»ĘÉ«Ö±²„ at Ashtabula Nursing alumna Camille Zalar, MHA, BSN, RN, CARN is one of eight nursing professionals to be selected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing (IAA).
The IAA aims to foster excellence in addictions nursing and to recognize those who have contributed to addictions nursing in sustained and significant ways through practice, administration, research, and education.
āIt is such an honor and being selected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing this year, āthe Year of the Nurseā, has been remarkable,ā Zalar said. āIt has given me an opportunity to reflect on my nursing career and where I can make the most impact going forward.ā
Zalar is currently the Director of Education and Initiatives for the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium through The Center for Health Affairs. She is responsible for overseeing the Opioid Consortiumās education programming, including the initiatives related to nurse and frontline staff education.
The 2019 Roger T. Beitler Distinguished Former Student Award honoree, Zalar earned her associate (2000) and bachelorās (2011) degrees from »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ Ashtabula before completing a Masters in Health Administration degree from Ohio University. She has over 20 years of nursing experience, encompassing medical, surgical, pediatric, hospice and addiction care nursing.
āIt was just over 20 years ago that I graduated from »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ Ashtabula, and I can remember that day vividly,ā Zalar recalled. āIt was one of the greatest moments- achievements- of my life. Knowing that, as a nurse, I would be helping others, no matter where I decided to work. It is with gratitude that Iāve been afforded to be schooled by Ashtabula nursing faculty.ā
A graduate of the LEADERship Ashtabula County class of 2014, Zalar is an active member of the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium Education Subcommittee; The Greater Cleveland Organization of Nurse Executives; The Ohio Nurses Association (ONA), a 2017 Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) delegate for the at-large district; member of the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Zalar has previously been honored with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Nurse Alliance Award and the Ashtabula County Medical Center Gold Award. She also received the Student Nurse Award as an undergraduate in the »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ Ashtabula Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program.
āFortunately, I had many great nurses, managers, teachers, and leaders in my life to help me along the way,ā she said. āFor me, Iām now at a point where I can give back to the profession and share my knowledge with other nurses to advance our professional role.ā
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