National Black Nurses Association, Inc. 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 330, Silver Spring, MD 20910 · Phone: (301) 589-3200 · Fax: (301) 589-3223

NBNA Honors Dr. Barbara Ross - Lee with Trailblazer Award

Dr. Barbara Ross - Lee will be honored with the NBNA Trailblazer Award at the 31st Annual Institute and Conference of the National Black Nurses Association, Inc., July 30 – August 3, 2003, at the New Orleans Marriott. The awardees will receive the honor at the President's Gala on Saturday, August 2, 2003. The theme of the Conference is "Emerging Health Threats: Nursing Solutions in a New Era".

Barbara Ross-Lee, DO, FACOFP, joined New York Institute of Technology in February 2001 as both vice president for health sciences and medical affairs and dean of the School of Allied Health and Life Science. On July 1, 2002 she assumed the position of dean of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of New York Institute of Technology (NYCOM). Dr. Ross-Lee came to NYIT from Ohio University, where she served as a dean since 1993. As dean of the medical school, Dr. Ross-Lee oversees the medical education program, healthcare delivery programs, and research and community service projects. She holds a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Michigan State University, bachelors and master's degrees from Wayne State University.

Dr. Ross-Lee was the first osteopathic physician to participate in the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship where she served as legislative assistant for health to Senator Bill Bradley. She serves on the board of directors for the Association of Academic Health Centers, the National Fund for Medical Education and the National Health Service Cops Association of Clinicians for the Underserved. Dr. Ross-Lee has received numerous awards, including the Patenge Medal of Public Service from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001, and an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from NYIT in 1998. Dr. Ross-Lee is one of only seven women Deans of Medical Schools in the United States and the first African American women to hold that title.

The National Black Nurses Association, founded in 1971, is a professional organization, representing 150,000 African American registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses and nursing students. The mission of NBNA is to "investigate, define and determine the health care requirements of African Americans and other diverse communities to foster optimal health and health care services commensurate with that of the larger society."

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