Willie Roberts, RN, MSH, Nurse Educator Shands Jacksonville

Jacksonville

I would like to nominate Willie Roberts, RN, MSH, for the Hospital Hero Award.  She has more than 15 years experience with HIV and 33 years in nursing.  She began working with infected pregnant women and their children 18 years ago by managing the Public Health HIV/AIDS ambulatory clinic.  In 1998, she founded the Christian Women Coalition, a support group for persons infected and affected by HIV, the longest running support group for infected and affected women.  This multicultural group meets twice monthly for education, spiritual refreshing, and relationship building.  Willie provides education, testing, and counseling for family members, friends, or other persons interested in learning about the disease.  The Christian Women Coalition is supported by local churches, local and state government representatives, and elected officials.

Due to the success of this group, a men’s group formed in 2002, facilitated by the hospital chaplain.

Willie Roberts is known extensively due to her work with infected persons.  Through her efforts, members of the Christian Women Coalition support group are spokespersons for HIV prevention.  They travel extensively, educating youth and adults alike about the HIV epidemic and how to prevent the spread of this health disparity.  Willie Roberts has presented abstracts at two International HIV Conferences in Geneva, Switzerland and Durban, South Africa.

Willie is also known in the church community for HIV prevention/education, especially among teenagers.  She hosted several citywide contests for church youth groups to spread the word on HIV prevention.  Groups were given HIV information and creatively put music, drama, and rap to the script, spreading the word about HIV prevention.  These activities reached more than 1,500 youths the first year.  Contest winners committed to one-year service to HIV education and have performed at the Boys and Girls Club, churches, and public schools.

Willie Roberts, RN, is the team leader for the Ryan White Part A program at Shands Jacksonville.  Her responsibilities include program oversight and budget and counseling; and reporting and coordinating services for newly diagnosed and formerly diagnosed patients.  Her program is governed by local, state, and federal guidelines.  She has consistently passed all surveys and audits with superior results.

In addition to all the above activities, she manages a weekly call-in radio program reaching and educating thousands about the HIV epidemic in Duval and surrounding counties.

She is currently a member of the National Board for HIV/AIDS Women Initiative; Co-Chair of the City of Jacksonville Ryan White Planning Council – Women, Adolescents and Children HIV committee; Interfaith HIV/AIDS advisory committee; Minority AIDS Network of Jacksonville; local Ryan White Planning Committee; National Association of Nurses in AIDS Care; North Florida ANAC Chapter member; and nominated as the AIDS Nurse of the Month by the State Bureau of HIV/AIDS.

She manages to serve her community, church, family, and fulfills her responsibilities to her nurse manager position at Shands Jacksonville.  She is definitely a Hospital Hero.

Zelma Dickerson, RN, Director

Shands Jacksonville