Fall 2006

Message from the Dean | 2006 Distinguished Alumni Awards | A Healthy Partnership | Creating a Nursing Legacy | Thinking About a Way... | Nursing Briefs

We are especially pleased to introduce you to two extraordinary College of Nursing alumni who have been selected to receive this years’ Distinguished Alumni Awards: Carol Eve Luciani Moye, Class of 1973, and Sally N. Pete, Class of 1981.

Carol Eve Luciani Moye
Carol’s career has been distinguished by clinical expertise and leadership. In the words of her nominator, St. Joseph Community Health Foundation, “Above all she is a mentor and role model for nurses interested in advancing the profession and improving the quality of care.” She began her nursing career as a staff nurse at St Joseph Hospital in 1973, becoming the head nurse/nurse manager of a 64 bed orthopedic nursing unit and Supervisor of the Traction Department in just three years. Ten years later, Carol became the administrative director of orthopedic service for St. Joseph Health Care System. She holds the distinction as the first certified orthopedic nurse (1986) in New Mexico. In 1993, Carol went into private practice with an orthopedic surgeon until his retirement in 1997. Currently, she is a full partner and senior consultant for Star Group, LLC, focusing on health care management.

Carol has lectured in orthopedic nursing at universities, hospitals, education seminars and programs throughout the United States and Canada. She has been the keynote speaker for the International Orthopedic Nursing Forum Conference, Royal College of Nursing in London, and additionally, was one of six nurses invited to present an overview of her specialty in Beijing, China.

In 1980, she was part of a steering committee establishing the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses. She has published articles, held offices in a variety of national and state professional organizations, and received extensive recognition for her achievements as a nurse and business entrepreneur. She is a tireless volunteer for a truly endless list of organizations and activities.

We thank Carol for demonstrating that nursing as a professional career “provides the opportunity to be a good follower, a good leader, pursue clinical expertise, provide expert care, serve as a catalyst for change and influence the direction of a specific nursing specialty.” Congratulations Carol!

Sally N. Pete
Sally has worked for the Indian Health Service for more than twenty years. She provided direct patient care as a public health nurse at Crownpoint, N.M., Fort Defiance and Winslow, Ariz. Becoming a Nurse Consultant to the Navajo Area public health nursing Program, in the late 1980s, she provided technical assistance to all of the Public Health Nursing programs within the Navajo Nation.

When Sally was appointed director of public nursing, she centered her priority concern on patient quality care from infancy to the elderly. She worked closely with all of the health professionals including nurses, physicians, Navajo Nation Community Health representatives, state and county health departments. Sally gave particular attention to high risk children and school health programs which encompass a number of significant health screenings and critical immunizations.

Since 2002, Sally has been the chief executive officer of the Winslow Indian Health Care Center, Inc. (WIHCC). This position requires an oversight of three health care facilities at Winslow, Dilkon and Leupp, Ariz. providing health services to a population of more than 15,000 within eight Navajo Nation Chapters service area, the southwest region of the Navajo Nation. When the WIHCC became the first Navajo Indian Health Service facility to transition to Indian Self Determination under P.L. 93-638 contract status, its challenges were formidable. Equipped with calm, competent leadership, Sally has managed to maintain an impressive level of stability with the staff, executive management team, board of directors, community stakeholders and the Navajo Nation leaders. The WIHCC is an organization with 287 employees and a budget of over $30 million, certainly a more complex, autonomous corporation that it was originally with a $16 million budget and 189 employees.

Sally Pete's distinguished career in Navajo Area Indian Health Service along with her exceptional commitment, her immense contributions and professionalism as a public health nurse and a health administrator are deserving of our recognition. Congratulations Sally!