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Darby to direct nursing for Therapeutic Services by Cindy Abole Public Relations Former Ambulatory Care nurse manager June Darby, R.N., has been named director of nursing for MUSC’s Department of Therapeutic Services. In her new role, Darby manages the clinical, fiscal and administrative operations of more than 500 personnel working within the hospital’s occupa-tional therapy, physical therapy, respiratory care, clinical neurophysiology services, pastoral care and speech language pathology areas. She is also responsible for the medical center’s psychiatric nurse consultants and various in-patient units including dialysis, neuro, transitional care and orthopedic/trauma and joint replacement. The Ohio native is the former nurse manager of Ambulatory Care Adult Medical-Surgical Services, Cardiac Rehab and Adult Primary Care. Darby has been with MUSC since 1998. Prior to coming to Charleston, Darby worked with the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati in Ohio and at other hospitals in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida.  She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Ohio University and a master's in nursing administration from Northern Kentucky University in 1997. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives and currently serves as president of the Charleston Organization of Nurse Executives. “June comes to us with a wealth of nursing knowledge and diverse nursing experiences,” said Marilyn Schaffner, R.N., clinical services administrator for MUSC. “We are fortunate to continue to benefit from June’s great leadership.” An active nurse manager skilled in a variety of practice settings, Darby wants to improve communications and team building among nurses, physicians and staff, while providing the highest standards of patient care. In addition to her management role, Darby serves in numerous hospitalwide work committees focused on specific issues and projects. Among these include the hospital bed flow, clinical resource value, clinical services directors, tactical plan and magnet hospital steering committees. Of her work with the magnet hospital steering committee, Darby has gleaned fresh ideas and concepts from a nursing-focused philosophy that she believes will enhance and complement practices and attitudes within therapeutic services. As the hospital advances towards magnet status, she hopes to see these same standards evolve into a culture of excellence practiced throughout the entire medical center.  “June is a valued member of our hospital magnet steering committee and she will bring to her new director role the characteristics of a ‘magnet nurse’ including her insight, creativity, positive approach, evidence-based decision making and constant pursuit of excellence. We welcome her to the team with great enthusiasm,” said Laurie Zone-Smith, R.N., clinical services administration. Bringing a new perspective to her therapeutic services team is the staff at pastoral care.  “June is hard working and fun loving. She loves a challenge and has already attended and met the staff members of all her divisions at their staff meetings,” said Terry Wilson, coordinator of pastoral care. “She energetically promotes the magnet program and is creatively cultivating ways to develop our culture in ways that  assure healing environments for patients, families, and our staff.”     Friday, Dec. 10, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.