Barger, who earned her master’s degree in nursing from that Atlanta university, was awarded the Emory Medal during the school’s annual alumni reunion weekend.

In a framed award addressed to Barger, Emory’s president and the president of the Association of Emory Alumni wrote, “your devotion to both your profession and public health has created ways for nursing schools to expand community services, while enabling students to move from classroom to clinic, from novice to professional.

“Tireless and creative in addressing the challenges that confront rural nurses and those without baccalaureate training,” the award continued, “you manifest and draw the nation’s attention to the worth of a nurse.”

Barger has been dean of the UA Capstone College of Nursing since 1995. Under her leadership, the College developed partnerships with Alabama’s community colleges to develop more accessible bachelor’s and master’s degree options for nurses with associate degrees. The College also opened a primary care clinic in Walker County to provide care for rural patients and learning experiences for students.

She successfully guided the College through its 2001 re-accreditation of its undergraduate program and the initial accreditation of its new and innovative master’s degree in nursing case management program.

A fellow with the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows Program, Barger received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and her doctorate from the University of Georgia.

A recipient of the Outstanding Nurse Administrator in Academe Award from the Alabama State Nurses Association, Barger also received the Honorary Nursing Practice Award from the American Nurses Association.

One of only seven recipients of this year’s Emory Medal, Barger is listed in “Who’s Who in American Nursing.”