2011 AAMN award winners.

Michael Bleich receives 2011 AAMN Luther Christman Award

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Michael Bleich, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dean and Dr. Carol A. Lindeman Distinguished Professor of Nursing, Vice Provost - Interprofessional Education, Oregon Health & Science University was the recipient of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing's most prestigious award on October 20th; The Luther Christman Award.

The Luther Christman award is given to an individual or individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to nursing that also reflects highly on men in nursing or significantly contributes to the purposes of AAMN.

Dr. Bleich has a very long history of making visible, commendable and substantial contribution to nursing and to men in nursing. However, his active participation and leadership as a member of the Committee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine has elevated his contributions to an entirely new level. His advocacy for the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action since the release of the report has been extraordinary and tireless to benefit the needs of Americans and all of nursing, including men in nursing.

Dr. Bleich had plenty to say about this recognition after receiving the award. "Luther Christman as a scholar and visionary leader saw well beyond the horizon that nursing must embrace diversity in all forms, to ensure its vitality by creating space for all who demonstrated the capacity and desire to practice. Like others who have received this award, I am honored and accept it with the challenge use my voice to expand diversity in nursing, in this case, particularly related to men in nursing."

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Also, Like Luther Christman, Michael Bleich is an outspoken advocate for gender equity and a masterful change agent. Please check out Michael Bleich's reflections on receiving the award, it is powerful. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0OYPGpW6Ok&feature=youtu.be)

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"Nursing has a substantially lower rate of gender diversity than all other health disciplines. It is problematic that we have not modeled that caring for the patient in the context of the family and community while employing holistic approaches to health and illness is within the capacity of many men. As a discipline, we can and must do better, not only in recruiting and retaining men in nursing, but expanding our discipline to all who represent diverse socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds."

"I applaud the AAMN for being a place to advance perspectives on diversity in nursing, for fostering scholarly pursuits, and for promoting inter-generational leadership development. This is a growing organization with an important role to play."

Lavoy Bray, Lee Cohen Member of the Year

Lavoy Bray, RN, BSN, MEd was selected as the 2011 AAMN Lee Cohen Member of the Year and announced at the annual conference on October 20, 2011. Lee Cohen, RN, PhD was a Past President of AAMN and this award is given annually in recognition of his leadership and as a living tribute to our late colleague.

Lavoy Bray was recognized for his exceptional contribution to AAMN as a founding chapter president, AAMN board member and Chairman of the Membership & Chapters Committee. Lavoy has contributed countless hours and tireless leadership in support of new and renewing AAMN members and those in the chapter formation and development. Twelve new chapters received national recognition during his first year as Chairman.

According to Bray, he is truly honored to be selected as the 2011 Lee Cohen Member of the Year award recipient. "I am humbled to be identified with past recipients of the award - I'm in an amazing group of individuals. I thank the AAMN Board for their support and energy - it is their energy that drives me to promote the organization and membership. But, it is also the members that motivate me to perform at my highest level. Their excitement of the profession and our organization is contagious. My efforts are solely rooted in previous efforts and actions of the Board. I would not be affiliated with the organization if I did not believe in the mission of the AAMN - the recruitment and retention of men in nursing. At this critical time in healthcare, I cannot stand by without promoting the profession and supporting those entering the ranks of nursing."

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Excelsior, Best School for Men in Nursing Award

Excelsior College was selected as the 2011 AAMN Best School for Men in Nursing and announced at the annual conference on October 20, 2011. This award recognizes a nursing school or college that has provided significant efforts in recruiting and retaining men in nursing, in providing men a supportive educational environment, and in educating faculty, students and the community about the contributions men have and do make to the nursing profession. Excelsior has nearly 22%, or 2,955 men in nursing students in their associate degree program; 20%, or 270 men in nursing students in their bachelor's program, and 16%, or 125 of their students, are men in their masters program. These numbers are solid evidence of a commitment to ensuring gender diversity.

Laurie Nagelsmith, PhD, RN, Associate Dean was present to accept the award.

She said "Excelsior College is proud to receive the AAMN's Best School award for a fourth time. The AAMN is working toward a more diversified nursing workforce and that is a goal Excelsior College is also committed to. We work very hard to recruit and retain men in our nursing programs by sustaining excellent learning environments that embrace learner differences while holding all students to the same standards for achieving educational outcomes. There is no group better positioned to make strides in increasing gender diversity in the profession and I'm proud to be a member working on multiple fronts towards that shared goal."