Type Of Business:
Healthcare Center
Expertise:
Ms. O'Grady's expertise is in healthcare education.
Major Product/SVS:
Healthcare
Hobbies/Sports:
Reading, Traveling, Spending Time with her Family
Education Degrees:
Master of Science in Nursing, University of Minnesota (1972); Bachelor of Science in Public Health Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles (1948)
Affiliations Awards:
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing; National League for Nursing; American Public Health Association; Secretary, Women's Environmental Watch; Treasurer, Assistant to the Director, Valley Mentoring Program, Santa Ynez
Industry:
Public Health Nursing
Children's Names:
Joseph, Jeffrey, Kent, Kimberly, Kathryn
Date of Distinction:
3/25/2009
What do you feel separates you from the rest of the professionals in your industry?:
Ms. O'Grady's willingness to try new approaches in the delivery of healthcare services to vulnerable populations and ability to convince policy makers to support the changes separate her from her peers.
What has been the most outstanding thing you have done thus far in your career?:
Ms. O'Grady established the Barbara O'Grady Excellence in Public Health Lecture Fund in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota. This fund provides an annual award for excellence in practice. The award is presented at an awards banquet with a speaker focusing on innovations in public health nursing.
Expanded Biography:
Ms. O'Grady was a senior student nurse working at Los Angeles County General Hospital when she admitted a 13-month old child with a high fever who was severely dehydrated. The parents asked her if their baby was seriously ill. After she informed them that he was indeed very ill the doctor started him on IV water and she tried to reduce the fever through cool baths. In spite of all of their efforts, the child died. As she was charting the infants history she noticed the child has been admitted twice before with gastroenteritis, which is what he had died from. Ms. O'Grady told the doctor that it was a crime that the child's parents weren't instructed on how to prevent gastroenteritis. The doctor said there were public health nurses who went into homes to teach mother's how to avoid infection in their children. She had never heard of public health nurses and decided right then that she would spend her career in public health nursing. She applied for a scholarship from the Alumni Association at the University of California, Los Angeles, which she received. Throughout her life, prevention has been her main focus.
Spouse's Name:
Joseph (Deceased), John
Charity:
American Red Cross
Number Of Years In Profession:
61
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to a commitment to lifelong education in order to improve health in populations.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because she was inspired by a friend's mother.
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Vinson worked as the director of Ramsey County Public Health Nursing Service prior to her retirement with a highly qualified staff of 9 public health nurse clinicians and 53 public health nurses who all made a difference in their client's health. During her career, she was a frequent speaker at conferences, classes and seminars on the challenges for nursing in the changing health care delivery system. Ms. O'Grady is currently married to John Prebish. Barbara has five children with her deceased husband, Joseph Putnam O'Grady. Her eldest son, Joseph Putnam O'Grady, Jr. is a physician, son Jeffrey Vinson O'Grady is a minister, son Kent Noble O'Grady is a major with the Minnesota Highway Patrol, daughter Kimberly Simemson is a financial advisor with University Healthcare System and daughter Kathryn Mauer is an emergency room nurse. Ms. O'Grady is the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Mentoring
Awards/Honors:
Who's Who in American Nursing (1992); Outstanding Achievement Award, Board of Ramsey County Commissioners (1987); Award for Excellence, Zeta Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International (1987); Innovative State and Local Government Initiatives Award, The Ford Foundation and Harvard University (1986); Living at Home Grant Award, The Commonwealth Fund and St. Paul Foundation (1986); Outstanding Contributions to the Improvement of the Health Status of Midwest Citizens Award, Midwest Alliance in Nursing (1984); Distinguished Leadership Award, National League for Nursing (1981)