Brenda Marion Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN

Brenda Marion Nevidjon, RN, MSN, FAAN is a Clinical Professor, Nursing and Healthcare Leadership, and Chair of the Masters Program at Duke University School of Nursing. Ms. Nevidjon has had an extraordinary nursing career of leadership in service and education. It is distinguished by her being the first nurse and first woman to be chief operating officer of Duke University Hospital and being in the inaugural class of the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Program. Through diverse clinical and administrative experiences in Canada, Switzerland and the United States, she has devoted her energy to bridging practice settings and academic environments to advance patient care, creating innovative work environments, promoting scholarship in practitioners, and developing leaders.

Ms. Nevidjon not only has contributed extensively to the nursing literature, but is regarded as a mentor for nurses to develop their power and voice through publication. She has published two volumes of oncology nurses' narratives, Building a Legacy - Voices of Oncology Nurses, and Continuing the Legacy - More Voices of Oncology Nurses, as well as books, articles and chapters on oncology topics. Other publications include articles and book chapters on administrative topics, such as the role of advanced practice nurses and the nursing shortage.

Ms. Nevidjon is a frequent speaker on leadership topics nationally and internationally. She is a past president of the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows Alumni Association, and several local nursing and community organizations. She is the President-elect of the Oncology Nursing Society, the largest professional organization in the world with more than 34,000 members.

"The Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Leadership program continues to be the best investment I have made in my career and personal life. The opportunity to learn from the most respected faculty and educators in their respective areas of expertise was invaluable. The lessons from the classroom are immediately applicable to any leadership role, or in preparation for leadership in health care."

Class of 2002