News and Updates
Welcome: Mary Ann Tuft, President
Leadership Insights: Dr. Dorrie Fontaine
Current Searches
Tuft Team Report
New Year: Renewed Hope
Fresh start. Clean slate. Whatever your metaphor of choice might be, I believe we’re all in agreement about leaving behind last year’s difficulties and looking ahead with renewed hope and determination for a stronger 2010.
What continues to move Tuft & Associates forward is our work with academic, association and nonprofit leaders across the country. Certainly, we draw on this powerful network to assist our client organizations in bringing on dynamic and talented executives. But we know these accomplished leaders also represent a valuable source of unparalleled knowledge, creativity and inspiration. These are the people who continue to help their organizations and teams tackle—and overcome—the many challenges we’re all facing.
I am pleased that Tuft Online can share some of this exceptional leadership talent with you again this year. Launching the 2010 Leadership Insights series is Dr. Dorrie Fontaine, Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia. I know you will welcome learning from this top academic leader.
Best wishes for your continued success!
Mary Ann Tuft, CAE
President
Leadership Insights
Dorrie K. Fontaine, R.N., Ph.D.
Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing
and Dean, School of Nursing
University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Dr. Dorrie K. Fontaine assumed leadership of UVA’s School of Nursing on August 1, 2008. She came to UVA after six years at the University of California San Francisco, where she was associate dean for academic programs and clinical professor. Previously, she held associate dean positions and taught at Georgetown University School of Nursing.
A leader in developing the national Standards for a Healthy Work Environment with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) in 2005, Dr. Fontaine also served as president of AACN, one of the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. Dr. Fontaine’s scholarly research focuses on the areas of comfort for critically ill patients, pain relief and family presence at end of life. She received her master's degree in nursing at the University of Maryland at Baltimore and Ph.D. at The Catholic University, Washington, DC.
UVA’s School of Nursing enrollment includes more than 600 undergraduate and graduate students. Its 9,000 nurse alumni practice across the nation and in 18 countries around the world. The school is ranked among the top five percent of nursing schools nationwide, and its graduate programs in psychiatric/mental health and clinical nurse specialist-adult/medical-surgical are recognized in U.S. News & World Report’sTop Ten of America’s best graduate schools.
What are some of the important initiatives that the UVA School of Nursing will be focused on in 2010?
Dr. Fontaine: We just completed a strategic planning process involving the entire school’s faculty and staff using an approach called Appreciative Inquiry. This is a way of thinking, seeing and acting to bring about purposeful change in an organization. We are the first school at UVA to hold an Appreciative Inquiry summit where everyone is involved in “how are we when we are at our best?” We are using this work to develop a 3-5 year plan based on our strengths, and we will focus on seven strategic areas in 2010, including developing creative partnerships and providing inter-professional education.
As an academic leader, what two or three challenges/opportunities do you see for higher education in the coming year?
Dr. Fontaine: One challenge is to increase philanthropy and grant dollars when state-funded schools experience the expected cutbacks. Being creative with incentivizing and rewarding faculty for grant writing and successful outcomes and being good stewards of resources is critical. Finding scholarship aid for students to become nurse practitioners and Doctor of Nursing Practice or Ph.D. students is a top priority as well as increasing diversity in both the student and faculty ranks.
In this economy, helping our students find entry-level positions is a challenge, and I am personally (with the help of faculty) working with our 98 B.S.N. graduates by matching them up with where the jobs are for new nurses. They are most appreciative.
Given your own work in promoting healthy work environments, what advice could you give to other leaders in academia, associations and nonprofits to enhance their workplaces, especially in this challenging economy?
Dr. Fontaine: My best advice is to pay attention to the resources we have, which include not just the revenue/budget but the human capital. I spent my first year getting to know my entire 135 faculty and staff in one-on-one interviews and have worked to appear everywhere possible at the university and health system. This has paid off in increased recognition across UVA to the important role of the School of Nursing.
Paying attention to people and ensuring they know I respect and care for them has helped us to increase all our measures of success. Individuals spend so much of their physical and emotional time and energy at work that the leader must focus on making it a healthy work environment. This is how we can best recruit new leaders to join our effort.
Tuft Team Report
Tuft Associate Kathleen R. Henrichs, Ph.D., led a session entitled “Leadership in Action” for the CFA Society of Chicago in January. Dr. Henrichs spoke to the Society’s chartered financial analyst members about strategies to expand their skills and capabilities as volunteer leaders.
With 30 years’ experience in association management and education, Dr. Henrichs is a nationally known expert on leadership, governance, fundraising, and membership in associations and healthcare organizations. Dr. Henrichs possesses a deep knowledge of medical organizations and governance issues.