Sigma Theta Tau International Names Dodd as Episteme Laureate

By Lisa Cisneros

Marylin Dodd

Marylin Dodd, RN, PhD, FAAN, Sharon A. Lamb Chair in Nursing and specialist in oncology nursing, was recently awarded The Baxter International Foundation's prestigious Episteme Award. Dodd is also director of the Research Center for Symptom Management and an associate dean in the UCSF School of Nursing. Currently, she is the acting dean, as well. The award, presented during the Sigma Theta Tau International's 38th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, IN, on Nov. 12-16, acknowledges a major break-through in nursing knowledge development that has resulted in a significant and recognizable benefit to the public. Dodd was the Episteme laureate and keynote speaker at the convention this year. A professor of physiological nursing, Dodd's research focuses on testing self-care interventions (the PRO-SELF Program) to manage the side effects of cancer treatment (mucositis) and symptoms of cancer (fatigue and pain). These randomized clinical trials include research team members from the UCSF schools of dentistry, medicine and pharmacy and exercise physiology. More than 20 years of continuous funding for this research is provided by the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Nursing Research. Dodd teaches in the Oncology Nursing specialty, and in 2002 offered Biomarkers I & II, doctoral courses which were developed by the Research Center for Symptom Management Faculty Group. Among her honors and awards, Dodd has received the Oncology Nursing Society/Chiron Excellence of Scholarship and Consistency of Contribution to the Oncology Nursing Literature Career Award in 2000; the Margretta Madden Styles Award for Excellence in Leadership from Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Eta Chapter, also in 2000; and was elected a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in 1986. Dodd earned her RN degree from Vancouver General Hospital, British Columbia, Canada; BSN and MSN degrees from the University of Washington, Seattle and a PhD degree from Wayne State University, Detroit. Sigma Theta Tau International annually honors nurses who demonstrate professional excellence. The Baxter International Foundation provides a $15,000 stipend to the award winner. In the tradition of the Nobel Prize, The Episteme Award is presented to a person or team for highly significant research. Source: Lisa Cisneros