Faculty Retirement Party
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 3:30 – 5:30 pm
1CW Conference Center
Faculty Retirement Party
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Pre-Reception 3:30 – 4:00 pm
Welcome Remarks 4:00 pm
Sarah H. Welch, MBA Director, Human Resources
Retiree Recognition
FACULTY
Diane L. Smith, OT, PhD, OTR, FAOTA Professor, Doctoral Capstone Coordinator, Occupational Therapy
Remarks by Sarah McKinnon, OT, OTD, OTR, BCPR, MPA, FAOTA, FNAP Interim Chair, Occupational Therapy
Elaine Tagliareni, EdD, RN, CNE, ANEF, FAAN
Director of Faculty Development, Professor, School of Nursing
Remarks by Patricia A. Reidy, DNP, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Patricia A. Reidy, DNP, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN
Interim Dean, Director of Community Engagement, Amelia Peabody Professor, School of Nursing
Remarks by Reamer Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C, DFAAPA Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, Professor, Physician Assistant Studies
Closing Remarks
Paula Milone-Nuzzo, PhD, RN, FHHC, FAAN President and John Hilton Knowles Professor
Reception
4:30 – 5:30 pm
Please join us for appetizers and dessert to celebrate our retirees!
Diane Smith: 5 Fun Facts
1. What was your first job? My very first job was as a camp counselor for a place called “Tot Lot” in my hometown. My first OT job was for the Rural Champaign County Special Education Cooperative as an itinerant OT, driving around the state with scooter boards and therapy balls in the back of my car.
2. What was your favorite job and why? All of my jobs teaching…it took me awhile to find my “OT groove” but my oldest brother suggested I try academe…and I have never regretted it! I really like interacting with the students in class, and then seeing them grow as therapists and people, making a contribution (via FB).
3. What is your favorite IHP memory? Scholarship Day and Commencement are my favorite IHP memories. It is so heartwarming to see the students progress through the program and present their work in such a professional manner! Corny, but true!
4. What was one of the most helpful pieces of professional advice you received worth sharing? In the end, it is all about making a positive difference in someone’s life.
5. What are you looking forward to doing in your retirement? Doing good! I’ve already begun work on some committees that focus on underserved populations. I also look forward to spending time with my husband, Ray, my son, Brandon, and daughter-in-law, Natalia, and my BFF, Mary Hildebrand! I want to dive into my family history, travel, read, and exercise (in person). And sleep.
A Giving Gift of Gratitude
As an IHP tradition, we’ve asked each retiree to share with us a non-profit organization near and dear to their heart that they would like IHP to donate to in their name, in recognition of their service and many contributions.
A gift of $100.00 will be made to Community Servings in honor of Diane Smith’s service.
The mission of Community Servings is to actively engage the community to provide medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families. Since their founding in 1990, they have provided more than 13 million medically tailored meals to their clients across Massachusetts. https://www.servings.org/
Elaine Tagliareni: 5 Fun Facts
1. What was your first job? After graduating from Georgetown Nursing School, I stayed in Washington and worked as a staff nurse at Georgetown Hospital. After one year, I knew that the acute care life was not for me, and I headed to graduate school in California to become a psychiatric clinical specialist.
2. What was your favorite job and why? Throughout my teaching career, the National League for Nursing, our nation’s first professional nursing organization, was my professional home. When I was elected President, and later returned as Chief Program Officer, I felt I had landed in the perfect role. I had the privilege of working with bright, enthusiastic, and innovative faculty from across the country and globally, and I genuinely enjoyed every (most) opportunity that came my way. And then I unexpectedly found myself at the IHP, where I’ve spent the past seven years – and they’ve been the best.
3. What is your favorite IHP memory? There are so many. The energy and dedication of the nursing faculty during the pandemic; the enthusiasm and innovative spirit of our faculty, across the IHP, who are committed to welcoming students and seeing them succeed; the support and guidance I received from Executive Council. The list of meaningful moments is long – and along the way, I’ve had a lot of fun and plenty of laughter. I still remember when Alex Johnson, the Provost who hired me, reassured me early in my Dean role not to worry – I would never fully understand the budget anyway! Or the time Pat and I scrubbed down the second floor Shouse kitchen, carefully arranging wine glasses in neat rows in anticipation of our accreditation visit, only to discover the review team never even saw the space. And then there were the conferences with faculty, sharing stories over hotel bar visits and dancing to music I hadn’t even heard before, hoping the DJ would play something from the 60s. Thank you, IHP and the School of Nursing, for the joy, the growth, and the unforgettable journey.
4. What was one of the most helpful pieces of professional advice you received worth sharing? One piece of advice I received along the way is to take every opportunity that comes your way — pause to consider it thoughtfully, even if it pushes you outside your comfort zone. Often, the most meaningful growth happens when we lean into the unfamiliar. What may start as a leap into the unknown can lead to deeply rewarding experiences and work that resonates with purpose. Embracing these moments can open doors you didn’t even know were there.
5. What are you looking forward to doing in your retirement? Not setting the alarm and hoping the Orange Line is running on time.
A Giving Gift of Gratitude
As an IHP tradition, we’ve asked each retiree to share with us a non-profit organization near and dear to their heart that they would like IHP to donate to in their name, in recognition of their service and many contributions.
A Gift of $100.00 will be made to the Greater Boston Food Bank in honor of Elaine Tagliareni’s service.
Through the compassion and commitment of our supporters, staff, partners, and volunteers, The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) takes a bold, innovative and multi-pronged approach to achieve our mission: End Hunger Here. GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. https://www.gbfb.org/who-we-are/
Patricia Reidy: 5 Fun Facts
1. What was your first job? My very first job was as a waitress in the restaurant at W.T. Grant’s department store. My first nursing position was the 11 PM - 7 AM shift at The Miriam Hospital, earning $4.25 an hour.
2. What was your favorite job and why? One of my favorite roles was working per diem as a community health nurse, navigating the streets of Middlesex County. I loved the autonomy and the privilege of meeting patients where they lived. That experience paved the way for a fulfilling career as a nurse practitioner in a community health center and, eventually, as an educator for future nurse practitioners.
3. What is your favorite IHP memory? Some of my fondest IHP memories include my work with the Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice and the collaborative energy of preparing for CCNE accreditation. These experiences reflect the dedication, camaraderie, and shared purpose that define the IHP community.
4. What was one of the most helpful pieces of professional advice you received worth sharing? “There is no emergency in academia.” That advice reminded me to pace myself – because the work will always be there. It's a mindset that has helped me maintain perspective, although I haven’t always maintained the work-life balance well!
5. What are you looking forward to doing in your retirement? I’m especially excited to leave behind the daily Boston-to-Braintree commute! I’m looking forward to enjoying more leisure time – golfing, gardening, traveling, and most importantly, spending time with family and friends
A Giving Gift of Gratitude
As an IHP tradition, we’ve asked each retiree to share with us a non-profit organization near and dear to their heart that they would like IHP to donate to in their name, in recognition of their service and many contributions.
A Gift of $100.00 will be made to the Family Health Center of Worcester in honor of Patricia Reidy’s service.
The mission of Family Health Center of Worcester is to improve the health and well-being of all residents in the Greater Worcester area, especially culturally diverse populations, by providing affordable, high quality, integrated, comprehensive, respectful primary health care and social services, regardless of patients’ ability to pay. https://fhcw.org/about-us/