UofL hires Owensboro BSN extension program coordinator

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Long-time professor of nursing, Beth Johnson, will oversee University of Louisville School of Nursing activities on the Owensboro Campus in her new role as the Owensboro Extension Program Coordinator.

UofL created this position after announcing plans last year to offer a baccalaureate nursing program (BSN) in Owensboro through a combination of distance education and on-site clinical instruction at Owensboro Medical Health System (OMHS).

"We are very fortunate to hire someone with the expertise and experience of Dr. Beth Johnson. I look forward to working with her in this exciting endeavor as we seek to increase the number of Baccalaureate prepared nurses in Owensboro," said Ermalynn Kiehl, School of Nursing Associate Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Johnson has deep roots in Owensboro, with 23 years of teaching or leading in the Nursing Department at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Most recently, she served as director of the undergraduate nursing program at the University of Southern Indiana.

“This is such an exciting opportunity for me to be back in the Owensboro area and to be associated with a quality BSN program,” Johnson said. “I know this program will be an asset to our region, serving students and citizens.”

Johnson wants to establish community partnerships to address the health challenges of Owensboro residents. In this model of nursing education, students and community residents are partners in education. Residents provide an environment where students learn about health care needs in a true community setting, and in turn the students provide health promotion education and activities for residents based on the identified needs. In this way, the BSN extension program will contribute to improving the health of community residents and increasing the number of health professionals in Owensboro. 

Release Date: 6/8/2009