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| * Purdue School of Nursing |
April 23, 2008
Novak to lead clinics, step down as head of Purdue Nursing
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
Craig Svensson, dean of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences, said Novak will address the increasing need for patient care in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties.
"Our nurse-managed clinics provide a vital resource for patients who might not otherwise have access to care in their communities," Svensson said. "In addition, the clinics increasingly are a valuable training ground for our nursing students. I am grateful that Julie has agreed to devote her energies to this growing effort that is making such a significant impact on health-care delivery and serving as a model on the national level."
Novak said she is pleased to be able to focus on the clinics.
"Our clinics have become a vital part of the health-care system," Novak said. "I feel that developing them to the next level necessary will require a commitment that I could not make while continuing to serve as head of the School of Nursing. I believe I will serve the state, the nursing profession and our students best by reordering my priorities so that I can devote more time to the clinics."
The clinic system began in 1981 when the school received a federal grant to establish the Nursing Center for Family Health in Purdue's Johnson Hall. The School of Nursing has since expanded its clinic offerings to four additional sites that include the Family Health Clinic of Carroll County, Family Health Clinic of Monon, Trinity Nursing Center for Infant and Child Health, and Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County. About 10,000 patients are served at the five locations annually.
The doctor of nursing practice program, which saw its first graduate in 2007, is one of the first 10 such programs in the nation. As director of the program, Novak has provided national leadership for this extension of nursing education and also serves as the principal investigator on a $2.5 million grant from the Helen Fuld Healthcare Trust.
Novak joined Purdue as a professor and director of practice and community outreach in the School of Nursing in 2000. She is a member of many health advisory boards, including the Mental Health America board of directors, Tobacco Free Partnership of Tippecanoe County, Arnett Health Systems advisory board and Indianapolis Patient Safety Coalition.
She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing of children as well as her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner certificate from the University of Iowa. She earned her doctorate of nursing science from the University of San Diego.
Svensson said he plans to appoint an interim head for the School of Nursing soon and will form a committee to conduct a national search for Novak's successor.
The Purdue School of Nursing supports more than 500 undergraduate students and about 50 graduate students on the West Lafayette campus.
Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu
Source: Craig Svensson, (765) 494-1368, svensson@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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