Newswise — The OADN Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Mary Dickow, MPA, FAAN has joined the organization as Director of Strategic Initiatives.  “As OADN continues to position for the future, Mary Dickow’s leadership and experience are the right match for our growing organization and rising national profile.  Her relationships across academia and practice stretch nationwide, and she is well-known as a convener and promoter of collaboration in nursing and health care,” says Christy Dryer, DNP, CNE, RN, President of OADN.

“We are excited by the wealth of knowledge and expertise that Mary brings to OADN,” continues Dryer, “a result of her comprehensive past and boundary-spanning employment history.  Her 25+ years of experience as faculty, leadership content expert and national advocate for health professionals will continue as part of her role with OADN.”

Currently, Dickow serves as Statewide Director of the California Action Coalition, responsible for leading the implementation of the recommendations set forth in the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health as well as coordination of long-term, sustainable actions to improve the health of all Californians. In this role, she directs efforts of nurses and health-care leaders statewide, convening stakeholders to build momentum, and providing important linkages across communities in California. In this capacity, she also serves as communications liaison to the Center to Champion Nursing in America Campaign for Action and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Recently, Dickow has also served as a consultant with HealthImpact, California’s nursing workforce center.  Current projects include Improving Capacity for Team Based Care: The Registered Nursing Workforce in Primary Care and Transforming Nursing Curriculum: Preparing Nurses for Evolving Roles. In addition, she has consulted for nursing and higher education initiatives at the University of New Mexico and the University of California, San Francisco.

Dickow rose to national prominence as the longtime Deputy Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Executive Nurse Fellows Program, where she was responsible for the execution of a $20 million-dollar senior nurse leadership program, development of an Alumni Association that served as a model for other fellowship programs, along with managing program strategies, policies, communications efforts and curriculum design.

OADN CEO Donna Meyer notes, “Mary’s expertise in the areas of leadership development and program strategy management will be a major benefit to OADN.  I have known Mary for some time and have always been impressed by her passion for nursing and healthcare.   I look forward to working closely with Mary as OADN’s Director of Strategic Initiatives as we advance the mission of OADN.”

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Founded in 1984, the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) is recognized nationally as the voice for Associate Degree Nursing. OADN is dedicated to ensuring the quality nursing education, advancing the professional practice of Associate Degree Nurses, and maintaining a strong nursing workforce for all communities.

As the leading advocate for Associate Degree Nursing, OADN promotes academic progression of graduates in furthering education to reach their maximum professional potential. All associate degree nurses should have access to pursue additional nursing education. OADN welcomes partnerships and collaboration with the other national nursing organizations to support academic progression in nursing, leadership, and improvements in healthcare practice and delivery. Collaboration with these organizations will facilitate the unity of the nursing profession. OADN continues to disseminate information and provide an arena for collegial networking to those who are passionate about Associate Degree Nursing and the role is plays to ensure access to safe, high-quality care for all communities.

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