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Sen. Daniel K. Inouye

Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. Faye Glenn Abdellah, who is about to retire after 49 years of service to the Federal Government and the Nation. Dr. Abdellah is currently serving as the Founding Dean of the Graduate School of Nursing, GSN, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, USUHS. It does not seem so long ago that the United States Senate recognized Dr. Abdellah's induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame in October of 2000 for a lifetime spent establishing and leading essential health care programs for our country.

I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Abdellah for many years, and I would be remiss if I were to focus only on the last nine years of Dr. Abdellah's service as Dean of the GSN. Dr. Abdellah is a nurse, and educator, a researcher, and an internationally recognized leader in nursing. As the first nurse to hold the rank of Rear Admiral, Upper Half, and the title of Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, her incredible leadership abilities have resulted in many truly remarkable accomplishments. Her numerous achievements include: the development of the first tested coronary care unit, which saved thousands of lives, the authorship or co-authorship, of more than 152 publications, some of which have been translated into six languages and which have altered nursing theory and practice, and the receipt of almost 90 professional and academic honors and eleven honorary degrees, all recognizing her innovative work in nursing research and health care. She has the unique honor of being elected as a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing where she later served as the Academy's Vice President and President.

Dr. Abdellah was also the recipient of the prestigious Allied Signal Award in 1989 and the Institute of Medicine's Gustav O. Lienhard Award in 1992. In 1994, the American Academy of Nursing presented her with ``The Living Legend'' Award; in 1999, she was elected to the Hall of Fame for Distinguished Graduates and Scholars at Columbia University. On April 30, 2001, she received the ``Breaking Ground in Women's Health Award'' in Chicago, IL. Her military awards include: the Surgeon General's Medallion and Medal, two United States Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medals; the USUHS Distinguished Service and Meritorious Service Medals, the Secretary of the Department of Health Education and Welfare Distinguished Service Award, and two Founders Medals from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. Dr. Abdellah is renowned as an expert in health policies related to long-term care, mental retardation, the developmentally disabled, aging, hospice, and AIDS; her pioneering contributions have substantially and lastingly improved our Nation's health.

In 1993, the Congress directed the initiation of a demonstration program for the preparation of family nurse practitioners to meet the needs of the uniformed services. Of course, the individual who stepped forward to assist the USUHS President, James A. Zimble, M.D., Vice Admiral, Retired, was Dr. Abdellah. In the short time since its establishment, the USUHS Graduate School of Nursing has: recruited and retained a qualified faculty, successfully established curricula for two programs, identified accredited clinical practice sites and completed memoranda of understanding with 19 military treatment facilities, submitted self-studies and received full accreditation for the two GSN programs from three professional accrediting entities, received formal approval and permanent status on February 26, 1996, from Health Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense, initiated, implemented, and continuously reviewed the outcomes evaluation process for both academic programs, and has awarded 157 Masters of Science in Nursing Degrees to advanced practice nurse graduates through the Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia Programs. All GSN graduates have passed their certification examinations, and 97 percent, of 152, of the GSN graduates remain on active duty.

One of the most successful and innovative programs between the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs is the Distance Learning Program established at the USUHS GSN. In 1999, the collaborative efforts of Dr. Abdellah with the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, in the area of distance learning successfully demonstrated a cost-effective form of advanced education where nursing students can receive advanced training in critically-required specialty areas while maintaining their current positions at the VA medical centers. Twenty-six students, through a ``virtual commencement exercise,'' graduated from the VA/DoD Distance Learning Program on May 18, 1999. The virtual graduation was broadcast from USUHS and linked with eight VA Medical Centers located across the United States, and all graduates were eligible to sit for the American Nurses Association Credentialing Examination for Adult Nurse Practitioners. This graduation marked the first virtual advanced-level graduation for either the VA or DoD. A second class, with students located in ten VA Medical Centers, graduated in May of 2001, for a total of 60 distance learning graduates. A third class is on-going. The exerpience gained by both the GSN and the VA will allow future projects in distance learning to benefit from the lessons learned and the technologies tested during the twenty-month program.

I believe that the recent grant of full accreditation by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, NLNAC, sums up Dr. Abdellah's successful leadership at the USUHS GSN. The accrediting commission pointed out in its summary findings to the University that the mission and philosophy of the USUHS GSN is grounded in the University's mission and in the mission of the Uniformed Services. The GSN curriculum is designed to be specific to the unique mission of military service nurses: to serve in times of war and peace. The GSN students expressed a clear understanding that the program keeps them connected to their mission and prepares them to function immediately after completing the program. The GSN is successfully preparing unique advanced practice nurses to deliver care for the Uniformed Services during disaster relief and humanitarian interventions and, by doing so, ensures military readiness.

As my friend Dr. Abdellah reaches the conclusion of her second career of service to our Nation, I take this opportunity to say, without reservation, thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do for our great nation. You may be assured that the Congress, the United States Public Health Service, the Department of Defense, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences take great pride in all of your accomplishments. Thank you for another job well done and for your tremendous dedication and love for our country.