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Strengthening Every Step: Enriching Your Leadership Journey 

The Debbie Adams Leadership Academy at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston prepares nurses to lead by offering curriculum that focuses on fostering effective leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Programs offered by the academy provide experienced nurses and new nurse leaders with the confidence and skills to be effective leaders in complex health care environments. Our goal is to serve as a nursing leadership educational hub for students, alumni, clinical partners, and the community.


Leadership Development Opportunities

Foundations in Nursing Leadership

The Foundations in Nursing Leadership course is offered twice a year to Cizik School of Nursing MSN, DNP, and PhD students not currently studying in a leadership track, alumni, and other nurses in the community. This intensive, two-day program supports the academic objectives of fostering effective leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.

Benefits:

  • 12.75 hours of nursing continuing professional development*
  • Priority enrollment for future Leadership Academy offerings
  • Designation as a Debbie Adams Leadership Academy Scholar
  • Current students receive a one-hour, one-on-one career coaching session with a distinguished member of the Leadership Academy Advisory Council before graduation from your academic program

 Eligibility:

  • Registered nurse with a minimum of two years of experience

Spring 2025 schedule:

  • Foundations in Nursing Leadership course offered in-person Thursday, March 27, and Thursday, April 10, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Register by February 16.
  • Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

 Cost:

  • Students: $300
  • Alumni: $400
  • General registration: $500

Contact:

For more information, contact [email protected].

*Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Debbie Adams: Fostering nurse leadership

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Deborah Garret “Debbie” Adams earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston in 1984 and served as an emergency department nurse for 14 years before transitioning into a business career. She combines her love of nursing with her business acumen to help talented students become nurse leaders.

A long-time partner of Cizik School of Nursing, Adams helped establish the Ambassador Program in 2016, enabling undergraduate nursing students to work with mentors and engage in leadership development activities.

Students learn management, teamwork, and communication skills to become the health leaders needed to face our country’s growing nursing shortage and health care challenges.

In 2022, Adams made the single largest gift to the school from an alumna to establish the Deborah Garrett Adams Leadership Academy. Students learn everything from business networking to strategies for managing challenging interactions in the workplace.

Adams spends most of her time on her Ceilito Lindo Ranch, dedicated to the conservation of the Texas Longhorn cattle breed.