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Wykle to present during Institute of Psychiatry Grand Rounds by Heather Woolwine Public Relations There are certain words that pop up when someone describes May L. Wykle, Ph.D., R.N., the presenter for April 22 MUSC Institute of Psychiatry’s Grand Rounds. Strong. Determined. Touching. Accomplished.   Wykle, dean and Florence Cellar professor of nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, is a recognized expert, nationally and internationally, in the field of aging mental health. She will present “Vulnerable Populations:  The Impact of Mental Health and Self Care of Older Adults” this morning and “Cultural Competency and Diversity Issues in Leadership” during an afternoon session.   Wykle’s presentation will highlight the most important challenges facing the caregiver in today’s society as well as looking at what role race plays in care giving.   Her career began in 1962 when she graduated Case Western with a nursing degree and as the school’s first black nurse. She earned her master’s degree in psychiatric nursing seven years later and worked as a psychiatric nurse integrator, as well as a doctorate degree in education also at Case Western. In 1988, she became director of the University Center on Aging and Health at Case Western in addition to becoming a full professor and dean by 2001.   She authored numerous publications and continues to receive research support for ongoing work concerning geriatric mental health, family care giving, minority elders and caregivers relationships, caring for patients with dementia, and the effects of stress on geriatric health.   Wykle was president of Sigma Theta Tau International, served on the advisory board for the Johnson & Johnson national “Campaign for Nursing’s Future,” and is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the Gerontological Society of America.  She was a recipient of a Geriatric Mental Health Academic Award from the National Institute of Mental Health, and directed a Robert Wood Johnson Teaching Nursing Home Project.    In 1986, she participated in a study commissioned by Congress of the nation’s nursing homes and was named to the White House Conference on Aging in 1993. She is a member of the National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute on Aging research review committees and the Geriatric/Gerontology Advisory Committee for the Veterans Administration.  She was recently appointed by the National Institutes of Health to the Advisory Board of the Fogarty International Center. In April 2003, she was appointed by Governor Robert Taft to the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.   Wykle received numerous honors and awards, most recently including the Ethelrine Shaw-Nickerson Award from the Ohio Nurses Association. In August 2003, she was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Black Nurses Association and in 2004 received the Frank and Dorothy Humel Hovorka Award from Case Western, recognizing a faculty member whose exceptional achievements in teaching, research and service benefited the community, nation, and world.    A recent book, “Serving Minority Elders in the 21st Century” earned the American Journal of Nursing’s Book of the Year Award in 2000 and “Successful Aging Through the Life Span” was just released in November. The MUSC Institute of Psychiatry Grand Rounds is held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 22, in the Institute of Psychiatry Auditorium, located at 67 President Street (corner of President and Doughty Streets). Parking is available in G Lot on President Street.   Guest speaker is May L. Wykle, Ph.D., R.N., dean and cellar professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University. The title of her seminar is Vulnerable Populations: The Impact of Mental Health and Self Care on Older Adults.   For information on the grand rounds, visit http://www.musc.edu/psychiatry/grand_rd.htm.     Friday, April 22, 2005 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.