Virginia Secretary of Health & Human Resources Marilyn Tavenner to Speak at U.Va. School Of Nursing

April 21, 2008 — Marilyn B. Tavenner, Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Resources, will deliver the University of Virginia School of Nursing's annual Catherine Strader McGehee Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, April 23 at noon. Tavenner will speak about leadership and public service in health care in her presentation at McLeod Hall Auditorium, with a reception to follow. The lecture is open to the public and parking is available in the hospital visitor's garage.

The McGehee Lecture was endowed in 2002 in memory of Catherine Strader McGehee by the School of Nursing BSN Class of 1975 and her family and friends. McGehee had received her bachelor's and master's degrees in nursing from the school and was pursuing her Ph.D. when she died in 1999 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. The lecture series features distinguished speakers who demonstrate McGehee's commitment to excellence in nursing education and practice, her demonstration of exemplary leadership, and her service to the community at large.

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine appointed Tavenner to her post in January 2006. Beginning as a staff nurse working in critical care and emergency department settings, she spent most of her career with the Hospital Corporation of America. She became chief executive officer of both Johnston-Willis and Chippenham hospitals before finishing her career with HCA as group president of outpatient services in Nashville, Tenn. She has served as chairwoman of the Virginia Hospital Association and on the board of trustees of the American Hospital Association. She is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. The Virginia native received both her bachelor of science in nursing and her master's in health administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her community interests include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the March of Dimes.

About the University of Virginia School of Nursing


The University of Virginia School of Nursing stands among the top 5 percent in the nation, ranked 19th by U.S. News & World Report magazine; two of its graduate programs are currently listed in the U.S. News top 10 and two more among the top 20. With a vigorous research program that includes studies in rural health care and disparities, oncology, gerontology, complementary therapies and nursing history, the school also has implemented new programs and strategies to address the national nursing shortage and the concurrent need for more highly educated nurses to deliver increasingly complex health care. For information about the U.Va. School of Nursing and its programs, visit www.nursing.virginia.edu.

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