The Central San Joaquin Valley Nursing Hall of Fame inducted Fresno State Professor Emeritus of Gerontology, Dr. Glen Doyle, and former director of Kaiser Education Services and Fresno State alumna, Laurel Friesen, at its 12th annual awards luncheon, held at the Smittcamp Alumni House. They join a prestigious list of nursing leaders from throughout the region who have promoted the profession through a lifetime of dedicated work and achievements.
A posthumous honor was given to Dr. Glen Doyle, who led a distinguished career as a geriatric nurse practitioner and educator before retiring in 2005 at the age of 80. A few years before she died in 2009, a bench on campus was dedicated to her, in honor of her long and dedicated career at the University, which began when she was a student. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at Fresno State, and would later teach at the University, as well as Sacramento State.
Upon receiving her doctoral degree from the University of California, San Francisco, Doyle began her 18-year teaching career at Fresno State, where she was instrumental in the development of the Interdisciplinary Gerontology Program as a director and professor. Her passion for the field led to the creation of online courses for those seeking a minor in Gerontology or the Gerontological Specialist Certificate. She was also credited with the expansion of local community programs that served the elderly and aging population.
“Dr. Doyle placed the spotlight on the need for nurses to learn more about the care of the elderly and their special needs,” said Pilar De La Cruz-Reyes, director of the Central California Center for Excellence in Nursing. “It is appropriate that we honor her legacy with this recognition.”
Friesen has led a 40-year career in the nursing profession beginning at Fresno Community Hospital where she was a critical care nurse and supervisor until 1974. A year later, she began her long career with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she would receive her master’s degree and later go on to join the faculty at the University.
Friesen is credited for co-developing critical care classes at UCSF, as well as teaching in the grant funded Nurse Internship Program. Her passion for nursing education carried over into her role as director of Kaiser Education Services. From 2001 to 2012, Friesen managed patient care education, new hire orientation for thousands of nurses, and worked closely with nursing students to provide clinical sites around the Central Valley.
“Laurel has been a dynamic nurse leader in the Valley, as well as the state, through her profound contributions to nursing education and nursing leadership” said De La Cruz-Reyes.
Originated in 2004, the Nursing Hall of Fame is a collaborative project that aims to honor the distinctive careers of nurse leaders. It is sponsored by the School of Nursing at Fresno State, the Nursing Leadership Coalition of the Central San Joaquin Valley and the Mu Nu Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
The names of Doyle and Friesen will be added to the Nursing Hall of Fame plaque, which is displayed proudly outside of the School of Nursing office, along with other historic nursing memorabilia.
For more information on the Nursing Hall of Fame, contact Pilar De La Cruz-Reyes at 559.228.2155 or pdelacruz@csufresno.edu.
Fresno State College of Health and Human Services 