News Releases

Edwards Named President-Elect of Association of Community Health Nursing Educators Executive Board

July 2, 2018

Assistant professor also serving on board of Bon Secours Hospital

‌Baltimore, Md.– ‌Lori Edwards, DrPH, MPH, BSN ’80, RN, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor, University of Maryland‌ School of Nursing, has been named president-elect of the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE). Edwards, who served as ACHNE’s vice president and program committee chair from 2016-18, will become president in 2020.

As president-elect, Edwards, who has been a member of ACHNE since 2008, collaborates with the president while serving as a liaison and ex-officio member of all ACHNE committees. Edwards will also serve as a leading member of the Quad Council Coalition of Public Health Nursing Organizations (QCC). QCC provides voice and visibility for public health nurses; sets a national policy agenda on issues related to public health nursing; and advocates for excellence in public health nursing education, practice, leadership, and research.  

"I am thrilled to continue to serve in a leadership capacity for ACHNE. I’m looking forward to this new role and to following in the footsteps of national leaders who have significant legacies,” Edwards said. “As I progress, ACHNE is also moving forward as it has a new health policy committee that aims to empower public health nurses to take the lead in population health and culture of health initiatives. The next few years promise to be very exciting, and we as an association will continue to support our members as we educate future community health nursing leaders."  

ACHNE seeks to be recognized as the premier leader in community/public health nursing (C/PH) education and to impact positively local to global population health. It advances population health through quality C/PH nursing education, research, and service. 

Additionally, Edwards is currently serving as a member of the board of directors for Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, which includes the acute care hospital in West Baltimore. As a board member, Edwards works closely with the hospital’s president, chief operating officer, chief financial officers, and other hospital leaders.  

“We applaud Dr. Edwards for her leadership role in the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators and with the board of the Bon Secours Baltimore Health System,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her ongoing efforts on behalf of these two significant, and very different, organizations speaks volumes about her deep commitment to community and public health education, research, and service. It also serves as an outstanding example of how an individual nurse leader can advance the public good and make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities at the global, national, and local levels.”  

As a member of the board, Edwards contributed to assisting hospital leadership assess finances; assist with hiring physicians; evaluate quality and safety data; and review operational procedures. The board also oversees the expansion and implementation of community programs. Edwards’ term on the board ends in 2021. 

"It is an honor to be a part of this faith-based, ministry-driven health system that in addition to providing health care has numerous programs that address the social determinants of health in its surrounding communities,” Edwards said. “I am inspired by Bon Secours’ focus on social justice and its commitment to its mission, which is to help those in need. By serving on the board, I have been afforded an excellent opportunity to guide this work and to collaborate with colleagues across multiple disciplines." 

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.