Mercer Professor to represent school at Policy Intensive in Washington DC

The second annual Faculty Policy Intensive hosted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), from March 24-27, in Washington, D.C. this year will feature Mercer University Georgia Baptist College of Nursing assistant professor, Tammy Barbé.

Although Barbé will represent Mercer at the Faculty Policy Intensive, she will also represent the state of Georgia as the first fellow from a Georgia institution.

Dr. Linda A. Streit, dean of the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, commended Barbé and saiid that she “is a very organized, driven and conscientious educator with high ethical and moral standards.” She continued and said, “She is admired by her students, as well as her faculty peers, for her comprehensive approach to teaching.”

As one of eight nursing faculty chosen from all across the country, “Dr. Barbé will have the opportunity to meet with leadership from federal departments and agencies, network with Capitol Hill staff, attend workshops to strengthen and refine communication skills for effective advocacy,” according to a news release from Mercer. Additionally, the release said that Barbé will have the connections in order to “engage with representatives from national professional nursing organizations on current health care policy issues and the role of the collective voice.”
As a colleague of Barbé, Streit said, “Knowledge gained from this experience can not only be incorporated into specific coursework within our own program, but will also serve as a launching pad for her to become more involved in nursing legislation efforts.” She continued and said that these efforts “include the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition, the Center to Champion Nursing for America as well as other national health care endeavors.”

As coordinator of the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing’s Health Care Policy Issues graduate course, Barbé’s students focus “on sociopolitical and economic issues that influence health care, access, quality and cost,” according to Mercer’s website.

Barbé said, “As an educator, I strive to foster an increase in student awareness and participation in the policy process.” She continued and said, “In the health policy courses I teach, my intention is that students complete coursework with a belief that they are capable of influencing health policy and a passion to use that knowledge to effect change.”

Among this AACN honor, Barbé also recently accepted the Honor Society of Nursing’s, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), Chapter Key Award for the 2011-2013 biennium. This award was presented to The College of Nursing’s Pi Gamma Chapter at Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing. As president of the Pi Gamma Chapter at the Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, Barbé accepted this award at the Chapter Awards Celebration on Nov. 18 during STTI’s 42nd Biennial International Convention, according to Mercer University’s website.

For more information on Tammy Barbé, visit www.nursing.mercer.edu/faculty-staff/nursing-faculty-barbe.cfm. For more information about the Faculty Policy Intensive and the AACN, visit www.aacn.nche.edu/government-affairs/.