Faculty Recognized by ‘Pittsburgh Magazine’ for Excellence in Nursing

Associate Nursing Professor Dr. Alison Colbert has been recognized as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2021 Excellence in Nursing honorees. The annual list celebrates the “unsung heroes of the health care field” and recognizes nurses who approach their work with extraordinary dedication and courage.

“What I love about the profession is the potential impact—the amazing contributions nurses make to health in all sorts of different settings,” Dr. Colbert said. “I love the problem-solving nature of nursing.”

With more than 15 years of experience serving patients from vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV/AIDS and the incarcerated, Colbert has demonstrated her commitment to using nursing research to improve health care for the underserved.

“When I got into nursing, it became very evident to me early on that when someone allows you to provide care for them, they are giving you this huge gift,” Colbert said. “That’s so true in environments where people are especially vulnerable or marginalized.”

Colbert’s current research, supported by a Department of Justice grant, looks at ways in which college campus-based nurses can be better prepared to deal with sexual assaults. She also is partnering with UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital to conduct a study on the care of people with disabilities during the pandemic’s restrictions of face-to-face contact.

“Moving forward, we’ll have really good insight how we can use telehealth better because it’s here to stay,” Colbert said. “If we can use it well, it really can change the way we deliver care.”

In addition, the School of Nursing’s Amber Kolesar, instructor and director of the Second Degree BSN program, and Associate Professor Dr. Becky Kronk, associate dean for academic affairs, were named as honorable mention awardees for 2021.