Kaiser Family Foundation Board of Trustees Taps National League for Nursing CEO

Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, Brings Voice of Nursing Education to Leading Independent Organization for Health Care Policy Analysis and Information in the US

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — October 10, 2012 — The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation has announced that Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN, the chief executive officer of the National League for Nursing, has been elected to its board of trustees, joining a group of 13 distinguished leaders and experts in health care, public service, media, the non-profit community, and academia.

Dr. Malone brings to the Kaiser board her experience as a leader in health care, nursing, nursing education, and health policy in the US and abroad.

As NLN CEO, she leads the nations premier professional association for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education with a membership of 37,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members representing nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education, and health care organizations.

Dr. Malones tenure has been marked by the NLNs increased attention to several pressing issues affecting the quality and safety of patient care in the 21st century: the persistent shortage of nurses and nurse educators; the growing population of older adults and attendant care requirements; the importance of cultivating cultural competence and diversity among care providers; and the need for the creation of strong academic-practice partnerships, interprofessional education, sustainable models of evidence-based best practices, and wider use of technology and simulation in clinical skills preparation.

A former two-term president of the American Nurses Association and deputy assistant secretary for health at the US Department of Health and Human Services during the administration of President Bill Clinton, Dr. Malone served for more than five years as the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, the United Kingdoms largest professional union of nurses, before taking the helm of the NLN in February 2007.

"The Kaiser Family Foundation is thrilled to add Beverly Malone's leadership, policy experience, and real world expertise to our board as we try to help the nation grapple with major health care challenges, including the implementation of the health reform law," said Drew Altman, foundation president and chief executive officer.

"I am honored that this prestigious foundation that is dedicated to filling the need for trusted, independent information on the major health issues facing our nation and its people has chosen me for board service. I feel privileged to bring my skills and experience I have to the table," Dr. Malone said.

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities with Dr. Malone, please contact NLN chief communications officer Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 37,000 individual and more than 1,200 institutional members comprising nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education and health care organizations.

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a leader in health policy analysis, health journalism and communication, is dedicated to filling the need for trusted, independent information on the major health issues facing our nation and its people. The foundation is a non-profit private operating foundation, based in Menlo Park, California, and is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.