Conference Highlights
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The Doctoral Education Conference is designed for deans, associate deans for research, directors of doctoral programs, and other faculty interested in the issues concerning this unique level of nursing education. The conference offers thoughtful program sessions, affords generous opportunities for informal discussion among colleagues, and invites active discussion during each session. Participants are encouraged to share perspectives, ideas, concerns, and successful strategies. A special afternoon session is offered for directors of research. Bring a team of faculty as well as friends or family to combine conference activities and enjoyment of a beautiful recreational setting.

Wednesday, January 19

4:00-6:00 p.m.
Registration

6:00-7:30 p.m.
Reception (Cash Bar)

Thursday, January 20

7:30-8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Opening Program Session
The Future of Doctoral Education for Nursing
What do the bold directions look like? What questions need to be asked and answered? How will the emerging models play out, such as interdisciplinary education and accelerated doctoral programs? How do doctorates both in and outside of nursing contribute to scholarship? Join respected colleagues in discussion of these and other questions as the future of doctoral education is explored.
Speaker: Kathleen Potempa, DNSc, Vice President and Dean, School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR joined by a response panel: Catherine Lynch Gilliss, DNSc, Dean, School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Eileen Breslin, PhD, Dean, Schools of Nursing and Public Health and Health Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA; and Linda K. Amos, EdD, Associate Vice President for Health Sciences and Professor of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

10:00-10:20 a.m.
Break

10:20 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Informal Discussion Sessions
Sessions are held 10:20-11:20 and 11:30-12:30, separated by a short break. Participants may select two topics of interest to discuss with colleagues in facilitated but informal sessions.

• Use of Technology in Doctoral Education
  
  
• Interdisciplinary Doctoral Education
  
  
• Mentorship of Faculty
  
  
• Dissertations of the Future
  
  
• Funding and Fellowships in Doctoral Education
  
  
• Developing a New Doctoral Program

12:30-2:00 p.m.
Optional Lunch (Box lunch for those who pre-registered)
Informal Discussion: Practice Doctorate Programs
This discussion forum is designed specifically for schools considering or in early implementation stages of a practice doctorate program. You may attend the session without purchasing lunch.

Friday, January 21

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
Poster Presentations: Accelerated BSN-to-PhD Programs
Posters showcase programs that offer accelerated doctoral degrees and use various innovative strategies to attract students and hasten time to graduation for these much-needed professionals. Presenters share program characteristics as well as implementation issues, unintended consequences, and pragmatic advice for colleagues.

10:00-10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Program Session
Federal Perspectives: The Road to Interdisciplinary Research
Join this discussion about interdisciplinary research as an emerging priority in nursing and health care research. Consider what it involves; what we need to be doing for own scholarship, in mentoring faculty, in assisting students; and what we can learn from other disciplines.
Speakers: Dr. Lauren Aaronson, PhD, Senior Advisor to the Director, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health , Bethesda, MD, and Beth A. Collins Sharp, PhD, Health Scientist Administrator, Center for Outcomes and Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD

12:30-3:00 p.m.
Special Afternoon Session for Directors of Research (pre-registration required)
Join colleagues over lunch to explore an exemplary model of mentorship among researchers and discuss the importance and utility of AACN's new Research Leadership Network to be implemented in 2005.

12:45-2:15 p.m.
Program Session
External Research Mentor Program
Learn more about the External Research Mentor Program that has been successful at a member school for years, and was the subject of an article in the January-February 2001 issue of the Journal of Professional Nursing. The model, its outcomes, and evaluation methods are discussed, and participants share ideas for implementing similar approaches.
Speaker: Mary Mundt, PhD, Dean and Professor, School of Nursing, University of Louisville, KY

2:15-3:00 p.m.
The Research Leadership Network
Be active in the implementation of this exciting new initiative of AACN, which is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2005.
Facilitator: Lea T. Acord, PhD, Dean, College of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI and Chair, Task Force to Develop Operating Policies and Procedures for AACN Networks

Saturday, January 22

7:45-8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m.
Program Session
The Practice Doctorate
The practice doctorate is one of AACN's newest initiatives and the subject of much discussion. What are benefits and pitfalls of the practice doctorate? What are the intended and unintended consequences of implementation? How can we positively respond to concerns of academic and practice colleagues? How does this approach complement the academic doctorate? How will DNP graduates be used? Will programs be accredited? Who will teach these students? Are DNP graduates fully qualified and competitive for faculty positions? Consider these and other questions in discussion with colleagues as this initiative is advanced.
Speakers: Elizabeth Lenz, PhD, Dean, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH and Chair, Task Force on the Practice Doctorate; Lucy N. Marion, PhD, Dean, School of Nursing, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA; and May Wykle, PhD, Dean, School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Jennifer Butlin, Director, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Washington, DC

10:00-10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Closing Program Session
Evaluation of Doctoral Programs
Evaluation of nursing academic programs, never easy, is even more challenging at this terminal level in which guidelines are not readily and universally available. Join a respected colleague who has years of experience consulting and advising on this topic. Examine elements and approaches that are critical to successful evaluation of a doctoral program, and share advice and strategies with peers.
Speaker: Ada Sue Hinshaw, PhD, Dean, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI and Chair, Task Force on the Revision of the Position Statement on Nursing Research

Registration
The registration fee for the 2005 Doctoral Conference is $389 for members/ $439 for non-members. The deadline for early registration is December 30, 2004. The registration fee after December 30th is $459 for members/ $509 for non-members. For AACN member schools, there is a $30 discount for each additional registrant from the same school.

Register online at https://www.aacn.nche.edu/Registration/registration.asp
Click here to print a registration form to print, complete and fax to AACN. AACN's fax number is 202-785-8320.

Hotel Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, California 92118. The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California is situated along 31 oceanfront acres on Coronado Island. A national historic landmark, The Del is considered one of America's most beautiful resorts. The room rate is $199 single/double plus resort fee. The cutoff date for room reservations is December 16, 2004. For reservations, please call the hotel directly at 1-800-468-3533 or 619-522-8000. When calling, please request the AACN conference group rate.

Transportation
Transportation to and from the Hotel del Coronado is via hotel shuttle van or taxi. Contact the hotel directly for shuttle fees and reservations at 888-726-4504 or 619-522-8813. For additional information on ground transportation and airlines serving the San Diego International Airport, please see www.san.org.

Continuing Education Credit
Continuing education contact hours will be provided by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to all conference participants at no additional cost. CE Certificates will be provided in your conference packet.

Refund and Cancellation Policy
Registrations that are cancelled up to one week before the meeting will be refunded minus a $50 administrative fee. Cancellations received with less than one week's notice will be refunded minus a $150 administrative fee. There will be no refunds for no-shows.

AACN reserves the right to cancel this conference and any group activity that does not meet minimal group requirements. Non-refundable airline tickets are the responsibility of the registrant.

Additional Information
For more information, contact AACN, One Dupont Circle, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036; (202) 463-6930. If you require any special access in order to take part in this meeting, please contact Shana Cohen at AACN or by email at scohen@aacn.nche.edu.

Doctoral Education Conference Subcommittee:
Kathleen Dracup, University of California-San Francisco (Chair)
Audrey Gift, Michigan State University
Martha Hill, Johns Hopkins University
Karen Miller, University of Kansas
Julie Novak, Purdue University
Virginia Tilden, University of Nebraska Medical Center

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