Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients 2026 - 2027

As a native Pittsburgher, Erin graduated from The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, a top 10 nursing school in 2003. While a student here, she had the amazing opportunity to work as a tech at The McGowan Center of Regenerative Medicine testing devices such as VADs (Ventricular Assist Devices) and ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) for the FDA.

Erin continued to pursue her love for CT Surgical medicine & Biomedical devices by becoming involved in ICCAC and ELSO, both governing bodies in these areas of medicine. She also obtained her Nurse Executive Master's Degree in 2022.

She is married to her college sweetheart and has 2 high achieving daughters. One in college who is studying film production and another in middle school who plays hockey for the Jr. Florida Panthers.

Erin worked for 14 years with UPMC before heading south to Austin, TX.There, she developed the first Adult ECMO Program in Central Texas. She also started the development of one of several Critical Care Transport Teams for ECMO and VADs across the country. She has consulted with VAD and ECMO programs and companies globally and is grateful to have worked alongside some of the most brilliant Surgeons, Intensivists and staff in this area of medicine.

Erin's career journey has taken her from UPMC to places such as Seton Medical Center Austin, Baylor Scott & White Temple TX, Tampa General, Memorial Regional Hospital and now, through EPIC Cardiovascular Services, to Cleveland Clinic Florida. She extended her work with the ELSO Steering Committee to share her heart-felt passion regarding ECMO, with the world.

She has received a Daisy Award, taught at NTI, has had multiple speaking engagements nationally and abroad, published in Medical Journals, The ELSO Red Book 6th Edition and The ELSO Blue Book 5th Edition. She now looks forward to being a global mentor through ELSO, a Committee Member of SEECMO (teaching platform for ECMO clinicians) and a contributor to The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Hail Pitt!

Keith Dawson is a global health leader advancing equitable health outcomes across diverse patient populations. A nurse by training and strategist by practice, he is dedicated to transforming how inclusive research is designed, executed, and scaled—ensuring innovation reaches the patients and communities who need it most. Across the drug development lifecycle, Keith applies clinical rigor, systems thinking, and purpose-driven leadership to improve outcomes and reduce inequities worldwide.

Keith holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of San Francisco, a Master of Science in Nursing Administration of Health Services from Georgetown University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh. He also earned a Certificate of Business Excellence from Columbia Business School and is licensed as a Registered Nurse in California.

He began his career at the bedside as a registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Georgetown University Medical Center, grounding his leadership in direct patient care.

Keith transitioned into clinical research as a study coordinator focused on expanding access to HIV clinical trials for Black patients—work that shaped his lifelong commitment to inclusive research. At the National Institutes of Health, he managed clinical trials involving underrepresented and understudied populations, contributing to more representative evidence generation before moving into the pharmaceutical industry to lead trials across all phases of development.

Keith joined Genentech in 2004 as a Senior Clinical Trial Manager. From 2007 to 2010, as a Clinical Scientist Specialist, he led the National LymphoCare Study and supported Genentech Research and Early Development clinical trials. Between 2010 and 2020, as U.S. Medical Affairs Principal Medical Science Director, he led medical strategy and execution for the Follicular Lymphoma Disease Area Team, contributing to the successful U.S. launches of Rituxan Hycela and Gazyva. His leadership has been recognized with multiple honors, including Product Development Breakthrough, Vision, and U.S. Medical Affairs Medical Excellence awards.

Since 2020, Keith has focused on shaping scalable solutions to advance health equity globally. He led Roche’s Global Health Equity Initiative, a cross-enterprise effort to dismantle systemic barriers to clinical trial participation and access to innovative medicines. In parallel, he leads the Integrated Women’s Health Project in Ghana, a flagship demonstration initiative integrating screening, early detection, and treatment for breast and cervical cancer—serving as a model for sustainable, women-centered cancer care in low- and middle-income countries.

Beyond his corporate role, Keith serves as an appointed Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Health & Community Systems at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, contributing to the development of future nurse leaders and health system innovators. He has co-authored more than 50 abstracts and peer-reviewed publications across oncology, health equity, clinical research, infectious diseases, and nursing practice. In 2024, he received the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions Accomplished Alumni Award in recognition of his enduring commitment to health justice.

Dr. Helene M Burns, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN, is a nationally recognized nurse executive with 40+ years of healthcare leadership in operations, workforce transformation, patient safety, and healthy work environments. Dr. Burns retired in 2026 from her role as Chief Nurse Executive at AtlantiCare, a five‑time Magnet®-designated integrated health system, where she led redesign efforts that reduced nursing vacancy from 13.7% to under 5% and turnover to below 4%.

Dr. Burns recently launched an Executive Coaching, LLC. As an executive coach, she partners with leaders to clarify goals, build capacity, and lead with purpose. Dr. Burns is also adjunct faculty at Rutgers University School of Nursing – Camden and Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. She serves as a 2025-2027 AONL Board Member representing New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. She is a past President of the Organization of Nurse Leaders–New Jersey.

Dr. Brent Dunworth holds a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Business Administration from Waynesburg University. He is an Associate Professor and the founding academic program director for the Nurse Anesthesia Program at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and has been actively involved in nursing education for 25 years.

Dr. Dunworth has received numerous awards, including the Agatha Hodgins Award, the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ Didactic Instructor of the Year Award, the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and the Dr. Nevin Downs Leadership Award. He is a certified nurse executive and a fellow in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. He has also served as an executive health care leader at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Dunworth lectures internationally on nurse anesthesia and health care leadership and maintains clinical practice in anesthesiology at Vanderbilt.

Derek Schmack is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Nursing and completed his nurse anesthesia training at the University of Pittsburgh CRNA Program where he recieved his DNP. He began his career as a Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU) nurse in Orlando, Florida, and has since worked across diverse healthcare settings, including ambulatory surgery centers and Level I trauma facilities.

Since 2019, he has been actively involved in global anesthesia initiatives and currently serves as the Health Volunteers Overseas site coordinator for Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia. In 2023, Derek joined the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing as adjunct faculty for the Nurse Anesthesia Program.

Dr. Amy Bowser has been a driving force behind data-informed decision-making at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. As Assistant Dean for Data Analytics and Evaluation, she led the School's Office of Data Analytics, transitioning the School from fragmented data sources to unified Tableau dashboards and spearheading the implementation of major systems including Exxat Clinical Management Software and TAMS Faculty Assignment Software — infrastructure that continues to support evidence-based decisions across the School today.

A trained educational psychologist and educator, Dr. Bowser has brought a rigorous, data-driven lens to nursing education throughout her career — from her early role as Director of Evaluation, through her leadership of the School's Center for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education, to her current role as Assistant Dean for Academic Innovation, Teaching, Evaluation and Learning Assessment. In this role, she continues to support the School of Nursing's educational excellence through up-to-date methods for assessing school outcomes, providing faculty with the data they need to shape a cutting-edge curriculum.

She teaches a graduate course on the Art and Science of Teaching and Learning in Nursing Education and enjoys presenting teaching and learning theories to nurses developing their teaching skills. She has published and presented new performance-based rubrics in writing, clinical judgment, and AI use in assignments.

In 2026, Dr. Bowser's innovative approach was recognized with the Senior Vice Chancellor's Innovation Award for a School of Nursing video game-based simulation tool. Her career reflects a rare ability to turn data into insight, and insight into better outcomes for students, faculty, and the School as a whole.

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