By Sarah Morgan Johnson
Alison Green, BSN, and Whitney Lucas, MSN, CRNP (MSN 2017), have been named co-chairs of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing's Junior Board of Visitors. As UAB nurses themselves, investing in the next generation of nurse leaders is a priority for both Lucas and Green.
Established in 2006, the Junior Board of Visitors was created as a vehicle for a young generation of community leaders to contribute to nursing and nursing education through support of the UAB School of Nursing. The Junior Board was set up in the same spirit as, with the aid of, and as an extension of the senior Board of Visitors. Members of the Board of Visitors and Junior Board of Visitors generously contribute their time, knowledge and resources in support of the School and serve as cornerstones to sustaining excellence in undergraduate and graduate nursing education.
Green started her nursing career as a surgical nurse in the UAB Kidney Liver Transplant Unit in 2000. In 2003, she moved to the Oral Surgery Clinic at the Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital, where she has worked since. She is married to David Green, and they have two children. She has been a member of the Junior Board since 2015 and appreciates the Board’s commitment to providing nursing students with scholarships.
“Because of the changing roles of nurses in health care, it is even more important to have advanced degrees to further your growth in the nursing profession. If I had been given the financial support from a scholarship, then I feel confident I could have advanced more quickly in my career. This one of many reasons I enjoy supporting the Junior Boards’ goal to raise scholarships for nursing students,” Green said.
After graduating from the School’s Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner Specialty in 2017, Lucas began working as a nurse practitioner in Electrophysiology at UAB Hospital. She is married to Michael Lucas, and they have two children. Her mother-in-law, Sue Ellen Lucas, MSN, RN (MSN 1979), is a member and former chair of the Board of Visitors and an emeritus member of the School’s National Advisory Council. Whitney Lucas has been a member of the Junior Board since 2015 and is grateful for the opportunity to give back to the School while supporting the future of health care in Alabama.
“I believe in the importance of the role that nursing plays in patient care and community health. A nurse is by your side in the care process at all phases of your life. Supporting the School of Nursing ensures that the next generation of nurses is well-prepared and resilient. I take pride in the education that I received from the UAB School of Nursing, and I feel compelled to support the School to ensure continued success as a top ranked nursing program. Supporting the School of Nursing is a critical part of investing in the future of health care for our community,” Lucas said.