It was a proud and telling moment for The University of Western Ontario’s nursing school when alumna Bonnie Adamson (MScN ’84, Nursing Administration) was appointed the new President and CEO of London Health Sciences Centre.
Marking 90 years of excellence in nursing this year, Western’s highly respected Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing has much to celebrate including outstanding graduates such as Adamson, as well as academic and research achievements and international recognition.
The school is home to approximately 1150 students in six programs offered at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The school’s vision is to remain a leader in innovative health education, research, practice, and policy.
Nursing alumni from across the generations will gather for a gala event Oct. 23 at the Lamplighter Inn to celebrate the 90th.
Special guests include former Western Chancellor Arthur Labatt and his wife Sonia Labatt, whose $10 million gift in 2008 created new opportunities for undergraduate and graduate nursing students and increased the research capacity of the school.
Details about the celebration are available at www.westernconnect.ca/nursing90th
As part of the celebrations, a 90th anniversary bursary fund has also been established, designed to support a full-time student in financial need.
Some historic milestones in the history of the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing:
• 1920 – Western inaugurates the first certificate course in public health nursing, funded by the Canadian Red Cross.
• 1924 – First baccalaureate program in nursing begins at Western.
• 1959 – Western launched Canada’s first Master of Science in Nursing program.
• 2007 – Western’s collaborative nursing program with Fanshawe College receives a seven-year accreditation
• 2008 – School became The Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing
Archival Virtual Nursing and Public Health Exhibits are available online at:
www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/nursingexhibit/index.html
www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/nursing/Home/index.html
www.lib.uwo.ca/archives/virtualexhibits/publichealth/Home/index.html