Six Health Care Leaders Inducted into Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame

XFacebookLinkedInEmail TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Six distinguished individuals in health care are part of the 2025 class that will be inducted into the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame, presented by the Alabama Nurses Foundation, Nov. 13 at the Bryant Conference Center in Tuscaloosa. The event will be hosted by The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing. The 2025 class includes Charles Faulkner, Lisa Mestas, Paula Midyette, Dr. Suzanne Prevost, BJ Scharath and Dr. Felecia Wood. Established by the Capstone College of Nursing's Board of Visitors in March 2001, the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame was created to honor nurses and others who, through their work and accomplishments, have brought honor and fame to the profession of nursing and the state of Alabama. Charles Faulkner, MHA, LFACHE [Link] Charles Faulkner dedicated more than four decades to health care administration, serving in leadership roles across Mississippi and Alabama. A graduate of the University of Montevallo with a Bachelor of Science and the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Master of Science in healthcare administration, Faulkner built a career marked by innovation, mentorship and service to underserved communities. Faulkner began his career as a hospital administrator, eventually becoming CEO of Golden Triangle Regional Medical Center in Columbus, Mississippi. There, he addressed high infant mortality rates by establishing a collaborative practice of nurse midwives and physicians. He also launched the state's second hospice program, expanding access to end-of-life care. Returning to Birmingham, Faulkner managed the home health program for Birmingham Baptist and served as transitional CEO during the integration of three rural hospitals into the Baptist Health System. He was later appointed CEO of Princeton Baptist Medical Center, the system's flagship teaching hospital. At Princeton, Faulkner embraced the legacy of compassionate nursing care established by Capstone Hall of Fame honoree Ida V. Moffett. He worked closely with nurse leaders, including Dr. Kathleen Ladner and Regina Yarbrough, and addressed staffing shortages by recruiting nurses from the Philippines, bringing 50 highly qualified professionals to the hospital. Following his tenure at Princeton, Faulkner managed Birmingham Baptist's 85-physician clinic system. He chaired the Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System and worked as a licensed nursing home administrator for Ball HealthCare. His commitment to education and mentorship extended to advisory roles at Samford University's Moffett and Sanders School of Nursing and the UAB School of Health Professions, where he served on the Dean's Advisory Board. Faulkner's leadership within the Alabama Hospital Association included serving in all board offices, culminating in his role as chairman. He also served as Regent for Alabama in the American College of Healthcare Executives and continues his involvement as a Life Fellow. His contributions to health care education include guest lectures at the University of Alabama and UAB's nationally ranked graduate program in health care administration. UAB's School of Health Professions honored him twice as Graduate of the Year and named him among its "Forty for Forty," recognizing the top graduates from its first four decades. Faulkner was also recognized by the Spirit of Luke organization for supporting volunteer medical and social services in Alabama's Black Belt. Today, Faulkner continues to serve his community as a member of the Hoover Healthcare Authority and as chairman of the Hoover Medical Clinic Board. His legacy reflects a lifelong commitment to improving health care access, mentoring future leaders and fostering compassionate care. Lisa Mestas, MSN, BAS, RN [Link] Lisa Mestas has devoted more than 50 years to nursing, leadership and education, shaping health care delivery through clinical excellence and mentorship. Her career began with two decades of hands-on experience in perioperative, adult intensive care and neonatal intensive care nursing. During this time, she earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in nursing, national certifications in operating room and critical care nursing, and became an advanced cardiac life support instructor. Mestas's early clinical work instilled a deep passion for patient care and teaching. As a charge nurse and clinical supervisor, she recognized the transformative potential of nursing leadership, which became the guiding force of her career. She pursued a Master of Science in nursing with a focus on adult health and clinical nurse specialist practice, graduating with the Clinical Excellence Award. Her training emphasized five core areas: leadership and administration, education, research, collaboration and clinical expertise, all of which she carried throughout her professional journey. Over the years, Mestas held numerous leadership roles, culminating in her position as associate administrator and chief nursing officer for University of South Alabama Health in Mobile. Her leadership was marked by a commitment to mentoring nurses, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and integrating technology to improve patient care. She championed initiatives that encouraged nurses to pursue advanced degrees and clinical specialization. Mestas contributed to several nursing textbooks focused on clinical nurse leadership and health care administration. She collaborated with academic institutions on research aimed at improving nursing processes and patient outcomes, and she advocated for the inclusion of nurse scientists as integral members of the health care team. Her work emphasized compassionate care, professional development and innovation at the bedside. Throughout her career, Mestas received numerous local, regional and national awards for leadership and mentorship. She served on nursing boards and presented evidence-based practices at conferences across the country and internationally. Her influence extended beyond administration, as she shaped the next generation of nurses through teaching, writing and advocacy. Her legacy is defined by a lifelong dedication to empowering others, advancing nursing professionalism and improving health care systems. Mestas's work reflects a belief in the power of collaboration, education and compassion to transform patient care and elevate the nursing profession; and keeping the patient at the center of all these areas. Paula Midyette, MSN, RN, CCNS, CCRN-K, CNEcl, CDCES [Link] Paula Midyette is a board-certified clinical nurse specialist and adjunct faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing. She teaches critical care and pathophysiology and serves as a care coordinator and certified diabetes care and education specialist at the UAB PATH Clinic, which supports uninsured patients living with uncontrolled diabetes. Midyette began her nursing career in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at UAB Hospital, caring for both adult and pediatric patients. After earning her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on adult health, she transitioned into advanced practice, providing education, quality improvement and clinical leadership for complex cardiovascular populations. Her work has been guided by a commitment to developing skilled bedside nurses with strong critical thinking abilities, believing that specialized knowledge leads to better care, professional satisfaction and autonomy. In the late 1980s, Midyette was recruited to Montclair Hospital to build a nursing team capable of caring for pediatric cardiac patients and continued in leadership roles as a clinical nurse specialist and case manager. She later returned to UAB Hospital as an advanced nurse educator and CNS for the cardiovascular ICU, and in 2012, joined Children's of Alabama, where she trained hundreds of nurses during the expansion of the pediatric cardiovascular program. In 2017, Midyette transitioned to academia, joining the department of acute, chronic and continuing care at UAB. She teaches a range of courses, with a particular passion for pathophysiology and complex care. She continues her clinical practice at the PATH Clinic, coordinating care and providing diabetes education to patients facing significant health barriers. Midyette holds certifications in critical care nursing, nurse education and diabetes care. Her contributions include presentations and publications on cardiovascular care and vulnerable populations. She has received multiple awards including the Birmingham Nursing Excellence Award, Children's of Alabama Nursing Excellence Award in Teaching and the UAB Jo Ann Barnett Alumni Award for Compassionate Care. Active in professional and community service, Midyette serves on the UAB School of Nursing Board of Visitors and the Auburn University College of Nursing Legacy Board. She and her husband also assist with medical support for international patients needing specialty care. Paula extends her gratitude to God and to her family, colleagues, and mentors who have supported her journey as a clinician, educator, and advocate for advancing nursing practice and health equity. Suzanne Prevost, PhD, RN, FAAN [Link] Dr. Suzanne Prevost has built a distinguished career in nursing education, leadership and global advocacy. She served as dean of the Capstone College of Nursing at The University of Alabama for 10 years, after which she transitioned to a faculty role. Her leadership at UA followed five years as associate dean at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing and a decade as the National HealthCare Chair in Gerontological Nursing at Middle Tennessee State University. Earlier in her career, Prevost held administrative roles at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she directed outcomes evaluation and nursing education. She also worked as a clinical nurse specialist and critical care nurse, experiences that shaped her commitment to evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. From 2011 to 2013, Prevost served as president of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, representing more than 100,000 members across 95 countries. Under her leadership, the organization expanded its global footprint, opening a satellite office in South Africa and fostering international collaboration across six regions. During her presidency, Sigma Theta Tau was granted consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, amplifying nursing's voice in global health policy. Prevost earned her bachelor's degree from Villa Maria College in Pennsylvania, her master's from the Medical University of South Carolina and her doctorate from Texas Woman's University. She completed a Hartford Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and is a Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Executive Fellow. She is also a certified online instructor and a trainer with the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium. Her research has focused on improving pain management, end-of-life care and nursing education. She served as clinical editor of Nursing Clinics of North America from 2007 to 2012 and has received numerous awards for research dissemination and utilization, including honors from Sigma Theta Tau, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. Prevost has been recognized as an outstanding alumna by Villa Maria College, the Medical University of South Carolina and Texas Woman's University. She also received the Kentucky State Award for Excellence from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and a lifetime membership award from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She and her husband Frank have been married for more than 40 years and have two daughters: Elizabeth is a registered nurse in Louisville, Kentucky, and Emily is an advertising executive in Atlanta. They are proud grandparents of four. BJ Scharath, MSN, RN [Link] BJ Scharath has dedicated more than five decades to advancing nursing practice, education and health care leadership. A graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and The University of Alabama with a Master of Science in Nursing, Scharath has held a wide range of clinical, administrative and academic roles throughout her career. Since 2016, Scharath has served as an adjunct clinical instructor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, where she teaches in the family, community and health systems department. Her work in the community and public health nursing course has focused on immersive student experiences in underserved areas. She co-leads a rural immersion program in Hale County, where students engage with local EMS, home health services, and the county's only hospital. The program also partners with Project Horseshoe Farm, a nonprofit addressing social isolation and mental health through community-based care. Students conduct weekly wellness clinics, offering blood pressure and glucose screenings. Prior to her academic role, Scharath worked at Cahaba Safeguard Administrators, a subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, where she served as medical review manager and clinical nurse coordinator for data analysis. Her work involved forensic data mining of Medicare claims to identify fraud and abuse across multiple states. She collaborated with investigators and federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, to prosecute fraudulent providers. Her final role with the company was based in Detroit, where she supervised nurses reviewing high-value Medicare claims. Earlier in her career, Scharath held leadership positions at Medical Center East in Birmingham (now UAB St. Vincent's East), serving as vice president of patient care services and interim chief operating officer. She oversaw nursing operations, pharmacy, emergency services, and social services, and was appointed to the hospital's board of directors. At UAB Hospital, she directed general surgical nursing and later led medical professional recruitment. Her clinical leadership spanned orthopedics, trauma, transplant surgery and more. Scharath's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the UAB School of Nursing Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, the Lamplighter Award from the Alabama League for Nursing, and the Sigma Theta Tau President's Award. She was named one of Alabama HealthScope's Women in Medicine and holds a leadership certification from the Wharton School of Business. Beyond health care, Scharath is active in her community. She serves as a poll worker, writes for the Indian Springs Village Voice, and holds leadership roles in the Indian Springs Garden Club and the Cahaba Lily Needlepointers. Her needlepoint work earned Best in Show at the national American Needlepoint Guild seminar in 2023. Felecia G. Wood, PhD, RN [Link] Dr. Felecia G. Wood has spent more than four decades advancing nursing practice, education and research through rural health advocacy. Her passion for serving rural communities began in southeastern Ohio, where she volunteered at a local hospital as a teenager. Torn between careers in nursing and teaching, she ultimately combined both, becoming a nurse educator committed to improving health outcomes for underserved populations. Wood earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Alderson Broaddus College and began her clinical career as a staff nurse in rural West Virginia. After relocating to Tuscaloosa in 1980, she joined the faculty at The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing and began commuting during summers to complete her Master of Science in nursing from West Virginia University. She later earned her doctorate in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1988. Over her 44-year career at UA, Wood taught undergraduate and graduate students in MSN, DNP, EdD and joint PhD programs. She held leadership roles within the College and across the University and was active in numerous professional organizations. Her service included eight years on the Alabama Board of Nursing, five of which she served as president. Wood's clinical practice continued during summers, where she worked in hospitals and clinics in rural Ohio and California. Her research focused on diabetes self-management among diverse rural populations, emphasizing health literacy and the use of technology. She later expanded her work to include educating nurses and community leaders on health-literate communication and organizational strategies. Her research has been supported by multiple grants, including a project funded by a private corporation to explore racial disparities in kidney disease and treatment. That work led to the development of a website and mobile app designed to help individuals with chronic kidney disease detect and manage their condition using plain language. She also served as a consultant on a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant focused on COVID-19 health literacy in rural Alabama and advised government agencies on improving communication among health care professionals. Wood's scholarship has been widely disseminated through professional journals and conferences. Her work has helped shape evidence-based strategies for rural health nationwide, ensuring that care is relevant, understandable and accessible to vulnerable populations. She credits her success to the mentorship of state and national nursing leaders, many of whom have been inducted into the Alabama Nursing Hall of Fame. Wood's legacy is one of advocacy, innovation and education. Her career reflects a lifelong commitment to improving health outcomes for rural communities and preparing nurses to deliver compassionate, informed care where it is needed most. The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state's flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state's largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond. Contact Rosemary Kirby, UA Capstone College of Nursing, [email protected]