Academic Nurse The - Columbia University School of Nursing

6 • Academic Nurse
“The great thing about Columbia
nursing, and what attracted me, is
that it has developed a legacy for
advanced practice nursing, especially
as a pioneer of the dnP degree.
That’s mary mundinger’s work and
that legacy is very important to me,”
berkowitz said during one of her visits
to the campus as she prepared for the
transition to new york.
dr. berkowitz said she views her
predecessor as having played an
instrumental role in moving advanced
practice nursing forward, not just
within nursing itself, but in enhancing
its visibility within medicine and in the
other health professions. “The ideas
that drove the development of the
dnP curriculum, the very roots of the
dnP, are right here. i am invested in
fulfilling doctorally-prepared nurses’
ability to practice at the top of their
scope, leading teams and leading
changes in health reform. The foundation
here makes that job easier.”
she sees dr. mundinger as a pioneer
for her work in spearheading efforts
to reshape advanced practice nursing
and the public’s perception the APrn.
“one of my interests is to continue
mary’s work in promoting the role
of APrns. Frankly, there is a huge
policy component to that. it has to do
with integration of advanced practice
nursing into the new health reform
legislation,” she said. “in fact, a good
deal of policy work lies ahead so that
APrns will be able to work at the
highest level and licensure. i think i
can contribute to that.”
still, the school’s new dean has her
eyes set on future opportunities. “my
background and research is in policy,
public health systems and health disparities.
i am hopeful that the school
will develop new capacities in these
areas. i think we can contribute more
to policy development, both in terms
Dr. Berkowitz and
her husband Rich at
China’s Stone Forest