By Katie Land, news editor
Oakland University’s Kerri Schuiling, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, FAAN professor and dean of the School of Nursing (SON), works to make an impact not only across the university, but throughout the community and state as well. Her dedication, compassion and ability to inspire have been recognized with an Esteemed Women of Michigan Award.
On Monday, Sept. 30, Dr. Schuiling will take her place alongside 24 remarkable women being honored at the Fourth Annual Esteemed Women of Michigan awards luncheon, hosted by OU, the Crittenton Foundation, Chrysler Group LLC and the Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic.
“I am very honored to have been selected, especially considering the women who have been selected in the past, as well as this year. It is quite a notable group,” Dr. Schuiling said.
The Esteemed Woman of Michigan awards spotlight 25 remarkable individuals who also inspire others to pursue challenges, achieve excellence and help improve the quality of life in their communities through their professional, personal, and volunteer work.
"Each year I am in awe at the dedicated and inspiring women of our state," said Pam Haratsis, executive director of the Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic. "I feel privileged to be a part of recognizing these women."
Diverse and distinguished, the list of 2013 honorees includes Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley and longtime U.S. senator Debbie Stabenow.
“I think it is important for women to be recognized for their contributions to bettering their communities, because too often their contributions are overlooked or are overshadowed,” Dr. Schuiling continued. “My observation is that women often go about making their communities better in myriad ways, but the work that they do is done quietly and is not always recognized. The work gets done because it needs to get done. I also appreciate the compassion with which women go about their daily lives.”
A Michigan native, Dr. Schuiling’s accomplishments and experience is both distinguished and varied. She is certified as a nurse-midwife and women’s health care nurse practitioner, and is fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the nursing profession’s most prestigious honors.
Notably, Dr. Schuiling was the first credentialed midwife at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, as well as the first private practice midwife credentialed at Boulder Community Hospital in Boulder, Colorado.
Dr. Schuiling has served as dean of Oakland’s SON since 2011, following her previous post as a distinguished professor and associate dean and director of the School of Nursing at Northern Michigan University.
Set at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Mich., the Fourth Annual Esteemed Women of Michigan luncheon will support services at the Dr. Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic, a nonprofit that provides health care to uninsured and under-insured clients. Because it relies solely on grants and fundraising to maintain operations, events such as the awards luncheon are critical to ongoing health care services in its service area.
Oakland University is a vibrant academic community with more than 20,000 students and more than 260 degree and certificate programs. To learn more about academics, achievements, and events at OU, visit the news site at
oakland.edu/newsatou and follow the news team on Twitter at
@OaklandU_News.
