University News
"What You Learn When You Dare to Pay Attention": Former Faculty/Alum Elaine Ginn to Speak at WIU April 27, 28
April 18, 2011
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL -- Join former Western Illinois University Department of Health Sciences faculty member, WIU alumna and multiple organ-transplant recipient Elaine (Vail) Ginn for "What You Learn When You Dare to Pay Attention" on her visit to the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses during the 2011 College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) Week (April 25-29).
Ginn, who taught in the health sciences department at Western from 1973-1998, will present her thoughts about the book "Wake Up, Live the Life You Love: Purpose, Passion and Abundance" (to which she was a contributing author under the name "Elaine Blom") at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 at the WIU-QC, room 102 AB (60th St. campus) and again at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28 on the Macomb campus in the University Union Grand Ballroom.
Ginn will also discuss what it is like to live with another person's liver and kidney, as well as talk about the importance of "paying attention" and behaving and reacting based on your observations. She noted "all the book-learnin' in the world doesn't make up these critical qualities."
According to Judy Yeast, chair of Employee Wellness and associate director of Campus Recreation, Ginn's background, both personal and professional, will help her provide Western's students, faculty and staff with a thoughtful approach to getting the most out of life physiologically, mentally and emotionally.
"Elaine believes that gone are the days during which we taught our students the basic concepts of 'subject matter,'" Yeast said. "She believes that if we are truly going to prepare our students and communities to face the future with personal self-esteem, stress-management skills, creativity and conscientiousness, educators of today need to consider focusing on the broader curriculum."
Mark Kelley, chair of the department of health sciences, added that Ginn's commitment to teaching a "new generation" ties in well with this year's University theme "Teaching and Learning for a New Era."
"Elaine's presentations while she visits WIU, as well as her individual class visits with health sciences and nursing students, will provide the WIU community with an inspirational and uplifting message during the annual celebration of COEHS Week," Kelley noted.
Ginn, who has received two livers and a kidney from organ donors, earned her master's degree in health education from WIU in 1975 and her bachelor's of nursing in 1970 from the University of Maryland. She is also certified in organ transplant coordination (University of Minnesota, 1996). She is credited with developing the "Understanding Death and Dying" course taught at Western and wrote the book, "A Personal Guide to Living with Loss," that was used in the course. In addition, Ginn is a founding member of the American Holistic Nurses Association and is a member of the American Health Education Association.
Ginn's presentation and visit to WIU is sponsored by the COEHS, the University Theme Committee, the department of health sciences, Employee Wellness and the Illinois Secretary of State Organ/Tissue Donor Program.
For more information, contact Dana Moon, COEHS director of marketing and community relations, at (309) 298-1690 or via email at DM-Moon@wiu.edu. More information about COEHS Week is available at wiu.edu/coehs/coehs_week/.
Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: