DEARBORN, Mich., June 27, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- National American Arab Nurses Association founder and president Rose Khalifa, RN, BSN, was honored last month by the University of Calgary -- Qatar during International Nurses Week in a tribute to nurses who have made extraordinary contributions and who have distinguished themselves and their profession.
Khalifa is executive director of Metro Healthcare Services, Inc., a Detroit-based non-profit fiscal intermediary that distributes federal, state and local funds to hospitals and healthcare centers for the care they provide to uninsured and underinsured patients. Before joining Metro in April 2007, she was a Clinical Nurse Educator, Transcultural Services, at Oakwood Healthcare System, Dearborn, for more than eight years.
Khalifa holds a BS degree in nursing from Davenport University and associate's degrees in nursing, arts, science and commerce from Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn.
She is spearheading NAANA's Inaugural Convention at the Detroit Renaissance Marriott Hotel, October 9-10, "Building Cultural Bridges in Healthcare: Strength in Diversity," which will focus on healthcare workplace diversity and diversity among patients. Besides NAANA, Hispanic, African American and Filipino nursing groups and the co-sponsoring National Arab American Medical Association will conduct sessions directly related to their cultures.
U Calgary -- Qatar also honored:
* Florence Nightingale, the first real advocate for nursing as a respected career; * Walter Whitman, American author and humanist who enlisted as a nurse in the U.S. Civil War; * Dr. Nabila Al Meer, executive director of Nursing at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar; * Chontelle Frost, a 10-year nurse specializing in pediatric intensive care; * Jeanne Mance, a National Historic Person of Canada for her courage in making hospital care available in a new land; * Dr. Harry Plummer, professor of Nursing at UC -- Qatar; * Dr. Fouzia AlNaimi, nursing advisor for the Qatari National Health Authority; * Layla Al-Jesmi, director of Staff Development in the Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar; * Nada Zeidan, a 15-year Qatari career nurse who has worked in the operating theatre and as a Head Nurse; * Maithaa Aboueleinain, nursing director at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar; * Rufaidah Bint Sa'ad, founder of the nursing profession in the Islamic world; and * Hussien Nasser Mohammed, Chief Male Nurse in Occupational Health for Qatar Petroleum.
Khalifa founded the American Arab Nurses Association in 2002, which expanded its scope nationally in 2006, as a voice, a network and a resource for men and women in their pursuit of employment and advancement within the nursing profession. NAANA focuses primarily on the Arab-American nurse but it is an inclusive nursing organization fostering knowledge of cultural diversity and sensitivity between members and the community in the area of transcultural health care.
For information about the NAANA convention, contact 586-979-3801 or visit www.n-aana.org. For information about the University of Calgary -- Qatar nursing program, visit http://www.ucalgary-qatar.ca/nurse.
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