Oct. 17, 2006 -- As part of the 2006 Homecoming at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, the ASU College of Nursing and Health Professions will hold an open house on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. The event will be held in Room 200 of the CNHP building, with all alumni and friends invited. The 2006 CNHP Distinguished Alumni awards will be presented and refreshments will be served.

This year's CNHP Distinguished Alumni are Melissa Burrow of Jonesboro, Robin Tripod Patten of Paragould, and Dr. David L. Smalley of Cordova, Tenn.

Melissa "Missy" Burrow, MSN, RNP, RN, graduated from ASU in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and received a master’s degree in nursing in 1994. She was named the Outstanding Clinical MSN student while in the program.

For 23 years she worked at St. Bernard’s Medical Center as a nurse in areas such as cardiac stepdown, oncology, cardiac rehabilitation, hospice and outpatient chemotherapy. She also served as a patient/clinical educator for the oncology unit as well as a case manager for oncology.

Since 2006 she has been a Cancer Care Specialist-RNP for the Ben E. Owens Cancer Treatment Center in Jonesboro. In 2003 Missy received the Sigma Theta Tau International Eta Theta Chapter Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice and was voted the Jonesboro Sun's 'Best of the Best' Nurse Award. 

She has published two articles, one of which, "Oxycontin, Therapeutic Use vs. Community Abuse," won honorable mention in the ONS SIG Newsletter. She is a member of the Oncology Nurses Society and the Sigma Theta Tau International Eta Theta Chapter.

Robin Tripod Patten, BSW, graduated from ASU in 1992 with a bachelors degree in social work. As a student, she was selected 'Social Work Student of the Year' by the department faculty. She began her career at First United Methodist Church as a social worker and director of outreach ministries, and has worked for St. Bernard’s Hospice, Families Incorporated, and Arkansas Counseling Associates.

Currently, she is director of social services at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center. She has served as a liaison between children, families, schools and other agencies; assisted terminally ill patients and their families; facilitated grief support groups and bereavement follow-up; reported abuse and neglect cases, and many other issues requiring a skilled social worker.

Robin currently serves on the Greene Acres Nursing Home board and is co-founder of Compassionate Friends, a support group for bereaved parents. She previously served on the board of Habitat for Humanity in Paragould, Mission Outreach, and as a volunteer for the Greene County Literacy Council, where in 1992 she was named 'Tutor of the Year' by the Arkansas Bar Association.

Dr. David L. Smalley, BS, MS, Ph.D., MSS, BCLD, MT (ASCP), holds a bachelors degree in medical technology from ASU as well as a master’s degree and doctorate in microbiology/immunology from the University of Memphis. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and received a master of strategic studies degree in 2002.

He was a faculty member at the University of Tennessee for more than 26 years, rising to the rank of full professor in 1998. He was formerly director of laboratories at Memphis Pathology Laboratory, the largest independent clinical lab in Tennessee, and currently serves as the State Public Health laboratory director for the Tennessee Department of Health.

Dr. Smalley has also served in the U.S. Army Reserve for over 23 years and has recently been selected for promotion to Brigadier General. He is Assistant Surgeon General of the Army for Mobilization, Readiness and Reserve Affairs and assigned as Deputy Commanding General for the Army Reserve Medical Command.

He holds five Board certifications; has published more than 100 papers, abstracts, book chapters and monographs, and was a speaker at more than 100 regional, national and international meetings. Some of his national honors include selection as the U.S. representative to the World Health Organization program on "Standardization of Toxoplasmosis and Rubella Serology;" Honored Alumnus, University of Memphis department of microbiology and molecular sciences 1996, and selection to the International Who’s Who of Professionals.

For more information on the College of Nursing and Health Professions event, contact Dr. Susan Hanrahan, Dean, at (870) 972-3074. A full schedule of ASU Homecoming events can be found at http://www.astatealumni.org.
 

Contact: Dr. Susan Hanrahan, Dean
ASU College of Nursing and Health Professions
(870) 972-3074
hanrahan@astate.edu