Honorary Alumnus Recognized

a Need in Oncology Nursing

Contact: Pam Roe
S218 School of Nursing
(573) 884-2690

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May 17 , 2005

COLUMBIA , Mo. – At the Sinclair School of Nursing's annual spring banquet, Connie Henke Yarbro was recognized as the Nursing Alumni Organization's Honorary Alumnus. She received this award due to her tireless efforts to educate and support health-care professionals in the oncology field as well as her unyielding support of the school even though she didn't graduate from the University of Missouri-Columbia .

“I feel truly blessed to have a ‘home' once again,” said Yarbro. “My alma mater no longer exists and although I still get together with my graduating class members, it feels great to have a nursing school to call home.”

Yarbro was among the initial group of nurses from a round the globe who jumped in to provide the necessary care for cancer patients and their families in the early 70s. The oncology nursing profession moved at the speed of light during its formative years without a professional name or organization to represent the nurses.

So Yarbro and three other nurses recognized the need for a professional organization and they founded the Oncology Nursing Society. Today more than 30,000 members worldwide belong to ONS. For four years, she led ONS as president and she also nurtured the establishment of the ONS Foundation, and as its first president she helped structure how it financially supports nursing oncology research.

Yarbro feels she was in the right place at the right time as the foundation was laid for the profession of oncology nursing. The profession's growth has led her to new challenges. As the founding editor of Seminars in Oncology Nursing and the lead editor of Cancer Nursing Principles and Practice , now in its sixth edition, she continues to nurture the profession's growth. Currently she travels the world consulting and lecturing.

Her passion continues to grow with the profession. She has touched and been touched by the lives of cancer patients, survivors and families. Yarbro credits what she's learned about life and living to these incredible individuals.

In addition to her extraordinary accomplishments, she continues to be interested in and supportive of the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. She served from 1996-2000 as an adjunct clinical assistant professor and now serves as an adjunct clinical associate professor. In 2000, she chaired a highly successful advanced practice nurse conference on breast cancer sponsored by the school and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center . She also contributed her time and talent to the school's scholarship-building golf tournament and has been instrumental in its success.

Students, faculty, staff and alumni of the school were honored at the 15 th Annual MU Sinclair School of Nursing Banquet held at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia , Mo. The event was held to recognize those individuals who have elevated the reputation, research, teaching and service at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing.

“The school's annual banquet gives us a chance to honor those who have gone the extra mile and in the process elevated the bar of excellence in the field of nursing,” said Rose Porter, dean of the School of Nursing . “Connie is an example of someone who has gone above and beyond in the area of oncology. Her passion for helping patients, their families and other nurses has touched many lives in a positive way. ”

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