An effort to mobilize WSU College of Nursing students and faculty to administer COVID vaccines to thousands of people has earned Senior Instructor Kay Olson a WSU Health Sciences Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Award.
The Office of the Chancellor and Vice President for Health Sciences presents the award to honor faculty members who exemplify outstanding service to college, campus, university or community.
Said WSU College of Nursing Dean Mary Koithan, “The WSU College of Nursing has truly answered the challenge to contribute to the public’s health and well-being. Kay Olson has led our COVID-19 immunization efforts at the college, providing almost 18,000 immunizations across the region. Her dedication, goodwill and can-do attitude truly reflects the spirit of CougNursing at its best.”
Olson has organized and led faculty and student groups in providing vaccinations at schools, retirement homes, community centers and medical clinics.
“I had no idea we’d be doing this many clinics, but I certainly hoped we’d play a part in the vaccination effort,” Olson said.
Kari Lidbeck, Immunization Community Network Specialist at the Spokane Regional Health District, said “When the pandemic hit, one instructor in particular, Kay Olson, was proactive about reaching out to us to see how and where she and her students could help. Last summer and into the fall, we tested out a curbside vaccination model with the flu vaccine. We knew that this model may be used later for a possible COVID vaccine. Kay was the first one to volunteer and came to each event that her students participated in.”
Said Dean Koithan, “From a grateful community and your college colleagues, we say ‘thank you!’”
Olson will be honored along with other Chancellor’s award recipients at a virtual celebration on April 21.
