Vanderbilt University has named three recently retired Vanderbilt University School of Nursing faculty members—Julie Barroso, PhD, RN; Mary Jo Gilmer, PhD, MBA, RN-BC; and Mariann Piano, PhD, RN, FAHA—as faculty emeriti in recognition of their distinguished service, expertise and lasting contributions to the School of Nursing.
Barroso, Gilmer and Piano were formally recognized as faculty emeriti by Vanderbilt University during the university’s commencement ceremony on May 8.
Barroso was honored for her significant impact on nursing science and her contributions to Vanderbilt University. An accomplished nurse scientist and qualitative methodologist, Barroso advanced knowledge related to HIV- and AIDS-associated fatigue. Her HIV-Related Fatigue Scale has become the benchmark instrument for measuring fatigue among people living with HIV, a condition estimated to affect up to 60 percent of patients. Barroso held the Julia Eleanor Blair Chenault Endowed Chair in Nursing and was named Julia Eleanor Blair Chenault Endowed Chair of Nursing Emerita and Professor Emerita of Nursing.
Gilmer is recognized as a pioneer in pediatric palliative care. During her 27-year tenure at VUSN, she co-directed the Pediatric Advanced Comfort Team at Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center and played a key role in establishing the palliative care program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Her work caring for children with life-threatening illnesses has had a lasting impact on pediatric nursing research and the School of Nursing. Gilmer was named Professor Emerita of Nursing.
Piano served as the Nancy and Hilliard Travis Professor of Nursing and senior associate dean for research. Under her leadership, external research funding at VUSN increased fourfold. She also oversaw the launch of several initiatives, including the VUSN Bridge and Research Enhancement Awards programs, which provide funding opportunities to support full-time faculty in advancing their research. She was named Nancy and Hilliard Travis Chair in Nursing Emerita and Professor Emerita of Nursing.
The three were among 50 retiring faculty members honored with emeritus status during Vanderbilt’s Commencement ceremony at FirstBank Stadium.
A faculty member who has served the university with distinction over a period of years and whose status remains active until retirement, may, upon recommendation of the appropriate dean and the chancellor, be awarded the title “emeritus” or “emerita” by the Board of Trust.