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International Groups Elect Nursing Faculty Members
Two faculty members at The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston have been elected presidents of international organizations.
Gwen Sherwood, Ph.D., professor and executive associate dean, is president of the International Association for Human Caring. Diane Wind Wardell, Ph.D., associate professor of nursing for target populations, is president of Healing Touch International. Both terms last through 2006.
Human Caring
The core philosophy of the International Association for Human Caring is to serve as an international, scholarly forum for all nurses interested in the advancement of the knowledge of human care and caring within the discipline of nursing.
Gwen Sherwood, Ph.D.
Diane Wind Wardell, Ph.D.
Sherwood became a charter member in 1990 and has served as a board member twice, treasurer and president elect. She received the association's first Leininger Research Award, established in 1994 by Madeleine Leininger, Ph.D., to assist nurse researchers studying the phenomenon of human care and caring.
"We are focusing on promoting harmony and healing in environments this year, harmony of the self, and the working environment," Sherwood said of the association.
Sherwood is a well-known speaker on topics related to caring leadership, spirituality, organizational culture and pain management. She bridges education and practice through her work with health care institutions across the Texas Medical Center and her administrative and research role at the School of Nursing. Her research deals with pain management, caring and spirituality, and teamwork as a factor in patient safety.
Healing Touch
Healing Touch International Inc. was founded in 1996 to administer the certification and credentialing of Healing Touch practitioners and instructors. Healing Touch providers use gentle, non-invasive touch to support healing by restoring harmony, energy and balance within the human energy system. A complementary, holistic therapy, it is used for stress reduction, relaxation, pain management, surgery recovery, chronic illness, care for premature infants and end-of-life care.
Active in the organization since 1998, Wardell served as certification board chair from 1999- 2002. "My goal for the presidency is to expand the foundational work of Healing Touch as an integrative therapy worldwide through service, practice and research," she said.
Wardell is a certified Healing Touch practitioner and instructor and has a Healing Touch practice at the university's Health Services. A women's health nurse practitioner, she teaches in the Women's Health Care graduate program and in the doctoral program. She offers an elective university wide on Healing Touch.
By Ina Fried, Public Affairs