The Ohio State University Executive Vice President and Provost Bruce A. McPheron, along with Sheldon M. Retchin, MD, MSPH, executive vice president of health sciences and CEO of the Wexner Medical Center, announced today the recommended reappointment of Bernadette M. Melnyk, PHD, RN, CPNP, as dean of the College of Nursing and university chief wellness officer, effective immediately and subject to approval of the university board of trustees. In addition, they recommended a promotion from associate vice president for health promotion to vice president for health promotion. Her appointment will continue through December 2022.
Their announcement included a brief overview of her accomplishments: Under Dean Melnyk’s leadership, the College of Nursing developed a new, five-year strategic plan. This plan advanced the college in several important ways, including more than doubling its growth in graduate enrollment, adding 40 new faculty members and establishing three new interprofessional degrees. In addition, the College of Nursing more than tripled its But for Ohio State campaign goal, including a $6.5 million gift to establish the Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-based Practice. The college also strengthened its financial base and earned a significant rise in both U.S. News & World Report and NIH-funding rankings.
Melnyk created Ohio State’s One University Health & Wellness Council, which generates and oversees the university’s strategic wellness plan to become the world’s healthiest university. She also chaired the first National Summit for Building Healthy Universities with more than 300 leaders from 93 Universities. In addition, she founded the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities, a growing national organization with representation of more than 40 universities. She served as the consortium’s first president, with Ohio State as its administrative home.
Prior to joining Ohio State’s faculty in 2011, Melnyk served as dean and distinguished foundation professor in nursing at Arizona State University’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation. She is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Nursing, the National Academies of Practice and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and earned a BS from West Virginia University, an MS from the University of Pittsburgh and a PhD from the University of Rochester.
