From the deans

We in the College of Nursing are happy to connect with you in this first issue of Outcomes.

The faculty and students in the Carr College of Nursing share a passion for the ?profession of nursing. The College of Nursing’s commitment to excellence and continuous quality improvement is acknowledged by the state level approval of the Arkansas Board of Nursing and the new national accreditation given by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Effective September 2016, CCNE accredited our two newest programs, the Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) and Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) program. CCNE serves higher education institutions and health care organizations throughout the United States.

The leadership and service of faculty and students in the college give meaning to the myriad details of the continuous quality requirements. Each week, approximately 170 undergraduate and graduate students in the college care for patients in various clinical settings. Nursing faculty and students make annual trips to Guatemala, Haiti, Tanzania, Cambodia and Thailand. The worldview and faith of faculty and students broadens and matures as they care for patients in international settings.

Susan D. Kehl, Ph.D., RN, CNE Dean and Associate Professor Carr College of Nursing

I bring you greetings from the faculty, staff and students in the College of Pharmacy. 2017 marked an important milestone for our program as we welcomed the 10th class of first year students and graduated our sixth cohort of students who now join our alumni around the world as practicing pharmacists. Patient care, delivered through the highest standards of Christian service, is the mission we strive to live every day.

The College of Pharmacy is blessed to be a part of the larger Center for Health Sciences that allows our students to learn from, with, and about other students in various programs within the Colleges of Nursing and Allied Health. This first edition of Outcomes is intended to introduce our readers to the many opportunities for collaborative education and practice opportunities afforded across our programs. Subsequent editions will continue this story and delve deeper into each program and the people who make up our Harding family of health science professionals.

Thank you for your interest in the College of Pharmacy and Center for Health Sciences.

Jeff Mercer, Pharm.D. Dean and Associate Professor College of Pharmacy

I am delighted to welcome our readers to the inaugural issue of Outcomes. We want to let you know all the good things that are happening here in the Center for Health Sciences and at the same time offer a vehicle for our alumni to relay what is happening in their professional world to the Center and their colleagues.

All the faculty in the Center for Health Sciences strive to seek high quality applicants and help them become outstanding practitioners. The three graduate/professional programs housed in the College of Allied Health are fully accredited by their professional accrediting bodies. The most recent graduate cohorts in the three programs have achieved first time pass rate between 97 to 100 percent on their national credentialing exams.

It is our hope that you will not only read this issue but also that it moves you to share the information regarding your career and how you are using your talents in the world of health sciences.

Beckie Weaver, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Dean and Professor College of Allied Health