January 5, 2012

Toney to deliver MLK Lecture at VUMC on Jan. 16

Debra Toney, Ph.D., R.N.

Debra Toney, Ph.D., R.N., president and founder of TLC Health Care Services of Las Vegas and the immediate past president of the National Black Nurses’ Association, will deliver the Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Monday, Jan. 16.

The lecture, presented at noon in 208 Light Hall, is entitled “Improving the Health of Our Nation: How We Care Matters.” Free and open to the public, the lecture is presented by Vanderbilt University’s School of Nursing and School of Medicine in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series.

Toney also serves as a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow and has presented to Congress on numerous topics, including cultural competency, insurance regulation, issues related to ambulatory health care and increasing health care workforce diversity.

Student community service projects have been scheduled across Nashville in the hours following the presentation.

Each year at the event, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award is presented to a Vanderbilt faculty or staff member in the School of Medicine, School of Nursing or Medical Center who emulates the principles of Dr. King through his or her work.

Nominations will be accepted until Tuesday, Jan. 10, and must include two letters of recommendation, including one from a recipient of the nominee’s actions or service as well as their resume.

For more information contact Jana Lauderdale, assistant dean for Cultural Diversity at VUSN, at 343-2228 or  jana.lauderdale@vanderbilt.edu, or George C. Hill, assistant vice Chancellor for Multicultural Affairs at 322-0976 or george.hill@vanderbilt.edu.