Drexels Dr Roberta Waite Named a Macy Faculty Scholar One of Five in Nation

Drexel University’s Dr. Roberta Waite was selected by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation as one of only five medicine and nursing faculty leaders from across the country to become a member of the first class of Macy Faculty Scholars. Waite is an associate professor and assistant dean of Academic Integration and Evaluation of Community Programs in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel.

The Macy Faculty Scholars Program seeks to develop the next generation of national leaders in medical and nursing education by recognizing and nurturing mid-career medical and nursing faculty who have shown great promise as committed educators. It is the only program in the United States to accelerate reforms in health professions education needed to accommodate the dramatic changes occurring in medical practice and health care delivery.

In her capacity as a Macy Faculty Scholar, Waite will engage young nurses in a leadership development program that will include mentorship and interprofessional learning opportunities.

Throughout her career, Waite has been committed to increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the nursing workforce to better deliver culturally competent care. As a junior faculty member, she implemented the Undergraduate Nursing Diversity Organization at Drexel which promotes cultural awareness, sensitivity, and support for all students in the undergraduate nursing program. She is currently focused on developing educational strategies to improve leadership for minority student populations to build a pipeline of nurse leaders from underrepresented groups. As an African American leader at Drexel, Waite is herself a role model for minority students.

Scholars will receive salary support at $100,000 per year over two years, providing them with protected time to implement their proposals for educational reform. In addition, they will be provided with career development opportunities through mentoring and access to a national support network.

This year’s scholars were chosen from 120 applications.

In addition to Waite, the 2011 Macy Faculty Scholars are Dr. Eve R. Colson of Yale University, Dr. Alan Dow of Virginia Commonwealth University, Dr. Dena H. Hassouneh, of Oregon Health & Science University, and Dr. Jennifer Myers of the University of Pennsylvania. More information is available from the Macy Foundation news release.

News media contact:
Rachel Ewing, News Officer, Office of University Communications
215-895-2614, 215-298-4600 (cell), raewing@drexel.edu