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Simmons presented 2002 Earl B. Higgins Award

by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
College of Nursing alumna and continuum of care manager Florence Maria Simmons, R.N., was named the winner of the 2002 Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Award at MUSC. 

The award is presented annually by the Office of Diversity to an MUSC employee who has made admirable strides in promoting diversity within MUSC and the Charleston community. She is the first nurse to be honored with this award. 

2002 Earl B. Higgins Award recipient Florence Simmons, far right, shares a congratulatory moment with MUSC President Dr. Ray Greenberg and her mother, Etta.

A Charleston native, Simmons is the seventh recipient of the award since its inception in 1996 honoring the dedicated work of Dr. Earl B. Higgins, former  director of affirmative action and minority affairs, who died Aug. 30, 1992. Simmons follows previous Higgins awardees including: Joanne Conroy, M.D., Anne Kilpatrick, DPA, Sabra Slaughter, Ph.D., Layton McCurdy, M.D., Jerry Blackwell and Tom Waldrep, Ph.D.

“Florence provides caring in an exemplary manner to the patients and families she serves,” said Marilyn J. Schaffner, R.N., administrator for clinical services, from her introductory notes read during the Feb. 28 awards ceremony. “...She exemplifies professionalism as a nurse in weaving into her practice ‘caring as an essential element of nursing services.’”

As a continuum of care outcomes manager for burn, trauma and other high-risk patients, Simmons is responsible for coordinating care throughout a patient’s entire episode of illness. She believes that all patients, regardless of race, sex, socio-economic status or educational level deserve the respect and best possible care from their health care practitioner.

Simmons began her career working for eight years in the MUSC Burn Unit before leaving as head nurse in 1988 to complete her master’s degree in nursing. She has experience in clinical nursing, management and education.

In addition to her clinical skills, Simmons was commended for her scholarly work, which includes publication in Orthopaedic Nursing Journal and other presentations. She is an active member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., an international organization established for professional minority nurses, serving in both local and national leadership levels. In response to the national nursing shortage, she collaborated with the Omicron Chi chapter in Charleston to create a high school mentoring program for Burke High School students considering nursing as a career. The monthly program matches students and nursing mentors as a way to relate and share information. 

“I feel my volunteer work is so important because of the national nursing shortage,” Simmons said. “ I don’t think nurses are always respected for the work they provide. I think the public identifies more with the role of a bedside nurse versus a nurse working in an extended role. Although people value nurses and are aware of the good job nurses perform, they don’t see it all—nurses give 150 percent to make the entire process work.”

She is a model within her community and church volunteer work. She teams successfully with church members to create a popular lunch-and-learn series with seniors at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in downtown Charleston. Known as “Emerging Leaders,” the program promotes senior health issues featuring beauty and exercise, weight loss, hypertension, etc. As a Eucharistic minister, she distributes communion at Mass and to the sick and shut-in members of her church. She is also active with the church’s “Our Lady of Guadaloupe” group which provides community services such as feeding the homeless at a local shelter.

 “Ms. Simmons, you have combined your inner strength with your assets to gain a vital tool for helping and for healing,” said LaValle C. Higgins, widow of Dr. Earl B. Higgins, during the award presentation. “You are not afraid to freely use your power, not to dominate, but to empower your patients. You make choices as well as changes. You influence decisions and implement them. You have taught that yesterday’s hope gives way to today’s reality which in turn, reshapes tomorrow’s dream.”

Each year, the Office of Diversity receives many commendable nominations for this award. The office congratulates three other nominees: Laurine Charles, Esther M. Forti, Ph.D., and Hermenia S. Mosely. The Earl B. Higgins student scholarships were also presented to Jachelle A. Garrett, College of Dental Medicine and Shelly Ann Bowen, College of Health Professions.