2 • <strong>Academic</strong> <strong>Nurse</strong> from Washington State to Washington Heights:
How do you land one <strong>of</strong> the most important jobs in nursing without even trying? Ask Bobbie Berkowitz. She started 2010 ensconced at a top-ranked nursing school, holding an endowed chair, with a curriculum vitae cataloging 25 years <strong>of</strong> leadership in the pr<strong>of</strong>ession. “As the year started, i wasn’t looking for a job,” berkowitz said. “yes, i was at a point in my career when i was thinking about doing something different. but i never imagined moving across the country to become a dean.” <strong>The</strong>n a search committee tasked with finding a replacement for <strong>Columbia</strong>’s dean called. Was she interested in moving to new york City? At first she said no. <strong>The</strong>y called again and even visited her in seattle. <strong>The</strong> committee wouldn’t take no for an answer. <strong>The</strong>n she started thinking. Four months later, she was in new york City, standing on stage with <strong>Columbia</strong>’s President, Lee bollinger, as he announced the successor to mary mundinger, the school <strong>of</strong> nursing’s dean for the past 24 years. “To leave mount rainier, the Cascades and Puget sound for the upper West side <strong>of</strong> manhattan just shows that <strong>Columbia</strong>’s a really great place,” bollinger said to chuckles <strong>of</strong> the faculty, students, and staff who had gathered to greet their incoming dean. As she took the microphone from President bollinger, Fall 2010 • 3 berkowitz, wearing a simple black dress, the bangs <strong>of</strong> her ruddy hair bouncing on her forehead, immediately connected with her audience. “Four months ago i could never have imagined leaving the northwest,” she said, shooting a glance at bollinger. “so, <strong>Columbia</strong>’s either really a great place or i am crazy.” <strong>The</strong> Perfect New Leader At a time when the nation’s health care system begins to respond to President obama’s reforms and nursing meets the challenge <strong>of</strong> shifting landscape, bobbie berkowitz takes the helm <strong>of</strong> a school with a storied record as a pacesetter for the pr<strong>of</strong>ession. <strong>The</strong> school <strong>of</strong> nursing’s new dean has the unequivocal endorsement <strong>of</strong> her predecessor. “her record is quite awesome,” dr. mundinger said, pointing to berkowitz’s record <strong>of</strong> research, regulatory engagement, community service and leadership <strong>of</strong> a prominent foundation-funded project. “At this point <strong>of</strong> promise and achievement in the school <strong>of</strong> nursing’s history, she is our perfect new leader.” Lee goldman, md, dean <strong>of</strong> the Faculties <strong>of</strong> health sciences and <strong>of</strong> medicine, lauded the search committee for choosing berkowitz. “When they got started, the committee members said they found their favorite candi- a New Dean for the <strong>School</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Nursing</strong> date,” goldman said. Cracking a smile, he said, “i told them it’s too early to have your favorite candidate. you’re supposed to be objective, unbiased, and wait for all the data to come in. <strong>The</strong>y went back and looked at all the candidates, came back to me and said they had had the favorite candidate from the beginning.”
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