Sheila A. Ryan, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N.

Introduction

Sheila A. Ryan, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., served as the second dean of the independent School of Nursing, and director of Medical Center Nursing of the University of Rochester from 1986 to 1999. During her tenure Dr. Ryan was responsible for the modification of the Unification Model and reorganization of faculty governance, expansion of faculty tracks for promotion, development of a strategic plan, initiation of the Community Nursing Center, and management of the Commonwealth Fund Executive Nurse Fellowship Program.

Dr. Ryan received a diploma in nursing in 1967 from Creighton Memorial St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Omaha, Nebraska, a B.S.N. degree in 1969 from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, an M.S.N. in psychiatric nursing in 1971 from the University of California at San Francisco, and a Ph.D. in clinical nursing research in 1981 from the University of Arizona at Tucson. Before coming to the University of Rochester, Ryan worked in various places at nursing instructor, staff nurse and research assistant. From 1971 to 1976 she was assistant professor of nursing at Creighton University and served as dean from 1977 to 1986.

In 1987 Dr. Ryan was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and was initiated into the Institute of Medicine in 1992. She was elected treasurer of the National League for Nursing in 1993, and served as the league's president from 1996 to 1997. Ryan was a member of the Institute of Medicine Primary Care Committee, chair of the institute of Medicine Robert Wood Johnson Health Care Policy Fellowship Program, served on the Health of the Public National Advisory Committee and the Advisory Committee of the Pew Charitable Trust's Health Professions Commission. She has also served as advisor and member to corporate organizations, national foundations and local health institutions. Dr. Ryan has worked to expand collaboration between nursing and medicine, and is a sought after speaker in the areas of health care reform, informatics, faculty practice and financial models of managed care.

Organization of the Collection

The papers of Sheila Ryan were presented to the Rare Books & Manuscripts section of the Edward G. Miner Library following her tenure as dean of the School of Nursing of the University of Rochester. Processing was initiated on 1 June 2001 and completed on 13 August 2001. The Papers of Sheila Ryan are contained in eighty-two boxes and occupy 49 linear feet in the Library's Archives.

The Ryan collection contains the papers of Sheila Ryan created and used during her tenure as dean of the School of Nursing . Included in the collection are records pertaining to the administration of the School of Nursing, personal correspondence, and a large volume of materials that document her role as consultant and member of a wide variety of nursing and health-related organizations.

Wherever possible original folder titles were retained and original order was maintained whenever discernible. The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject, with large sub-categories for School of Nursing materials and the extensive collection of travel folders. The boxes are arranged as follows:

• Subject Files A-S (Boxes 1-39)
• School of Nursing (Boxes 39-52)
• Subject Files S-T (Boxes 52-53)
• Travel File (Boxes 53-73)
• Subject Files T-We (Boxes 73-74)
• Confidential Records (Boxes 75-80)
• Photographs (Box 81)

Container List