JoAn Stanek receives the Dr. Julie Byerley Award for Faculty Excellence in Interprofessional Education and Practice

Congratulations to UNC School of Nursing Associate Professor JoAn Stanek DNP, RN, CHPN, on receiving the Dr. Julie Byerley Award for Faculty Excellence in Interprofessional Education and Practice.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill proudly presents this prestigious award in recognition of the remarkable contributions made by Dr. Julie Byerley, whose profound impact at the University has paved the way for transformative advancements in the field of health care. Her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts have empowered countless health profession educators to embrace innovation, foster collaboration and set a standard of educational excellence.

Sponsored by the Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice (OIPEP), this award honors faculty who merit recognition for significantly contributing to the advancement of interprofessional education and practice by developing intentional opportunities for students to learn from, with and about each other to advance health.

As an Anne Belcher Interprofessional Faculty Scholar for Nursing, Stanek created a partnership with the chaplaincy department at UNC Health to implement interprofessional simulated experiences on ‘crucial conversations” and debrief ways they can work together. She embedded this activity in her Death and Bereavement elective to equip students with the skills needed to communicate effectively and support families at the end of life.

Stanek has been an early innovator for IPEP and is one of OIPEP’s key partners for traumatic brain injury and the Peak Performance interprofessional pilot. Recognizing a need during the COVID pandemic, Stanek worked closely with a team of colleagues to create an interprofessional telehealth experience, demonstrating her expertise in teaching and innovation as a member of this team. She led the design, implementation, and evaluation components for the undergraduate nursing students.

Stanek received the Chancellors Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching in 2019 for her educational innovation. “She mentors new faculty in the SON who are interested in IPE and through this mentorship has empowered them to further engage in the IPEP network. She is truly deserving of this award,” said Meg Zomorodi, PHD, RN, CNL, FAAN, associate provost for interprofessional health initiatives and professor in the School of Nursing.

Associate Professor Jennifer Alderman, PHD, MSN, RN, CNL, CNE, CHSE, director for interprofessional education and practice at the UNC School of Nursing, confirmed that Stanek has always been an early adopter of IPEP in our school. “She has great ideas and is constantly looking for ways to increase student access to IPEP activities. I am thrilled that JoAn Stanek is the 2023 recipient of this well-deserved prestigious award,” she said.

Stanek expressed her gratitude upon learning about the award. “I am truly honored to receive this prestigious award that celebrates interprofessional practice and education. I have enjoyed every part of my journey and look forward to further collaborations across professions,” she said.