Nursing prof. wins highest national honor

Each year, the American Nursing Association awards its highest honor to the individual "who has communicated a positive image of nursing and nursing research to the public." And the 1993 Nurse Scientist of the Year goes to -- Ruth McCorkle, professor of oncology nursing at the University. McCorkle was chosen for her research work about life-threatening illnesses, particularly cancer. Her role as the associate director for cancer control at the University's Cancer Center has allowed her to further her research on cancer's physical and emotional strains. "She's a kind of workaholic," said Barbara Lowery, director of the Center for Nursing Research. "She does a wonderful job on her own research and she's a wonderful mentor for new nurses here [interested in] research." McCorkle was nominated by the School of Nursing for this relatively new award. "It's only been given for the last 4 or 5 years," Lowery said. "[But it has become] the top award in the country for nurse research." "She is probably the best known cancer work researcher," she added. Her work, featured in USA Today and other publications, is an attempt to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. "She is very much devoted to her work," said Lisa Lourd, McCorkle's administrative assistant. "She has accomplished just about more than any other scientist in the field [of cancer research.]" As a result of her prolific research, McCorkle has been elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and has served on the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society. Her current work with her associates at the University's Serious Illness Center focuses on improving the cancer patient's ability to deal with his illness. "She strives for the best," Lourd said. "She's definitely a very ambitious woman. She has numerous research projects that she works on simultaneously and she continues to strive for more." This persistence, according to Joan Lynaugh, associate dean and director of graduate studies, is what makes her "the most deserving professor for the award." "I think it was a career nomination. She has been working in both [cancer] research? and teaching for at least fifteen years," Lynaugh said. "This award is to acknowledge that career achievement," she added. Lynaugh also emphasized McCorkle's multi-faceted nature. "She organizes and manages her own baseball team," she said. In addition to baseball, McCorkle takes her teaching and research very seriously. "She is a good teacher and she cares about her students," Lowery said. "What can I say, her work is just superb."