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Last Updated:
14 April 2008
By: Heather Cura

Nursing Alumni Relations

2007-2008 Distinguished Alumni
Barbara L. Owens, PhD, RN, OCN

Barbara OwensBarbara Owens has demonstrated an interest and desire to continually increase her scholarship and knowledge in teaching since she arrived at the UTHSCSA School of Nursing in 1994. This year she was the proud recipient of the Alumni Advisory Council’s award. When she first began teaching in the undergraduate program at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), she was also enrolled in the Master’s of Science in Nursing program, and became very interested in oncology. She continued to broaden and strengthen her knowledge of oncology, as well as her teaching ability during her doctoral program. Her dissertation had an oncology focus and presently she is certified in oncology nursing. She has been an active board member of the San Antonio Chapter of the Oncology Nurses Society for six years and currently is the chapter’s President. Barbara Owens worked part-time as a doctoral student as a research assistant on two projects, one was a quantitative study that assessed the best surface for CPR during air transport of injured armed forces personnel. The second was a qualitative study under the mentorship of Dr. Suzanne Yarbrough, the new Associate Dean for Undergraduate Program, about how women make decisions for mammography screening.

She taught in the undergraduate BSN program from 1997 to 2006 as a clinical instructor and lecturer. The undergraduate course is a core course that is team taught every semester, and the average number of students ranges from 90 to 100. She presently teaches in the graduate MSN program where she is an instructor in the core courses Nursing Science I (theory) and Leadership and Policy. In addition, Dr. Owens developed and offers an oncology elective course every semester, which is in high demand.

Barbara Owens published an article during her doctoral studies in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing about complementary therapy used during cancer treatment and her dissertation topic “Complementary Therapy Use by Hispanic Women during Breast Cancer Treatment” was published in the Oncology Nursing Forum Online in July this year. She has presented at regional and national nursing conferences including the Southern Nurses Research Society, Sigma Theta Tau’s convention, Western Institute of Nursing conference, and the Oncology Nursing Society Congress. She has been an invited speaker on topics related to cancer in New York City and Laredo Texas. In 2006, she was invited to develop a special lecture for nurses at the Ninth Annual Practical Applications of New Agents in Oncology conference. She built a team with Leslie Smetzer (BSN alum 199?) and Gayle Cooke (MSN alum 199?) to speak about evidence based approaches to management of side effects of new targeted cancer drug therapies. Her most recent journey into side effect symptom management and lifestyle improvement has been through a grant from the Komen for the Cure Foundation to teach a Lebed Focus on Healing exercise class at the CTRC with Mary Jackson (MSN alum 1999). She stated this program has created a positive reinforcing environment with a heightened determination for recovery, and an improved self image for many women in the San Antonio community.

To maintain her clinical skills, she has worked in the Investigational Drug Development clinic at the Cancer Treatment and Research Center in San Antonio (CTRC). UTHSCSA has a very large Center Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) and recently built a corresponding pediatric oncology center. Considerable research is going on through these centers and San Antonio is fast becoming an oncology center of excellence. Collaborative teaching and research efforts among all 5 schools at the Health Science Center is a valued and essential component and Dr. Owens ensures the nursing school is represented.

Congratulations Dr. Owens!

Distinguished Alumni Award

We wish to continue this tradition of honoring those nurses from our ranks who have shown exceptional service and leadership to nursing education, nursing practice and service to the community. If at this time you would like to nominate an alumnus for the UTHSCSA School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award, please see the criteria and nomination form below:

The Distinguished Alumni Award criteria are as follows:

  • Nominees must have received their UTHSCSA-BSN a minimum of five years prior to nomination, or their MSN or PhD from UTHSCSA a minimum of five years prior to nomination;
  • must be active in some phase of nursing. The candidate must be involved in the nursing profession in clinical practice, education, administration or research, beyond usual expectation of the activity or position. The achievement or contribution should be continuous and sustaining and contribute in the development of new horizons in the nursing profession;
  • must have contributed to the growth and development of UTHSCSA School of Nursing and/or provided leadership in the community or provided leadership in professional organizations; the achievement or contribution should be unique and may include scholarly writing, counseling, or organizational work involving total health care or innovation in health care delivery systems.

If you would like to nominate someone who meets the award criteria, you may make your nominations by completing the attached Nominations Form.  You may then email, fax, or mail it to the addresses listed below. 

Please keep in mind that according to our bylaws all faculty of the SON are associate member of the Alumni Advisory Council and are eligible to nominate an alum for this award.

Article III Section I 

B. Associate membership: 

Current faculty members of the UTHSCSA School of Nursing who are not graduates of the school are considered associate members. Associate members will have all privileges of membership except those of voting or holding office on the executive committee and begins at the time of employment in the School of Nursing.

The awards presentation will made during Spring graduation.

Please return these nominations forms to:

By E-mail:
paniaguas2@uthscsa.edu

By Fax:
(210) 567-5929

By Mail to:
Sabrina M. Paniagua
Office of Development – MSC 7923
7703 Floyd Curl Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78229