Iris Padilla and Benjamin Smallheer, faculty mem­bers in the School of Nursing at Duke University, completed their professional projects as 2017-18 fellows in the Amy V. Cockroft Leadership Develop­ment Program at the University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing.

Padilla, an assistant professor, is focused on en­hancing the role of registered nurses in primary care settings. She helped create a population health RN position at Duke Primary Care and has developed learning modules for nurses hired in that role. “I’m interested in creating a wider scope of prac­tice in primary care, not only for advanced practice nurses but also for RNs,” Padilla says.

Smallheer, lead faculty member of the adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program, engaged in discussions with leaders of top nursing schools to better identify the essential qualities of leaders in nursing academia along with recom­mended means for acquiring these qualities. Small­heer aspires to play a larger role in administrative leadership in nursing education.

The Cockroft Leadership Development Program was established in 1994 by Amy V. Cockroft, found­ing dean of USC’s College of Nursing. Over the course of one year, Cockroft Fellows attend five intensive three-day sessions in Columbia, South Carolina, led by faculty members who are national leaders in nursing, health care and public policy. Participants strengthen their current skills, acquire new leadership competencies and continue life-long learning needed for the next generation of successful nurse executives.

The Cockcroft program is currently accepting applications through February 15^th for the 2019-2020 cohort. 

 For more information visit http://uof.sc/usccockcroft