Mary E. Bowen, Jefferson College of Health Professions
Vice Chair of Nursing Department Named to State Board of Nursing

Philadelphia, PA, October, 2003 - Mary E. Bowen, CRNP, DNS, JD, CNAA, vice chair and associate professor in the Department of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University/Jefferson College of Health Professions, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing by Governor Edward G. Rendell. The Pennsylvania Senate confirmed this appointment on September 23, 2003.

Dr. Bowen's commission and oath of office will take place at the Capital Building in Harrisburg on October 23, at which time Dr. Bowen will be sworn in for a six-year term. University administrators, community organizers, legislators as well as Governor Rendell recommended Dr. Bowen for this competitive and prestigious position.

The State Board of Nursing establishes rules and regulations for the licensure and practice of professional and practical nursing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and provides for the examination of nursing applicants. The Board also establishes standards for the approval and operation of nursing education programs for the preparation of professional and practical nurses. Five of the 13 Board members must be registered nurses and all the members have to have resided in Pennsylvania for five years before appointment.

According to Dr. Bowen, "It is an honor and privilege to be part of an agency that provides for, public safety, safe nursing practice and good public policy related to health care. I have held administrative nursing positions in several health care systems in Arizona and Mississippi. Part of my job was to provide safe nursing practice in these settings, and to interact with the State Boards of Nursing through testimony and hearings to ensure that safe and high quality nursing practice standards were adhered to." Dr. Bowen was also instrumental in obtaining approval of JCHP's new Neonatal Nurse Practitioner program by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing in July 2003. Dr. Bowen has expertise in developing proposals for new graduate nursing programs within Thomas Jefferson University in addition to managing and directing existing graduate advanced practice nursing programs.

Dr. Bowen received a DNS and JD from the University of San Diego, a MN from UCLA, BSN from the University of San Diego, and a post master's Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate from SUNY, Stony Brook. Dr. Bowen has been a faculty member at Jefferson since 1997. She is director of graduate nursing programs in addition to being vice chair of JCHP's Department of Nursing.

Jefferson College of Health Professions, founded in 1969 and located in the heart of Philadelphia, provides academic programs to a highly qualified, culturally diverse student population with the primary goal of developing outstanding professionals and future leaders in healthcare.

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