Press Release

July 28, 2005

Public Health Nursing Leader Wins National Fellowship

Augusta, Maine – Jan Morrissette of the Bureau of Health, Public Health Nursing, in Augusta, is among 20 executive nurses nationwide chosen as a 2005 Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow.

The three-year Fellowship program is designed to strategically position the voice of nursing across many sectors of the economy in a health care system undergoing change and challenges. Morrissette, RN, MSN, is acting director of Public Health Nursing. As part of the fellowship, she will undertake a project to benefit Public Health Nursing within the Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Health.

“Nurses must play a pivotal role in leading the redesign and success of health care now and into the future,” Morrissette said. “The Executive Nurse Fellowship is an intensive opportunity to develop critical leadership skills, I am honored and excited to be selected as a participant.”

Morrissette has worked 20 years in public health nursing, beginning in client service and working more recently as a consultant and currently as acting director. As a consultant, Ms. Morrissette formulated and led an organizational development initiative called Moving to Excellence. She co-authored the first Public Health Nursing annual report highlighting the program’s performance and strategic direction.

Morrissette led the development and implementation of immunization clinics and was successful in securing a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation “Vote and Vaccinate” demonstration grant to implement vaccine clinics within easy reach of polling places. Morrissette also manages a grant program of more than $1 million, which provides preventative maternal and child health services. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and the Maine Nurse Practitioners Association.

Over the past 85 years Public Health Nursing has been a vital component of Maine’s public health system. Its role includes assessing health status, defining health options for individuals and populations, developing policies, and assuring access to services for individuals, families, and communities.

The Bureau of Health and Public Health Nursing are part of Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows Program, visit http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu.