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Distinguished Visiting Professorships

Distinguished Visiting Professorships (DVPs) are a series of lectures led by invited experts who present to faculty, students, nurses, and community members based on the content focus area of each DVP.  Lecture topics have included cultural awareness, understanding the power of nursing impact, ethical challenges in pediatric palliative care, and nurses leading the way in health care innovation. DVPs are offered in the Spring and Fall of each year, are free of charge, and include nursing professional development credits.  

DVP History and Areas of Focus

William T. Cashdollar DVP
First Friday in November

Focus: Palliative Care

The William T. Cashdollar Distinguished Visiting Professorship was created through the caring concern of Mrs. Kathy Cashdollar, following her experiences with the illness and death of her husband. During his final illness, she observed the extreme difficulties involved in caring for him when he was no longer able to communicate. She decided then to develop a lectureship that would help healthcare providers minister to the needs of dying persons and their families, as well as to their fellow professionals who provide the care.

Elinor F. Reed DVP
Spring (Even Years)

Focus: Community Health

Elinor F. Reed, EdS., MSN, BSN, was an Associate Professor Emeritus who  began her career at UTHSC in 1964. In 1988 she retired from the College of Nursing, where she had served as Chair of Community Health. In 1989 she retired from the United States Air Force with the rank of Colonel.

Margaret Newman DVP
Fall (Even Years)

Focus: Nursing Theory

Margaret Newman,  PhD, RN, was one of UTHSC's most illustrious alums. She was instrumental in shaping nursing practice locally,  nationally, and globally through her nursing theory and book, "Health as Expanding Consciousness," written nearly four decades ago. Dr. Newman earned her nursing degree from UTHSC, her master's degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and her PhD from New York  University. At UTHSC, she was an assistant professor and Clinical Research Director of Nursing. Dr. Newman was named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing.

Mary L. Morris DVP
Spring (Odd Years)

Focus: General Healthcare

Dr. Mary L. Morris, Professor Emeritus in the UT Health Science Center College of Nursing, began her career at UTHSC in the 1950s, eventually becoming Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Foundations of Nursing. An ardent supporter of graduate nursing education, Dr. Morris was one of the faculty who was instrumental in the establishment of the graduate program in nursing at UTHSC.  Dr. Morris attended Baptist Memorial Hospital’s School of Nursing and received her bachelor of science from Siena College in Memphis. She then received her Masters Degree from Memphis State University and completed her PhD at Columbia University. Dr. Morris retired from the College of Nursing in 1984 as Professor, Medical-Surgical Nursing.

Beverly H. Bowns DVP
Fall (Odd Years)

Focus: Public Health Nursing

Beverly Henry Bowns promoted community and public health nursing in the many positions that she held in her long nursing career. She received her  BSN from Columbia University and went on to complete two majors at the University of Minnesota in Public Health Mental Health and Education, as well as two majors at Johns Hopkins University in Family Therapy and Administration.

Dr. Bowns was recruited to the College of Nursing at UTHSC by Ruth Neil Murry.  She served as Professor and Department Chair in Community Health Nursing at the college from 1972 to 1977 and was responsible for developing the Family Nurse Clinician (FNC) graduate program. After leaving UTHSC, Dr. Bowns served as Dean and Professor of Nursing at Rutgers University. In 1996, the Beverly H. Bowns Distinguished Visiting Professorship was established for the College of Nursing.

Donations to Lectureships 

Donations may be mailed to this address:
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
DVP Title
62 S. Dunlap, Suite, 500
Memphis, TN 38163

May 26, 2022