Distinguished Nursing Professionals Honored by The University of Akron Nursing Alumni Board

Akron, Ohio, Nov. 4, 2002 — The University of Akron's Nursing Alumni Board presented four Distinguished Nursing Alumni Awards at its annual awards dinner Oct. 30 at the Martin University Center. Honored for their extraordinary commitment and contributions to the nursing profession were Dr. Aris Beoglos (B.S.N. '82), Suzanne (Costello) Gill (B.S.N./M.S.N. '88 '94), Gail (Dolan) Miranda (B.S.N./M.S. ED. '70 '74), and Robert D. Walker (M.S.N. '92).

Dr. Aris Beoglos was recognized for her outstanding contributions to nursing practice and education. She is director of the Center of Excellence in Nursing Education (CENE) at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, where she develops nursing research and scholarly activities. She also coordinates the pediatric education of hundreds of nursing students at Children's, and provides career mentoring experiences for high school and middle school students.

Beoglos is a recognized speaker on pediatric nursing topics. She has made numerous scholarly presentations at local, regional and national conferences and to international research audiences, most recently at the Sigma Theta Tau 13th International Research Congress in Australia.

Her professional activities include serving on the Research Committees of Delta Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International and the Society of Pediatric Nurses, and consulting to The University of Akron Institutional Review Board.

A Jackson Township resident, Beoglos is an active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church where she serves on the Stewardship Committee and as liaison to Habitat for Humanity.

Suzanne Gill was honored for her outstanding community service. She is a licensed nursing home administrator at Healthhaven Nursing Home/Akron General Hospital Health System and at Edwin Shaw Hospital. She is past director of The Positive Link, a volunteer nursing case management program designed to assist HIV positive clients in accessing community resources.

Gill served as chairperson of the search committee for the executive director of the Community AIDS Network. She has done extensive research on the care of AIDS patients. Her findings have been published in professional nursing journals, and she has presented at conferences in the United States and Canada.

A North Canton resident, Gill is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Sigma Theta Tau and the American College of Health Care Administrators. She serves on the Healthhaven Board of Trustees, the Healthhaven Foundation Board and the Akron General Medical Center Ethics Committee.

Gail Miranda, director of nursing at Saint Joseph Care Center, Louisville, Ohio, was acknowledged for her outstanding community service and contributions to nursing administration. She has served as director of nursing at Traditions in Cuyahoga Falls and Sumser Retirement Village in Canton. Her career at Mercy Medical Center in Canton includes director of specialty nursing and head nurse in the psychiatric unit.

A Canton resident, Miranda established CareLink, a public service geriatric program sponsored by Mercy Medical Center. She also helped found the Suicide and Crisis Prevention Center of Stark County. Her community activities have included Mercy Alumni Association, American Nurses' Association and Stark County Mental Health Association.

Miranda is very active in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where she serves as lector, leader of prayer and Eucharistic minister.

Robert D. Walker, family nurse practitioner at Lisbon Health Center, was honored for his outstanding contributions to nursing practice. A pioneer in his field, Walker works tirelessly at local, regional, state and national levels to promote advanced practice nursing.

A Warren resident, Walker has served as regional chair of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nursing. In 1998, he received the prestigious “Outstanding Clinician of the Year” award presented by the Ohio Primary Care Association. He has been instrumental in leading a diabetes collaborative aimed at improving outcomes in the population he serves.

A key advocate for nursing, Walker is a mentor to many nursing students and provides clinical preceptorship to students throughout various levels of their educational process.

The College of Nursing Alumni Board was established in 1985 to provide nursing graduates opportunities for education, community service and networking. The alumni board has 13 volunteer members from diverse nursing fields of specialty, and represents more than 5,000 nursing graduates.

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