Eight UArizona College of Nursing Faculty Honored as 2022 Tucson Fab 50 Nurses

As part of National Nurses Week, held in honor of the largest health-care workforce in the United States, eight nurse leaders from the University of Arizona College of Nursing will be honored by their peers during the annual 2023 Tucson Fabulous 50 Nurses gala held by the Tucson Nurses’ Week Foundation.

Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Assistant Clinical Professor

It’s incredibly meaningful to be selected as a Tucson Fab 50 nurse for 2023, especially since this honor came from a nomination by Dr. Connie Miller, a colleague I highly admire and respect. Belonging to a faculty group who is so willing to uplift and recognize the work that each of us do speaks to the high regard we have for one another and is nothing short of inspiring. Receiving this recognition is extremely fulfilling and motivates me to forge forward in our efforts to impact health equity in practice, education, research, and policy.

In addition, the honor of being acknowledged as a noteworthy nurse by the Tucson Nurses Week Foundation is immensely humbling. Since I’ve been a Tucson resident, I have been in awe of the local nursing community. Time and time again, my love for this community has been reinforced through demonstrated camaraderie, resilience, and commitment to care for one another. I can’t express what it means to have this incredible group of nurses deem me as a nurse worthy of recognition. All I can is thank you to our UArizona College of Nursing community and to the community of Tucson.

Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA, Associate Clinical Professor

It means the world to me to be recognized for the work I do as a CRNA, educator, and leader in advanced practice nursing. As the Nurse Anesthesiology Program Administrator, it is imperative to me to ensure patient safety and access to care and training of our nurse anesthesiology residents to meet the needs of Tucson and Arizona. The Nurse Anesthesiology program has only been in existence for 5 years, but we have grown, and will graduate 24 CRNAs each year.

Because CRNAs can practice independently, they fill critical healthcare staffing shortages. For instance, 80% of rural anesthesia care is provided by CRNAs, thus ensuring access to care. Their preparation is a responsibility I take to heart, because I want every person in Arizona to have the best care possible. I love my profession and I hope this passion inspires those around me.

Julio Loya, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor

I feel honored to be selected as one of this year’s Fab 50 nurses. I believe that being nominated and selected for this award recognizes and highlights the importance of the research in partnering with the community to improve their health. Specifically, my research partnership with Clinica Amistad enables me to answer important questions about the community and at the same time it benefits individuals by assisting them to incrementally change their health-related behaviors. This award is not simply a product of my own efforts, but rather it is a compilation of the many people that have helped me along in my journey as a nurse and a person.

Allen Prettyman, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, Clinical Professor

I’m grateful to be selected as one of this year’s Fab 50 nurses. Dr. Allen Prettyman applies his expertise in interdisciplinary preventive healthcare and blends it with his administrative experience to lead healthcare innovations.  My educational trajectory has focused on families and applying a holistic model and approach to healthcare. I work to provide nursing students with an interdisciplinary telehealth educational platform to learn and apply clinical skills. In addition, I successfully balance the role of expert nurse practitioner providing care to individuals with administration responsibilities such as staffing, clinical outcomes protections, and budget. I strive for unsurpassed excellence in clinical outcomes and to this end develop ongoing collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary translational team members.

John Sparks, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, Assistant Clinical Professor

Upon hearing that I had been nominated and selected to be part of the 2023 Fabulous 50 Nurses Cohort, I felt deep humility that a fellow nurse not only believed I was worthy of such a recognition but also had taken the time and energy to nominate me. I am honored that the selection committee chose to pick my submission from among other dedicated and worthy fellow nurses. During my time as a nurse, I have always looked to those individuals selected to be part of the Fabulous 50 cohorts as examples of dedicated services to the community and the advancement of the nursing profession. Being honored has, and will, continue to increase my drive, desire, and passion for serving the greater Tucson community as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and heighten my efforts to represent and further the ideals of the nursing profession in my role as an educator.

Morgan Stock, Stock , MSN-Ed, RN, CNE, Lecturer

Why winning the Fab 50 is important to me: teamwork.  That’s what creates a productive educational environment for our students.  As a 2023 Fab 50 nurse, I know that success does not occur in a vacuum.   

 I am successful because of the wonderful BSN educators and leadership team at the College of Nursing and am grateful for the motivation and encouragement I receive from them. My success is their success— and theirs are mine.  We are a solid team, all dedicated to the success of our amazing nursing students.  The Fab 50 award underscores the Universities’ dedication to students. I am privileged to be part of that dedication! 

Shu-Fen Wung, PhD, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN, Associate Professor

In my 35-year nursing career, I am grateful to spend 22 years serving the Tucson community in my role as an educator to train advanced practice nurses and researchers, lead interdisciplinary research to advance science in personalized health monitoring across different care settings and provide direct care to older adults with acute and multiple chronic conditions.  It is my honor and privilege along with my outstanding colleagues to be recognized for this award.  I send my deepest appreciation to my mentors, mentees, colleagues, family, and friends who believe in me and support me so I can make meaningful contributions to this great community.  

Janay Young, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C, Assistant Clinical Professor

I am very grateful to receive this award, as it represents the important work that all nurses are doing to promote, treat, and de-stigmatize mental health in Southern Arizona. I am honored that my work to study, bring attention to, and find effective interventions to treat the increasing rates of Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder, vicarious trauma, and suicide is being recognized. I am grateful for the opportunity to help educate and promote resiliency in the next generation of health care providers, and to do clinic work that supports healing from PTSD with non-ordinary states of consciousness; it is meaningful that this resonates with others.