HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to Provide Keynote Address at NLN 2013 Education Summit
Wednesday, September 18; 4 pm
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC, September 18, 2013 — As the 2010 Affordable Care Act takes full effect in the coming months, nurses will play a key role in helping all Americans gain access to quality health care. Todays nurse educators, responsible for preparing the next generation of nurses are, therefore, vital to the evolution of Americas health care system. US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, will speak to leaders in nursing education gathered here for the National League for Nursing 2013 Education Summit, Wednesday, September 18 through Saturday, September 21. The capacity crowd at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel will include faculty, deans, and administrators at schools of nursing and leaders of health care organizations. Secretary Sebelius will make her keynote remarks during the Opening Session of the conference on Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm.
"The NLN is honored to offer Secretary Sebelius this platform to address our community of nurse educators and thought leaders in nursing education. We look forward to hearing her perspective on how health care reform will advance the nations health and how we, the NLN, may best be of service in fulfilling that mission in the years ahead," said NLN CEO Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. Added NLN president Judith A. Halstead, PhD, RN, FAAN, ANEF: "Through her work at HHS, Secretary Sebelius has demonstrated concern and compassion for the health and welfare of all Americans, but in particular, those for whom prior access to quality health care has been blocked."
Since taking office as the nations 21st secretary of health and human services in 2009, Secretary Sebelius has led ambitious efforts to improve Americas health and enhance the delivery of human services to some of the nations most vulnerable populations, including young children, those with disabilities, and the elderly. As part of the historic Affordable Care Act, she is implementing reforms that will help 34 million uninsured Americans get health coverage. She is also working with nurses, doctors, hospital leaders, employers, and patients to slow the growth in health care costs through better care and better health.
Under Secretary Sebeliuss leadership, HHS is committed to innovation, from promoting public-private collaboration to bringing life-saving medications to market, from building a 21st-century food safety system that prevents outbreaks before they occur to collaborating with the Department of Education to help states increase the quality of early childhood education programs and give parents more information to make the best choices for their children.
Secretary Sebelius served as Governor of Kansas from 2003 until her Cabinet appointment by President Obama in April 2009, and was named one of Americas Top Five Governors by Time magazine. Prior to her election as governor, she served for eight years as Insurance Commissioner in Kansas, and for another eight years earlier, was a representative in the state legislature.
Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, please contact NLN Chief Communications Officer Karen R. Klestzick at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.
About the NLN:
Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 37,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members. NLN members represent nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education, and health care organizations and agencies.