Nurse Leader Exemplifies Innovation

Tommye Austin, Ph.D., M.B.A., RN, NEA-BC

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses once again showed their resilience and innovation. Dr. Tommye Austin, senior vice president and chief nursing executive at University Health System, designed a highly effective mask that would be available to protect health care employees if San Antonio experienced a deluge of COVID-19 patients. When Dr. Austin, who was honored as a 2019 Visionary Leader by the nursing school, became concerned that a flood of patients could deplete the area’s N95 respirator supply, she designed a mask using AC filter material that had a 96.5 percent filtration efficiency. Local alteration shops produced 600 masks per her pattern and instructions.

Photo by Mark Greenberg for University Health System


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In the 2020 issue of Tribute

Tribute is the official magazine for the alumni and friends of the School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Read and share inspiring stories highlighting our alumni, faculty and students who are revolutionizing education, research, patient care and critical services in the communities they serve.

View the 2020 issue

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