A great loss to HPNA

It is with deep sorrow that we share news of the death of Debra Wiegand, PhD, RN, CCRN, CHPN, FAHA, FPCN, FAAN, president of the HPNA Board of Directors, on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.  

     Dr. Wiegand had been a member of the HPNA Board of Directors since 2016. She served on the organization’s Governance, Audit and Assessment, and Research Committees, and was the Co-Chairperson of the Bioethics Special Interest Group. She served on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. She was a faculty member for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), and a faculty scholar of the Program in Palliative Care Education and Practice at the Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care.

     Dr. Wiegand was an associate professor with the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She taught palliative care, end-of-life, and bioethical courses for undergraduate and graduate students. Her program of research focused on improving care provided to families of patients with both acute and chronic life-limiting illnesses.

     Dr. Wiegand earned her PhD at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and completed post-doctoral work at Yale University School of Nursing. She was a researcher on nearly 20 projects and was a contributor to over 45 publications. 

     At HPNA, Debra will be remembered fondly by all who knew her as a gifted colleague, visionary leader, and dear friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Jim and their family.

     You may find her obituary and details about her memorial service athttp://www.huffandlakjer.com/obituary/debra-wiegand. 

Sally Welsh, MSN RN NEA-BC, Chief Executive Officer

Beth Martin, MSN RN ACNP-BC ACHPN, HPNA President-Elect