The Ann Ottney Cain Lecture in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Dr. Ann Ottney Cain (1934 - 2020), professor emerita at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, was a leader in psychiatric mental health nursing, specifically in family systems therapy. Her tenure at UMSON spanned more than three decades. Dr. Cain ultimately served as associate dean for graduate studies and research at UMSON. When she retired from the School of Nursing in 1994 after serving for 30 years on the faculty, her colleagues and students came together to create the Ann Ottney Cain Endowed Lecture in Psychiatric Nursing.

"I was overwhelmed. It was such a meaningful expression of high regard," Cain recalled. "Psychiatric nursing was the first specialty offered in the Master of Science program at the School, beginning in 1954." Cain says she loved working with graduate students at the School—"serving as teacher, mentor, advisor, and role model to them and to many other professionals in the field of mental health."

Cain made a planned gift to further support the lectureship. "I did this because psychiatric nursing is a wonderful and challenging field," she says, "and the lecture is a way of celebrating it on a yearly basis at a school of nursing with a long history of psychiatric nursing excellence. The lecture calls attention, in a very positive way, to the many contributions psychiatric nurses have made and currently make."

"Dr. Cain was a philanthropist of knowledge and invited each of us on a journey of knowledge to become therapists as well as educators. Additionally, she helped each of us to become better versions of ourselves. Ann was an educator, mentor, colleague and always our friend."

Julie (Klink) Callebret
Judy Duvall
Jodi Irving
Gena Lepage
Bea (Gillespie) Robbins
Susan Poulsen
Class of 1970

"Words cannot convey her tremendous influence over all of us. She was very serious about making sure we learned about Psychiatric Nursing, yet warm and kind to everyone equally. She was a born teacher. She was a mother and let us know she loved her son. Ultimately she became a friend and continued her influence throughout the years. Her values resonated throughout my long career, daily reminders of how systems work and how to put theories into practice. No other person helped shape my career and life as powerfully as Ann Cain. We miss her terribly and are so thankful for her presence in our lives. She will always be loved."

Gena Lepage, MS '70

"In my experiences with her as a teacher, mentor and colleague, Ann Cain combined nurturing qualities with clear eyed expectations and a demonstrable respect for theory.

She encouraged use of technology in the then newer idea of taping therapy for practitioner use in supervision as well as therapeutic review with clients.

Ann was so helpful with advice on navigating the earlier days of creating partnerships with colleagues in the other professions who often needed to reset their expectations of a "nurse’s role."

And finally, she was so warmly supportive personally to me during a difficult time in my life. She was a woman I admired and will never forget."

Barbara Barrett, MS '78

"She was the kindest, most compassionate woman I have experienced in my eight decades. She was loved and respected by all her students. Her caring came through in her teaching, individual guidance, and everyday contacts. She was a legend in psychiatric nursing, a true scholar, interested in all aspects effecting care for those with mental issues. A true champion of human rights and promoter of well-being for all. I learned more than course content and improved practice from Ann. I learned to be a caring person in all settings. Even in her busy academic and clinical practice schedules, she managed to lead advocating against restrictions for our clinical practice and to visit the Annapolis General Assembly legislative bodies to testify. My hero on so many levels. We who knew and learned from her are truly blessed. THANK YOU ANN."

Sally Raphel, BSN '78, MS '84

"Dr. Cain was a pioneer in psychiatric mental health nursing education. As an instructor, she challenged my pre-conceived notions about mental illness. She inspired my passion to provide stellar nursing care to those who lived in a world of depression, anxiety, and chronicity of delusions and hallucinations. She ignited my imagination of thinking 'outside the box' when choose nursing interventions that built trust in the nurse-client relationship and demonstrated true empathy and caring to those who were often marginalized and stigmatized.

Dr. Cain instilled a love of teaching and learning. I remember telling her I wanted to teach "psych." We had many discussions about my career trajectory. I remember when I called her to let her know I got a psychiatric -mental health nursing undergraduate teaching position and how excited she was. She was my mentor and I am forever grateful. I am now approaching 23 years of teaching psychiatric mental health nursing. I am because She was ..."

Crystal Day-Black, MS '95

To honor the life and legacy of Cain, submit a written tribute to nrscommunications@umaryland.edu.

Lynn Marie Bullock

Kristin Bussell

Deborah Prout

Giordana Segneri

Sonia Smith