Holy Family Celebrates Nurses Past, Present and Future at Gala Celebrating 50 Years of Nursing Excellence

Holy Family University President Dr. Anne Prisco joined Dean Margaret Harkins DNP, MBE, MSN, GNP-BC, RN-BC, School of Nursing & Health Sciences faculty, sponsors and patrons, and members of the University community in a celebration of 50 years of nursing excellence during a gala on March 20 hosted at The Switch House in Philadelphia.  Some 250 guests enjoyed festivities and fellowship that commemorated the success of Holy Family nurses past and present and shared the vision for the growth of the program that will shape future HFU nurses.

Lead sponsors for the evening included Penn Medicine, The Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Nazareth Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center, and Jefferson Health.

“The legacy of Holy Family Nursing includes more than 6,000 nursing graduates who are changing the world one patient at a time,” Dean Harkins said. “The positive impact that Holy Family has had on the healthcare industry in the Philadelphia region is immeasurable.”

“It is an honor to have partnered with Holy Family’s Nursing School for more than a decade,” said Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, President of the IBX Foundation. “Since 2011, our Foundation has awarded more than 450 nursing scholarships to Holy Family students. Nurses who graduate from Holy Family, I believe, are a unique group who lead with purpose, throughout the region. It is extraordinary that 90 percent of graduating Holy Family nursing students stay local in the community to take care of us. People tell me that when you are working with a Holy Family-educated nurse, they are prepared, compassionate, caring, courageous, and they are highly skilled. I believe they are a special group of people, and I am thrilled to be part of this jubilant celebration.”

The evening included recognition of three Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing who were in attendance.  They included Dr. Elizabeth Forbes (Founder of the HFU Nursing Program), Dr. Cynthia Russell Tait (Former Dean of the School of Nursing) and Dr. Beth Ann Swan ’80 (Former Trustee and current associate dean of the Emory University School of Nursing).

“I am so blessed and honored to be leading this celebration of Holy Family’s proud 50 years of nursing,” Dr. Prisco said.  “I extend my gratitude to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, to our faculty, alumni, patrons and friends who have brought us to this evening and will move us into the next 50 years.”