By Ashley Pereyra
Reporter
Dr. Shelley Conroy, dean of the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, has begun a three year term on the Board of Trustees of the Baylor University Medical Center. She was appointed to the position on Jan. 15.
“Dr. Conroy’s appointment attests to her extensive knowledge and experience in nursing education and patient care,” said Dr. Elizabeth Davis, executive vice president and provost at Baylor. “It also testifies to the strong and effective partnership that exists between our nursing program and the Baylor Health Care System.”
Selected from the top members of their fields, all board members are formally appointed and approved by a nominating committee from the Baylor Medical Center. Board members are unpaid and help advise and guide hospital administration in a wide range of topics during their three-year term.
“This an opportunity to strengthen a wonderful partnership between Baylor and Baylor Health,” Conroy said. “There are many areas that we have identified for collaboration that can be enhanced even more.”
Conroy became the dean of Louise Herrington School of Nursing on Jan. 1, 2012. She previously worked at the Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga., where she was dean, professor and a member of the graduate faculty of the College of Health Professions.
She has a Doctor of Education degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Central Florida with a specialization in nursing education and a cognate in health policy; a Master of Science degree in maternal-infant nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medical College of Virginia; and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Conroy said she has always had a passion for nursing and teaching. She describes her lifelong passions as a “push-pull” phenomenon because she wanted to teach and practice nursing simultaneously. Conroy said the “right doors” opened for her in Florida and she was given the chance to teach at the University of Central Florida.
Conroy said her time as the dean of the School of Nursing has been a good experience.
“This is the best position I have had as a dean,” Conroy said. “It is faith-based, which makes it different and better. The faculty and students you work with are all on the same page.”
Conroy has more than 25 years of experience in higher education, health care administration, and nursing and health care research. During her career, she has been a part of many professional organizations such as the Georgia Nursing Leadership Coalition and the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions.
Since 2010, she has been a professional reviewer for the Journal of Allied Health. She has a significant background in research and during her career has been awarded more than $6 million in grants and sponsored projects.
According to their website, the Baylor Health Care System is a nonprofit, faith-based organization, that “exists to serve all people through exemplary health care, education, research and community service.”
It provides services to a network of acute care hospitals and related health care entities that provide patient care, medical education, research and community service. Baylor Health Care System is not affiliated with Baylor University.
