Steadman honored for nursing
career
by Cindy
AbolePublic Relations
What do Gen. Mark Clark, Chinese Gen. Chiang Kai-shek, Navy nurse Lt. Anna A. Bernatitus and MUSC vascular surgery nurse practitioner Libby Steadman have in common? They are all recipients of the Legion of Merit award—a special honor recognizing exceptional meritorious conduct for outstanding service and achievements.
MUSC vascular nurse
Libby Steadman shows her Legion of Merit award to Dr. Jacob Robison.Steadman is the latest to receive this prestigious award which was presented by 351st Civil Affairs Commanding commander Gen. John McNeill, who was her previous unit commander with the 360th Civil Affairs Brigade, at an Aug. 16 ceremony at MUSC.
In addition to providing more than 26 years service at MUSC, Steadman also completed a successful 30-year military career with the U.S. Army Reserve, retiring with the rank of colonel last August.
“This is considered a high among military awards,” said McNeill. “It reflects on Col. Steadman’s active and reserve Army career while being deployed in several war zone areas and peace keeping missions. She’s certainly well deserving of it.”
A career Army reserve nurse, Steadman was honored for her extensive military service, working with several medical units including the 818th Medical Brigade in Atlanta, the 360th Civil Affairs Brigade in Columbia, and combat support hospitals during the Gulf War and other stateside medical installations.
In 1992, she was promoted to colonel. In August 2002, she was deployed to Kabul, Afghanastan as the senior army medical officer for the Coalition Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force. In that capacity, she worked with the Ministries of Health, Women’s Affairs and Education, non-government agencies, UN agencies and other coalition forces to develop and restore the infrastructure of Afghanastan. At one time she served as the Army’s highest ranking female officer in country working a nine-month stint as civil affairs officer helping to lead the rebuilding of the country’s infrastructure.
At MUSC, she works as a nurse practitioner in the Department of Surgery’s Vascular Surgery section.
“This has truly been an honor for me,” said Steadman. “Receiving this award is a culmination of my 30 years service to the U.S. Army and my country.”
She follows in the footsteps of another caregiver, the country’s first award recipient, Bernatitus, a nurse who was honored for her work during the World War II Manila–Bataan Peninsula campaign.
“The Legion of Merit is an extraordinarily important and prestigious award given by the branches of our Armed Forces for extremely meritorious contributions,” said Fred Crawford, M.D., chairman of MUSC Department of Surgery. “It is not surprising to those of us in the Department of Surgery who know and work with Ms. Steadman on a daily basis that her contributions during her service in the Army were at the same level as those provided to the Department of Surgery on a daily basis.”
“This award shows that Libby’s contributions and knowledge go well beyond her efforts here at the Medical University and confirms the respect and admiration she receives both here at MUSC and in her military service are well deserved,” said Jacob Robison, M.D., vascular surgeon in the Department of Surgery.
Considered an Armed Forces military decoration, the Legion of Merit award is one of two neck order decorations, the other being the Medal of Honor. Although performance criteria for this award differs during peace and wartime, it is meant to recognize an individual for their significant achievements in completing an exemplary service.
Steadman is a graduate of Clemson University and a 1975 MUSC nursing graduate. In 1977, she earned her master’s in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has conducted other post-masters studies at the University of South Carolina. As a 2000 graduate of the U.S. Army War College, she was one of 19 females in a class of 268 to receive a master of strategic studies.
For now, Steadman will continue her nursing work at MUSC. Off duty, she enjoys the serenity of weekend living in the ACE Basin and visiting with her 95-year- old mother.
“Being nominated has truly been a wonderful experience,” Steadman said. “Throughout my Army career, I’ve had the good fortune of meeting a lot of fine, quality people. My time spent serving my country has been a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It has served as the greatest education and experience that will last a lifetime.”
Friday, Aug. 19, 2005
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