From: UMHB

(May 20, 2008) -- Dr. Linda Pehl, dean of the Scott & White College of Nursing at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, was recently named Nurse of the Year by the Texas Nurses Association - District 7.

Nurses Week is May 6-12 each year in conjunction with Florence Nightengale's birthday, which was May 12th.

During the week there are various activities that take place by the Texas Nurses Association and the Districts that make up TNA.

District 7, TNA, composed of Bell, Milam, Falls, Williamson and Lampasas counties, holds a "Nurse of the Year" program each year.

Nominations to recognize outstanding nurses are sent to the District President who then, with the Board of Directors, determines who will receive the Nurse of the Year award.

This year the program was held at the Stagecoach Inn in Salado.

Pehl received a plaque, which reads "TNA District 7 / Nurse of the Year / 2008 / Linda Pehl, PhD, RN.”

Pehl, of Belton, has been dean of the Scott & White College of Nursing since 2003.

Having worked in the nursing profession for more than 40 years at both Scott & White Hospital in Temple and at the university, her career started as head nurse at Scott & White in 1964, and she began teaching in the UMHB nursing program in 1973.

Pehl became a full professor in 1989 and the associate dean in 2001. Throughout her tenure at UMHB, she has continued to work as a staff nurse at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in the labor/delivery unit and she has cross-trained in couplet care and general surgical care.

Dr. Pehl has also been very active in community service activities through her work with the March of Dimes “Babies and You Program” and serving as a grant reviewer.

She has served as the Health Care Coordinator for the area American Red Cross and was instrumental in establishing First Baptist Church, Belton as a disaster shelter and trained church members to serve in various functions within the shelter.

The church served over 100 families following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Pehl is a member of numerous nursing professional associations, including two terms as president of the District 7 Texas Nurses Association.