News Releases
Retired University of Maryland School of Nursing Professor Awarded Professor Emerita Status
October 13, 2016
Retired professor remains instrumental in SINI.
Baltimore, Md. – Judy G. Ozbolt, PhD, RN, FAAN, has been has been appointed professor emerita by University of Maryland, Baltimore President Jay A. Perman, MD. Ozbolt served as professor and specialty director of nursing informatics at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) beginning in 2006 and retired in 2010.
An emeritus faculty member is a retired professor who has demonstrated an exemplary record of service to the School and to the profession. Additionally, the faculty member must express a desire to continue to support the mission of the School. While at UMSON, Ozbolt, with the help of a Health Resources and Services Administration grant, tripled student enrollment in the Nursing Informatics program while maintaining the diversity of the student body. Ozbolt has also chaired the program committee for the School’s renowned Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics (SINI) Conference and has continued to serve in leadership roles with the SINI program committee since her retirement.
“Dr. Ozbolt’s contributions to the field of nursing informatics over a 46-year career are unparalleled. She joined the School of Nursing having already had a celebrated career, and we are truly grateful for her dedication, service, and ongoing support of SINI,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her appointment as professor emerita is a testament to her pioneering work, unflagging leadership in the field, and commitment to developing the next generation of nurse leaders in informatics. It also reflects the deep affection and respect of her colleagues.”
During her career, Ozbolt held several significant national and international academic, clinical, and administrative appointments. In 1972, Ozbolt began a research program in nursing informatics during the early days of the field. She also served as a scholar at the Institute of Medicine, where she led planning initiatives in biomedical and health informatics across all components of the National Academy of Sciences for five years.
Since her retirement, Ozbolt continues to contribute to the health informatics field. She serves on federal committees and is involved in policy work, continuing to share her knowledge and experience with the UMSON nursing informatics community.
“During my time at UMSON, and as chair of the planning committee for SINI, students, faculty, and staff were very gracious to me. They showed in many ways how much they appreciated my efforts,” Ozbolt said. “I’m filled with gratitude that after a thorough review by the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the highest levels of administration, and faculty, I have been accorded emeritus status. It is validation of a job well done and a career well spent.”
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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 nation. Enrolling more than 1,700 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.