Dr. Susan Patton and Dr. Robert C. Patton established the Patton Nursing Science Day Endowment for the benefit of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing in the college. Their $150,000 gift helps ensure the event’s continued growth and impact.
Nursing Science Day is a dynamic forum for advancing nursing research and interdisciplinary collaboration. Hosted by the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing (EMSON) and the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, the annual event convenes experts and emerging scholars to spark dialogue, showcase research and advance innovation in healthcare. Attendees gain continuing education credit and professional development while exploring healthcare challenges in Arkansas like maternal health, chronic illness and rural care delivery.
“Nursing Science Day ignites curiosity and drives change,” said Dr. Susan Patton, former executive director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing. “It’s a space where research, collaboration and real-world healthcare challenges come together, and that kind of energy is exactly what nursing and Arkansas needs.”
The endowment supports activities and programming related to the annual Nursing Science Day and covers the costs associated with planning and hosting the event, speaker honorarium, travel, meals, accommodation, and marketing and promotion.
“We are deeply grateful to Susan and Robert Patton for this enduring investment in the future of healthcare,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “By supporting Nursing Science Day, they are equipping nurses with the knowledge and skills to lead, innovate and improve lives across Arkansas and beyond.”
“We are grateful to the Pattons for their vision and provision for this meaningful event that brings together leading voices in healthcare, promotes advancements in nursing education and research, and shares influential scholarship,” said Kate Mamiseishvili, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “Susan Patton symbolizes the values that guide this event — impactful science, interdisciplinary collaboration and productive dialogue that tackles complex health challenges. I can’t think of a better event to bear her name.”
Patton was inspired to pursue her Ph.D. after attending Nursing Research Day in 2008, a long-standing tradition in the nursing school that brought together scholars, students and clinical partners. The annual event was renamed Nursing Science Day in 2023 and expanded to highlight research that bridges theory and practice and to underscore the essential role of nurses in addressing critical health challenges.
“The University of Arkansas continues to open doors,” Patton said. “It fosters collaboration across disciplines and allows me to remain active in research and teaching even after retirement. Nursing Science Day elevates patient care and improves interprofessional communication. Nursing research drives healthcare innovation by identifying outdated or ineffective practices and prompting the need for change. When nurses use evidence to improve their practice, outcomes get better.”
Patton has dedicated her career to advancing nursing practice, education and healthcare leadership. She has a doctorate in community health promotion from the U of A and is a licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist and Certified Nurse Educator. She also holds master’s degrees in nursing and health services administration and a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Patton has executive experience across the healthcare industry, including chief operating officer of Austin Regional Clinic, director roles at Girling Home Health and Northwest Health Systems, and project coordinator for a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant at the Arkansas Department of Health. At the U of A, she was an associate professor and executive director of EMSON and coordinated the health policy track in the Public Policy Program.
Though retired, Patton continues to teach in the graduate nursing program and serves as chair-elect of the Dean’s Executive Advisory Board of the U of A College of Education and Health Professions. Her research centers on fall prevention in older adults and improving health behaviors in vulnerable populations.
“The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing gave my career new purpose at a time I was ready to retire,” Patton said. “Supporting it through this endowment is our way of giving back to a program that changes lives through education and through better healthcare for all Arkansans.”
Dr. Robert Patton, Susan’s husband, is a physician, attorney and U.S. Navy veteran with strong ties to the U of A, and both he and Susan are life members of the Arkansas Alumni Association.
“The university has been a huge part of my family’s life,” Robert said. “My father graduated with a law degree, my brother with a medical degree, and I earned both my bachelor’s and law degrees here. Susan and I even met at the medical center. Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas have shaped our personal and professional lives. Giving back just made sense.”
“Great universities are built by people who invest not only in ideas, but in communities and connection,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “Through this gift, Susan and Robert Patton are ensuring that Nursing Science Day continues to inspire research, foster mentorship and improve care in Arkansas and beyond. We are thankful for their leadership and honored to be a part of their story and to carry their impact forward.”
The Patton Nursing Science Day Endowment will provide an opportunity for EMSON alumni to return to campus, reconnect with the program and mentor current students. The gift also affirms the couple’s belief in the power of education and the essential role nurses play in advancing the health of communities across Arkansas and the nation.
“Nurses are the backbone of healthcare,” Robert said. “If we want to improve health outcomes in Arkansas and beyond, investing in nursing education and research is where it starts.”
