The Legacy of Agent Orange Discussed at Yale Symposium

Recently, Yale School of Nursing (YSN) celebrated the achievements of former YSN dean Margaret G. Arnstein, with the rededication of the Margaret G. Arnstein conference room and the unveiling of the Margaret G. Arnstein exhibit. A framed display featuring numerous photographs, citations, awards and medals told the story of the distinguished career of one of the most influential nursing and public health leaders of her generation.

YSN Dean Catherine Gilliss emphasized how Margaret Arnstein’s work helped shape the mission of the Yale School of Nursing. “Margaret Arnstein represented the epitome of nursing research, nursing education and nursing practice,” Gilliss said. “Her career and accomplishments are truly legend. She is an inspiration to all of us at the Yale School of Nursing to continue working to improve health care for all people.”

Yale University Provost Allison Richard delivered remarks by Yale University President, Richard C. Levin. In the remarks, Levin highlighted Dean Arnstein’s enduring influence on many generations of Yale students. “She was involved in international development and public health before those words had the cachet they carry today. She gave herself to the study of health care needs in developing countries at a moment when this was not the common thing to do. She taught at a university. And then when given the opportunity, she led a School of Nursing - our School of Nursing - with initiative, imagination, and innovative flair. As I consider her career, I consider also the careers of all the undergraduate students at Yale today. If they had her character and were to use their talents, training and temperament as she has used hers, we could feel they had achieved what Yale is striving to accomplish.”

Some of those attending the ceremony included Robert Arnstein, M.D. and his wife Mary. Arnstein, psychiatrist-in-chief emeritus at Yale University Health Services is the brother of Margaret G. Arnstein. Yale University’s Deputy Provost Stephanie S. Spangler was also in attendance.

The 2002 Sybil Palmer Bellos Lecture followed the rededication ceremony. Marla E. Salmon, dean of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing of Emory University, and a professor of nursing and public health, delivered a lecture titled “Footprints, Pathways and the Public’s Health: A Tribute to Margaret G. Arnstein.” Salmon’s talk recognized the important contributions of former Dean Arnstein in promoting public health and the continuation of her legacy. Salmon concluded her talk by expressing her gratitude to those gathered at the lecture and her profound admiration for the former YSN dean. “I cannot thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to better understand how my own work, our profession and the health of people world-wide has been improved by the remarkable work of this nurse, scholar, leader and person, Margaret Arnstein.”

The Margaret G. Arnstein exhibit will remain on permanent display at the Yale School of Nursing.