Samford University Professor Ellen Buckner has been selected as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice in Nursing. This lifetime achievement award recognizes individuals whose careers have demonstrated a commitment to interprofessional practice and accessible, affordable health care for all. Nominees are evaluated by their peers and must have made significant and enduring contributions in their profession.
According to Nena F. Sanders, vice provost of Samford’s College of Health Sciences and dean of Samford’s Ida Moffett School of Nursing, Buckner’s recognition is aptly awarded.
“Throughout her career Dr. Buckner has consistently been on the forefront of interprofessional education. She has a unique ability to foster communication among professionals from a variety of disciplines and to teach students the importance of working effectively in interprofessional teams,” said Sanders. “Her selection as a Distinguished Fellow is a testament to her enduring service to the profession and her outstanding reputation among her peers.”
Buckner joined the faculty of Ida Moffett School of Nursing in 2016. Since that time she has played a critical role in developing, implementing and evaluating interprofessional experiences within the nursing school and throughout the College of Health Sciences. Her work has resulted in numerous presentations and publications and has impacted students across a variety of disciplines. Buckner’s career as a nurse educator spans more than 40 years and has included positions at universities across the country.
“This is an incredible honor,” said Buckner. “What makes me so proud is that this recognizes the collaborations I have had the privilege to engage in throughout my career.”
Buckner was inducted as a fellow at the 2019 National Academies of Practice Annual Meeting in Pentagon City, Virginia.
The National Academies of Practice was established in 1981 to advise government bodies on health care issues and systems. Distinguished practitioners and scholars are elected by peers from across 14 different health professions to join the only interprofessional group of health care practitioners and scholars dedicated to the support of affordable, accessible, coordinated quality care for all.