The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio announced Tuesday the appointment of a new dean of the School of Nursing to replace Eileen Breslin, who is retiring after 14 years.
The new dean, Sonya Hardin, comes from the University of Louisville where she is a professor and dean of its school of nursing.
Dr. William Henrich, president of UT Health San Antonio, said Hardin's career as a "principled leader" has encompassed both administrative and leadership positions.
Hardin will begin her new role June 6. She has a body of nationally recognized work in acute- and critical-care nursing, and was previously appointed to the task force of the American Association of College of Nursing to revise educational standards for critical care nurses. Hardin is also known for her research in aging and chronic disease, supported by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. She's also helped bioengineers, mechanical engineers and electrical engineers to obtain National Science Foundation funding and patents for biomedical technology devices.
Hardin said she was drawn to UT Health San Antonio because of its nationally acclaimed reputation and the team's focus on student success and innovative research. UT Health San Antonio’s Multispecialty and Research Hospital — currently under construction — was another strong indicator that patient care is foremost in the institution's strategic plans.
"San Antonio is a city that cares about people," Hardin said.
Hardin said some of her goals in the new role are to boost nursing school enrollment and expand research into improving nursing care.
UT Health San Antonio has five schools, roughly 7,200 employees, a clinical practice with more than 2 million patient visits yearly and an operating budget of more than $1 billion. UT Health San Antonio is the largest research university in South Texas — with an annual research portfolio of roughly $350 million.
