Mount Marty University Graduate Program Director Awarded for Leadership in Nursing

The South Dakota Organization of Nurse Leadership (SDONL) presented Dr. Carol Stewart, associate professor of nursing and director of the graduate nursing program at Mount Marty University (MMU), with its Nurse Leadership Award during the 97th annual South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) conference in Sioux Falls, SD. 

Over the years, she has been an active SDONL member and most recently a key player on the board, where she currently serves as treasurer. 

"It's leaders like Carol who strengthen the foundation of our programs at Mount Marty," said MMU President Dr. Marc Long. "Her unwavering dedication to nursing and MMU propels us to excel and make meaningful changes in the region's healthcare landscape." 

This fall, Dr. Stewart became the first Faculty Fellow in the Office of the President at MMU focusing on rural health and clinical research initiatives. Under her leadership, MMU will launch a post-graduate certificate in endocrinology for nurse practitioners, the second program of its kind in the United States, to assist rural patients with diabetes and thyroid disorders. 

"Celebrating success is not something we often do enough, given the many challenges those in the healthcare industry face,” said SDAHO President and CEO Tim Rave. “I am thankful SDAHO was able to take part in celebrating and congratulating Carol Stewart on her latest accomplishment and award.” 

The SDAHO annual convention brings together hundreds of colleagues to celebrate outstanding service and excellence by recognizing healthcare leaders from across the state, including several affiliate award recipients. 

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ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA ORGANIZATION OF NURSE LEADERSHIP 

The South Dakota Organization of Nurse Leadership is a networking resource for South Dakota nurse leaders and aspiring nurse leaders. It connects leaders to the best thinking, tools, and information nurses need to excel as nurse leaders. 

ABOUT CAROL STEWART 

Carol Stewart is an associate professor of nursing and the MSN program director at Mount Marty University (MMU) in Yankton, SD. She has thirty-four years of experience working in South Dakota and Nebraska healthcare systems. Since 2009, Carol has worked as a faculty member teaching undergraduate and graduate students, and in 2016, she became the director of the nurse practitioner program at MMU. She takes the Benedictine university's value of life-long learning to heart. She graduated with her BSN from MMU in 1995 and in 2006, she achieved her Master of Science degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of South Dakota, followed by her Adult Geriatric and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner MSN degree from Mount Marty in 2013. She also obtained a FNP Post Master's Certificate from MMU in 2015. She completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Mary in January 2019, and her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Master’s Certificate from Rocky Mountain University in August 2020. Carol’s clinical work is as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner primarily providing services at Indian Health Services in South Dakota. Carol also serves as a site evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and holds numerous Quality Matters certifications. Carol first became a member of SDONE in 1998. She has served as District IV Chair, By-Laws Chair, and Secretary, prior to her current role as the treasurer.