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Betsy Brakovich named USI Distinguished Nursing Alumna

February 11, 2016

Dr. Betsy Brakovich, vice president and chief nursing officer at WellStar Health System, Windy Hill Hospital in Marietta, Georgia, has been named as the 2016 recipient of the University of Southern Indiana Distinguished Nursing Alumna Award. .

Brakovich obtained two nursing degrees from USI: She received her master's degree in nursing in 2004 and a doctorate in nursing practice (DNP) degree in 2012.

In her current position, she is responsible for facility operations at Windy Hill Hospital and developed and implemented the hospital's Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) in partnership with the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in Atlanta.

"Dr. Brakovich exemplifies the outcomes of USI's DNP degree program," said Dr. Beth Bonham, associate professor of nursing. "As CNO, she uses analytic methods to implement the best evidence for quality metrics and facility operations. Also, she was instrumental in Windy Hill Hospital being awarded the Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification in Respiratory Failure, one of two hospitals in the United States."

She is adjunct nursing faculty for the WellStar School of Nursing at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, and a prior consultant to the Kennesaw State University WellStar School of Nursing for the development of its Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. Brakovich is also a member of Atlanta's Nursing Workforce Committee, comprised of nursing leaders and legislators who collaborate to solve the nursing and faculty shortage in the state.

"Dr. Brakovich advocates for patients and the nursing profession through her dissemination of knowledge of her publications and presentations on a state, regional and national level," said Bonham. "She advances systems thinking and accountability in designing, teaching, delivering and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient and healthcare outcomes."

Each year, the USI Nursing Alumni Society presents the Distinguished Nursing Award to recognize a graduate who has made outstanding achievements in a career or public service. More information is available at USI.edu/health/nursing/nursing-alumni-society.

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