Introdue Yourself 02

Sue Popkess-Vawter, PhD, RN

University of Kansas

School of Nursing Office #3045

Office: 913-588-3373
(No structured office hours. Call or E-mail to arrange an appointment)
E-mail: spopkess@kumc.edu

Hi! Welcome to the NRSG 748-749 class! Feel free to call me Sue PV. This should be quite an adventure for us all! I am very glad to be involved in offering innovative ways of teaching and learning.

I am a KU grad twice--undergraduate BSN and graduate Masters degrees. I received my PhD in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin. The first half of my nursing career was as a cardiovascular clinical nurse specialist in a joint practice in Coronary Care and Rehabilitation at Baptist Memorial Medical Center here in Kansas City and in the School of Nursing at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. When I joined the KU faculty in 1978, I taught masters clinical core courses and electives. As I was involved in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and Nursing Diagnosis organizations, I became more interested in preventive care and health promotion. Now I mainly teach in our masters and doctoral programs, including courses in theory and research. I have enjoyed my research track, weight management for overweight women who weight cycle. I was fortunate to receive federal funding (a KO7 grant) for studying overeating, weight cycling, and Reversal Theory. Currently I am working as a weight management Clinical Nurse Specialist at the KU MedWest clinic, at the School of Nursing, and at a private office. I have individual clients and group counseling programs in corporate Kansas City settings. I practice as a weight management personal coach to help clients analyze, design, and adjust lifestyle habits to reach a healthy weight that matches daily schedules and personal choices.

My teaching style is to encourage and promote your self-determined pace in learning. I will not be giving you a grade--you will earn it according to the evaluation criteria in the syllabus. My philosophy is based in humanism, holism, self-care, and systems theories. I like to have students ask questions--there are no stupid questions! I am not a mind reader, nor do I have a crystal ball! So, let me hear from you about how you are doing and concerns you may have and we will get a lot out of this course! I plan to enjoy myself and I hope you do too.

Now, I'd like you to introduce yourself to others in the class. Please complete the introduction below and begin by giving me your phone number where we can reach you while in the course. I will be using your KU E-mail addresses as specified in the KU policies, so be sure you check your KU mailbox often. Be sure to mention your background, interests, goals for the master's program, or other points you feel are pertinent. I will be putting these bios on the WebBoard for the others in the class to read and get to know you. And don’t forget to complete the PROFITS pledge. Thanks!

Sue PV