of the Greater Philadelphia Tri-state award in Advancing and Leading the Profession. She made the first cut of fifty four - Six regional winners chosen in nine regions across the country. The nine regional winners in each category then blindly judged by Nursing Spectrum’s national advisory board of nursing leaders from across the country. The board then chose the six national winners.

Eileen Williamson, RN, MSN, senior vice president, Nursing Communications and Initiatives, Gannett Healthcare Group congratulates Gerrity and recipients of the award “we at Nursing Spectrum were privileged again this year to be introduced to hundreds of outstanding nurses from coast to coast and our 2010 nurses of the year, who are excellence personified.”