Crawford Lecture

The Spring 2009 Crawford Lecture Series

The Crawford Lecture was endowed in memory of Geraldine Crawford to provide education for the community. The Crawford Lecture is an event presented by the University of San Francisco School of Nursing in collaboration with the University of San Francisco Alumni Association and the Beta Gamma Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.

Contact the School of Nursing at (415) 422-3691, tai@usfca.edu for more information about the upcoming event..

The Spring 2008 Crawford Lecture Series: "Nursing is the Answer"

Dr. Joanne Disch, Professor and Director of the Katharine J. Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing was the presenter. Dr. Disch presented on the America’s health care system and the upcoming challenges for nurses. Rather than continuing down the same path, we need fresh thinking, new ideas and ‘the nursing lens’ for health care reform to succeed.  This presentation described the nursing lens, reviewed nursing from several contemporary perspectives, and highlighted a number of innovative, nursing-generated options for health care that are convenient, effective, personalized, and economical. Nurses are the solution -

Dr. Disch has extensive experience as educator, chief nurse executive, leader, researcher, policy-maker, and spokesperson .In April 2006, Dr. Disch was elected Chairman of the National Board AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, for a two-year term.  In other volunteer activities, Dr. Disch served as president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), and president of the AACN Certification Board. She also chaired the American Nurses Association's Committee on Nursing Practice Standards and Guidelines, and the University Healthcare Consortium's Council of Chief Nurse Executives. Currently she is a Contributing Editor for the American Journal of Nursing, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Allina Health System.  She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Disch has received numerous awards including the Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award for Excellence in Fostering Professional Standards from Sigma Theta Tau International; Outstanding Faculty Member at Rush University College of Nursing; Outstanding Alumna Awards from the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing; and, most recently, the GE Pioneering Spirit Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

The Spring 2007 Crawford Lecture Series: "Leading from the Middle: Essential for the Quality Work Environment"

Dr. Marilyn Chow, Vice President for Patient Care Services, Program Office for Kaiser Permanente is recognized for her expertise in the regulation of nursing practice, workforce policy, and primary care.  She has focused her career on promoting the role of nurses in primary care, advanced practice and hospital-based care.

The Spring 2006 Crawford Lecture Series: "Never Too Late"

The University of San Francisco School of Nursing along with the Crawford Foundation was pleased to offer 2006's program "Never Too Late" featuring the Stagebridge Theatre Group. The evening, cabaret style, attempted to break down the walls of stereotypes associated with the adult patient and client.

The Stagebridge Theatre Group began in 1978 as an acting class at a senior center taught by Stuart Kandell. Within a year, the actors began performing original collaborative plays at senior centers and in elementary schools. Audiences responded strongly to seeing their peers or grandmas and grandpas on stage. (The average age of the players is 70 years old)

Kandell hired playwright and teacher, Linda Spector, in 1980 and began a collaboration that has lasted over twenty years. Spector has written more than twenty plays for the company dealing with issues such as street crime, depression, volunteering, stereotypes, technology, love and sex.

The Spring 2005 Crawford Lecture Series: "A New Age For Practice: Nursing In The 21st Century"

The University of San Francisco School of Nursing along with the Crawford Foundation was pleased to present Dr. Tim Porter-O'Grady as the Spring 2005 Crawford Lecturer.

The session specifically focused on provider transformation in an integrated and restructured delivery system. The focus reflected the introduction of a new health care context supporting the clinical and professional caregivers in health care. Implications were included for the provider with regard to empowerment to support a horizontally decentralized environment.

Dr. Tim Porter-O'Grady Biography

Dr. Tim Porter-O'Grady has been involved in health care for 33 years. He has served in many positions from clinical provider to both hospital and health service executive in a variety of health services and is a principle in an international health consulting practice.

He is currently Senior Partner of Tim Porter-O'Grady Associates, an international health consulting practice specializing in health systems futures, governance leadership and conflict issues. He also serves as an associate professor on the graduate faculty of Emory University in Atlanta.

Dr. Porter-O'Grady holds degrees in nursing, clinical administration, learning behavior and health systems. He has done post-doctoral work in aging and is a certified clinical specialist in gerontology. He is a graduate of the Harvard University conflict management program and is certified by the Supreme Court's Office of Dispute Resolution as a registered mediator and arbitrator.

Tim has written over 145 journal articles and book chapters and has published thirteen books (4 of which have won the AJN health care management, "Book of the Year" award). He has consulted with over 700 hospitals and health care agencies internationally and has spoken in 1750 health-related settings in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Porter-O'Grady is listed in seven different categories of Who's Who in America, serves on seven health care journal editorial boards and is a member of the New York Academy of Sciences and a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

Tim has served on a number of community and national boards and has been an elected officer in a variety of health related agencies and organizations. He has been a health systems expert for the National Health Policy Council, governing board member Franciscan Health System, Vice-chair of the governing board of Catholic Health East, (84 hospitals, health services), President of the Georgia Nurses Foundation, and Chair of the Board of AID Atlanta, just to name a few.

Tim has focused his professional work on health systems innovation and creativity as applied to the design and delivery of health services. He is considered an expert on health futures and innovative health service models. Tim has a strong commitment to building healthy communities and facilitating the partnerships necessary to sustain them.

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