Established in 1991, the annual award recognizes a nurse whose volunteerism has furthered the mission and goals of the organization. The president of the Connecticut League for Nursing selects the recipient of this prestigious award each year.
Her passion and commitment to CLN and nursing in Connecticut - as well as nationally - is evident by her scholarship, activities and accomplishments.
— Marcia Proto, M.ED, CAS, executive director of CLN
The Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN) has presented its prestigious Presidential Award to Meredith Wallace Kazer, PhD, APRN, FAAN, dean and professor of the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies at the 65 th CLN Anniversary & Leaving a Legacy Celebration.
"I’m truly honored to receive this award from the Connecticut League for Nursing (CLN), an organization that has done so much to advance nursing education in this state," stated Dr. Kazer. "This recognition energizes me to continue the great work we are doing at the Egan School and across the state, knowing that every nursing student who benefits from our education improves the healthcare of the nation’s most vulnerable populations."
During her four years at CLN, Dr. Kazer has served as the co-vice chair of the CLN Council of Deans and Directors and chair of the CLN Clinical Opportunities Workgroups, which is spearheading the implementation of a statewide online student nurse clinical practice system. The new system will ease the complexities involved in coordinating student nurses’ clinical placements.
“Her passion and commitment to CLN and nursing in Connecticut - as well as nationally - is evident by her scholarship, activities and accomplishments,” stated Marcia Proto, M.ED, CAS, executive director of CLN.
An award-winning author, Dr. Kazer oversees the nationally ranked Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies that has esteemed faculty who are clinical experts in patient care, state-of-the-art resources, and array of graduate programs preparing future nursing leaders.
Her career-spanning focus on improving the quality of life of older adults has resulted in numerous patient-centered interventions. Dr. Kazer's work has been disseminated in eleven books, more than 80 peer-reviewed journal publications, 26 book chapters, and over 100 research and invited presentations. Additionally, Dr. Kazer is the editor-in-chief of the Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal, and sits on two editorial advisory boards.
This news follows other recent national achievements for the Egan School including being ranked as one of 2019 Best Master’s and Doctorate of Nursing Practice Programs in the Country by U.S. News & World Report.