Community Relations Liaison and Education Consultant Nancy Maebius, Ph.D., MSN, BSN, R.N., who has 50 years of experience in medical-surgical nursing, maternal child nursing, education, and clinical research, is among the visionary leaders who were celebrated at the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing’s 50th-anniversary luncheon. The St. Louis native was one of four founding faculty members in 1969 and served on the faculty until 1977.
Maebius was among the 50 honorees who were presented with a crystal award. The winners also were featured in a video and toast at the end of the celebration.
“This award has great meaning. It’s one of the greatest honors that I’ve received,” she said. “Reflecting back on my 50 years in nursing education and research, I appreciate the significance of nursing education’s historic past, our current successes and look forward to the future.”
According to the luncheon’s booklet, Celebrating Our Legacy, Dean of the School of Nursing Dr. Eileen Breslin stated, “What a joy it is to celebrate the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing’s 50 anniversary! The school was founded in 1969 under the leadership of Dr. Margretta Styles and four faculty members. Because of their vision and dedication to the School of Nursing, we now celebrate a half-century of excellence in education, discovery, and care.”
Dr. Breslin continued: “UT Health is celebrating 50 visionary leaders who have made significant contributions supporting the UT Health School of Nursing and advancing health and health care systems in Texas and beyond. The Visionary Leaders represent our alumni, faculty, staff, community leaders, and friends of the school. Their contributions to nursing have propelled the profession and enhanced nursing care.”
UT Health School of Nursing displayed a photo of Maebius from 50 years ago as a faculty member, which is also featured on the university’s website. There’s also a large portrait of her along with four founding faculty members and the dean in the hallway of the school.
“Mainly it’s the idea of nurses honoring nurses who are visionary leaders,” she said. “It was an all-around lovely luncheon with champagne and confetti that was shot up into the air at one point.”
In 1964, the University of Michigan alumna began her illustrious career at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. Three years later, she and her husband moved to Austin, Texas, where they both worked on their master’s degrees. She was among only four graduates in the inaugural Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Texas in Austin. She then permanently moved to San Antonio.
Maebius said that she loves all things nursing. Even when she took two years off after one of her sons was born, she volunteered as a nurse in the emergency room at Robert B. Green Hospital.
In 1985, she worked at Humana Women’s Hospital in staff development. Maebius, who was then recruited to work at Galen, said some of her greatest work was developing an innovative curriculum and teaching in the Humana Health Institute vocational nursing program. In 1991, her first day at Galen was the graduation of the inaugural class of vocational nursing students.
In addition to her current roles at Galen, Maebius tirelessly serves on the UT Health Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics Advisory Council and is a member of the Advisory Committee on Education for the Texas Board of Nursing.
Galen has opened many opportunities for her, she said. Maebius has written six editions of a medical-surgical nursing guide and authored two nursing textbooks. The Student Success Center and Library was named in her honor in 2012. She also has held “a variety of roles” including teaching pharmacology and anatomy and physiology for 12 years.
“The curriculum at Galen has always been strong. It includes integrity, diversity, and excellence. We’ve adapted to the needs of the community,” she said. “We’re really advancing healthcare because of the growth of our diverse student population and the emphasis on curriculum development and quality improvement.”
