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Jan received her B.S.N., M.S.N.,
and Ph.D. degrees all from the College of Nursing. Her research
interests included treatment of urinary incontinence after
stroke, rehabilitation, and improving post-stroke outcomes.
Since 2000, she served as a nurse practitioner and continence
specialist with the UK Center for the Advancement of Women’s
Health in the Kentucky Clinic.
Leslie Crofford, M.D.,
director of the Center, said, “Jan Gross was an incredible
inspiration to all those who knew her. I have not previously
known a person who maintained her love of all that was important
in life in the face of adversity to such an extent.”
Students were perhaps her
biggest professional love. Dorothy Brockopp, associate dean for
academic affairs, said, "Jan Gross was one of the most dedicated
nurses I have met. She loved nursing and she loving teaching
nursing."
Jan had recently been given the
Excellence in Part-Time Teaching Award by the College of
Nursing. In the several nominations submitted by her students
doing clinical rotations in the stroke unit at Cardinal Hill
Rehabilitation Hospital, she was admired for “being the nurse
patients hope to have care for them.” She was also described as
having that extra “something” that makes people feel safe,
comfortable and at ease in her presence. She had students use
their critical thinking skills to come up with solutions, rather
than simply answering questions. She effectively showed students
how knowledge gained in the classroom is applied in the clinical
setting.
Jan had led her
undergraduate clinical group through the end of the spring 2007
semester.
Rebecca Dekker, a Ph.D.
student in the College of Nursing, was honored to have Jan as a
friend and mentor as she learned to lead Jan’s clinical students
during part of Jan’s illness.
“She cared so deeply for her
students, and she absolutely loved teaching at Cardinal Hill,”
said Dekker.
Also at Cardinal Hill, Jan
planned and began a service-learning project for undergraduate
nursing students called Blueberry Spa. On Saturday afternoons,
she, other faculty, and students provided spa-like services to
the patients.
Dr. Lynne Jensen, assistant professor in the
College, was Jan's colleague in the UK Center for the
Advancement of Women's Health and shared an office with her.
"Jan has been a true best friend; she has been
by my side through many joyful times as well as the struggles.
During the past year, she made sure that I completed my
dissertation to complete my Ph.D. in nursing - as my editor and
best critic. She was an inspiration and role model on how to
live," Jensen said.
Dr. Lynne Hall, associate dean for research
and scholarship at the College, directed the Ph.D. Program while
Jan was a doctoral student. “Jan was a remarkable nurse and
friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her love
and concern for others were always apparent in her daily
interactions providing care to her patients, teaching and role
modeling for her students, and interacting with staff and
faculty colleagues. Jan had great zest for learning and sharing
her knowledge and nursing skills with others in her roles as an
expert teacher, clinician, and researcher. She approached her
work with such enthusiasm that was contagious,” Hall said.
Claudia Diebold, a lecturer
with the undergraduate program and friend, said Jan was a true
scholar.
“She would never describe
herself like that but she was always looking for a better way to
provide care and teach students…If a patient had a need of any
kind Jan recognized it and either met the need herself or showed
a student how to do it. She never walked past a patient in the
hallway without a kind word or touch,” Diebold said.
Jane M. Kirschling, dean of the College, said,
"The College is deeply saddened by Jan's death. She touched all
of our lives and was a gifted teacher, scholar, and clinician."
Jan was certified by the
American Nurses Association as a clinical specialist in
medical-surgical nursing; was an active member of the Kentucky Nurses Association since 1984
and was its current vice president; and in
2004 was named a Nursing Research Scholar by the Hartford
Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing.
She was an active and
long-time member of Burgin Christian Church and was actively
involved in her community.
In addition to her husband,
Jack, she is survived by her son, Zack Gross of Burgin, her
stepdaughter, Jennifer Baker of Wurtland, her mother, Janet
Coleman of Burgin, her brother Jack Coleman, Jr., of
Harrodsburg, her grandson Max Baker, several nieces, nephews and
many other relatives.
A scholarship will be
established at the College in Jan's name. Details will come as
they are available.
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