Nursing Professor Named Cameos of Caring Awardee

Sister Rosemary Donley, S.C., the Jacques Laval Endowed Chair for Justice for Vulnerable Populations in the nursing school, has been honored with a 2018 Cameos of Caring® award by the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

Awardees are recognized as role models within their institution and beyond and for:

• Demonstrating a commitment to consistent, proactive clinical decision-making and excellence in nursing care
• Serving as an advocate for patients and their families
• Serving as a role model—encouraging and motivating other health care professionals.

Honorees represent a variety of health systems, hospitals and schools of nursing. Each institution selects its Cameos of Caring® recipient. Donley was selected for the Nurse Educator Award category, which was added because, according to Pitt’s nursing school, “the future depends on the quality of instruction nursing students receive from today’s expert nurse educators.”

Donley, who joined the nursing school in 2009, coordinates the school’s annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on justice for vulnerable populations. The national event draws top experts, scholars and professionals who discuss and present on specific topics to increase awareness and spur action on behalf of justice. Donley also teaches graduate seminars in health policy and social justice, and works with family nurse practitioner faculty and students.

In addition, Donley is a past Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow and has served as president of the National League for Nursing and chair of the Commission of Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. At the Catholic University of America, she served as dean of nursing, executive vice president and chief operating officer. Donley was also a member of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Special Medical Advisory Group. A Sister of Charity of Seton Hill, Donley serves on the Catholic Youth Association’s Board of Directors.