Haifa Samra Named Chair of Nursing at USD
Samra has been at USD since 2014, and previously served as associate chair of research and evidence-based practice in the nursing department. She has also served as interim chair of the nursing department since June, 2016.
“Dr. Samra is an exceptional nurse educator, and we are thrilled that she will lead the development of new nurses at USD,” said Michael Lawler, dean of the School of Health Sciences.
The school of nursing is one of 10 different health care departments in the School of Health Sciences. USD nursing offers four-year, BSN degrees at four of the five USD nursing campuses across the state. The program also offers an online RN-BSN degree.
Dr. Samra earned a Ph.D. in biological sciences and a master’s degree in nursing from South Dakota State University, and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from American University, Beirut, Lebanon. She is internationally recognized for her prolific, meaningful research on neonatal care, children’s health, and rural health.
In 2016, Samra received the Faculty Research Achievement Award from USD’s School of Health Sciences, and also received the Distinguished Service Award from the South Dakota Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Download a photo: Haifa Abou Samra is the new chair of the nursing department at the University of South Dakota.