Welcome to the Beta Iota Chapter's website!

Beta Iota Chapter is proud to be the 55th Sigma chapter at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, a member of Region 9, and a collaborator with the Southern Ohio/Northern Kentucky - Indiana (SONK-I) Consortium.

The UC College of Nursing faculty under the leadership of Dean Ruth Dalrymple worked toward and welcomed the chartering of Beta Iota Chapter on May 21, 1972. Over the years, Beta Iota Chapter has promoted scholarly programs, provided research grants, recognized nursing excellence, supported Sigma’s events and initiatives, honored our chapter leaders, and supported our members who have served at local, regional, and international levels.

We encourage all of our chapter members to annually renew their membership at Sigma’s website Sigma Membership (sigmanursing.org). We welcome Sigma transfer and dual members. We encourage those nurses who are not Sigma members, but are interested in joining Sigma to apply as a Nurse Leader for membership consideration at join.sigmanursing.org/#/

Join us as a chapter volunteer and work with us to increase our viability, visibility, and productivity! Attend our programs and support our initiatives!

Questions or Comments, contact Bev Reigle at reiglebs@uc.edu

 

Call for Nominations for Elected Chapter Leadership Positions

The Leadership Succession Committee (LSC) is seeking nominations for the following two-year term Beta Iota Chapter leader positions.

· Treasurer

· Vice President

· Counselor – must be CoN faculty

· Leadership Succession Committee – two members

The LSC encourages active members to review the position descriptions located on the Beta Iota Chapter website: https://betaiota.sigmanursing.org/aboutus/aboutus and nominate qualified colleagues who are active chapter members (those paying annual dues) or consider self-nomination.

Please access the Nomination Form at: https://betaiota.sigmanursing.org/aboutus/aboutus and submit to (TAMILYN BAKAS email: Tamilyn.bakas@uc.edu) by February 22, 2026, 11:59 PM.

If you have questions, please contact (TAMILYN BAKAS email: Tamilyn.bakas@uc.edu).

   

 Awards for Excellence in Nursing    

   

The purpose of this award is to recognize an outstanding, active* member of Beta Iota Chapter who demonstrates excellence in nursing. You may nominate an active Beta Iota member who meets the eligibility criteria. Please download and complete the nomination form and submit it to Rich Prior at priorrm@ucmail.uc.edu by August 31 each year.

   

Awards Criteria

Excellence Awards Nomination Form


 Congratulations to the 2025 Awardees!!!

Excellence in Education Award
Amber Irwin, DNP, APRN-CNP, MSN, PMHN

Excellence in Practice Award
Gina Marie Allaire, DNP, RNC-0B, C-EFM 

Excellence in Leadership Award
LuAnn Reed, DNP, LNHA, BC-GERO  

Excellence in Research Award
Dania M. Abu-Alhaija, PHD, RN 

QUESTIONS? Please contact Rich Prior at priorrm@ucmail.uc.edu

   

 Research Grant Opportunity  

   

The Beta Iota Chapter invites active members to submit proposals for research studies in the area of nursing practice, education, or administration. Funding of $8000 is available. Submitted proposals must be in accordance with the established guidelines and exhibit methodological rigor. Quality improvement projects and evidence-based practice projects are not acceptable submissions for this funding opportunity. Please download documents below and submit materials to Elaine Miller at millerel@ucmail.uc.edu by August 12 each year.

   

Guidelines

Budget Form

 Congratulations to the 2025 Research Grant Recipients:

Beverly Hittle, PhD, RN, FAAOHN - “Evaluating RN-SLEEP: A Mobile App to Enhance Nurse Sleep”

Dania Abu-Alhaija, PhD, RN - “Nursing Students’ Knowledge and Factors Affecting Adherence to Occupational Safety Practices”

QUESTIONS? Please contact Dr Elaine Miller at millerel@ucmail.uc.edu

Chapter News

  • Congratulations! Karen Bankston

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 2 days ago

    On behalf of the Beta Iota Chapter Board of Directors and Committee and Advisory Council Chairs, we congratulate Karen Bankston, Beta Iota member, on being one of the five Greater Living Cincinnatians for 2026! Her life has been and is an exemplar for professional nurses.  We recognize and extol her continuous contributions to the well-being and healthcare of the most vulnerable in our local, regional and global communities. WE ARE SO PROUD OF DR BANKSTON!

  • Congratulations! Allison Schlinkert!

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 2 days ago
    Congratulations on a wonderful opportunity for Allison Schlinkert, Beta Iota member and CCHMC Assistant Vice President of Patient Services, to present a six-hour workshop to United Arab Emirates Nursing Leaders in Abu Dhabi addressing “From Planning to Practice: Bringing Magnet Excellence to Life.”  
    Great work and we are proud that, in additions to CCHMC leadership, you are a Beta Iota Chapter leader!

  • Research Committee

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , one month ago

    Beta Iota Research Committee meets over breakfast to improve the research grant funding process. Being committee members & friends makes committee work fun!

    Pictured (back row, left to right): Elaine Miller, Beverly Reigle (front row, left to right): Caroline Morrison, Rachel Baker, Donna Shambley-Ebron

  • Founders Day 2025!

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , one month ago

  • Beta Iota Members Volunteer at Best Point!

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 2 months ago

    Thanks to the Community Engagement Advisory Council, Beta Iota members had the opportunity to volunteer at Best Point, helping with hearing, vision, and BMI screenings. Together, we made sure students are starting the school year healthy, supported, and ready to learn! 

  • 2025 Beta Iota Chapter Founders' Day Program: Advancing Nursing Care through Innovation

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 3 months ago

    The 2025 Founders' Day Program, Advancing Nursing Care through Innovation, will be October 7, 2025 beginning at 5:30pm at the Summit Hotel.  Dr. Anthony Faiola, Professor, Population Health, University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, will be the evening speaker.  Cost for members is $35, non-members $45, and students $25. 

    Approved contact hours: 1.0 Continuing education contact hours for nurses are approved by the Ohio Board of Nursing through the OBN Approver Unit at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Continuing Education Program, (OBN-011-93). Contact hours are valid in most states. Program #251007-1

    Register at https://secure.touchnet.net/C21575_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=2155&SINGLESTORE=true

  • Beta Iota Retreat!

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 4 months ago

    Beta Iota Board members, Advisory Council chairs & members, and Committee chairs & members spent a full day learning and planning for the new biennium. It was a wonderful day spent with innovative nurse leaders strategizing how to make an even larger impact! Plus, we got a tour of the beautiful new Cincinnati Public Radio building! 

  • The Mentor-Mentee Program

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 7 months ago

    The Beta Iota Mentor-Mentee participants had a great luncheon!

  • 2025 Celebration of Nurse Scholars

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 7 months ago

    The 2025 Celebration of Nurse Scholars took place April 24th and was a beautiful event celebrating our new inductees!

    Thanks to this amazing Program Committee for planning the event! Featured below (from L to R): Dr Shambley-Ebron, Dr Bankston, Dr Morrison, Dr Wardlaw, Dr York.

    We heard an inspirational talk from senior nursing student, Trinity Marsh (pictured here with Dean Ribar and Program Committee Chair Donna Shambley-Ebron):

  • Congratulations - 2024 Excellence in Nursing Award Recipients!

    By: Rachel Baker Rachel Baker , 7 months ago
    Congratulations to Beverly Hittle, PhD, RN, FAAOHN- recipient of Beta Iota's Excellence in Nursing Research Award!!

    Dr. Hittle has demonstrated excellence in scholarship through her research, publications, and presentations. Dr. Hittle has become a recognized expert in fatigue, sleep, and shift work in registered nurses. She has secured seven grants as principal investigator with funding sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. She has 22 peer-reviewed publications in nursing and health-related journals, and has 28 local, regional, and national presentations. She mentors student and faculty in research and serves as an academic advisor to PhD students.
    Congratulations to Madison Daudet, MSN, RN, CNEn, CHSE - recipient of Beta Iota's Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award!!

    Ms. Daudet serves as an Instructor in the Simulation and Skills Laboratory at the UC College of Nursing. She leads multiple innovative simulations to assist nursing students in mastering their nursing skills to improve health outcomes. She created a National League for Nursing template for a mental health simulation, a rural substance-use simulation to allow students to practice communication skills and work in interprofessional teams. She also created a community health simulation that allows students to practice telehealth. Ms. Daudet has received national recognition as a nursing leader in education by earning her certification as a Healthcare Simulation Educator from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and her certification as a Novice Nurse Educator from the NLN. Ms. Daudet is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Cincinnati.
    Congratulations to Abeer Alhaj Ali , PhD, CNE, RN, RNC-OB, c-EFM - recipient of Beta Iota's Excellence in Nursing Education Award!!

    Dr. Ali is an exceptional nurse educator with specific expertise in simulation and obstetrics. She uses innovative teaching strategies, and advances the scholarship of teaching and learning in nursing through research, publications and presentations at local, regional and international conferences. Dr. Ali has obtained numerous certifications to enhance her teaching. These include the NLN Nurse Educator Certificate, the inpatient obstetric nursing certificate, basic and advanced electronic fetal monitoring certificates, and the Equity-Centered maternal care certificate. Dr. Ali is a highly sought after expert in obstetric nursing and simulation, locally and nationally.

  • SONK-I CONSORTIUM ANNUAL CONFERENCE

    By: Beverly Reigle Beverly Reigle , 9 months ago

    Beta Iota members enjoying a conference addressing Nursing Past and Present:  AIs Impact on Research, Practice, and Education.  

    DATE/TIME:  April 4, 2025 9:00 AM TO 3:15 PM

    LOCATION:  Sharonville Convention Center

    KEYNOTE SPEAKER:  Dr. Dominique Tobbell, Centennial Distinguished Professor of Nursing  
    Professor & Director, Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for 
    Nursing Historical Inquiry, University of Virginia. 

    SPEAKERS:  Dr. James Reigle, Dr. David Swisher, and Dr. Trevor McGuffin will also address the role of AI in medicine nursing, and research.

Our Vision: Connected, empowered nurse leaders transforming global healthcare

Our Mission: Developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere

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We’re proud to share that the Beta Iota Chapter of Sigma Nursing at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing has been awarded the 2023–2025 Chapter Key Award—the organization’s highest honor!!

Out of more than 650 chapters worldwide, only a select few achieve this recognition for excellence in leadership, scholarship, service, and community impact. This is the 5th time Beta Iota has earned this distinction, which will be presented at Sigma’s Biennial Convention in November 2025.

A huge thank-you to our dedicated leaders and members whose passion continues to strengthen nursing and the communities we serve!

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