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91�ֿ� at Ashtabula Nursing alumna Camille Zalar, MHA, BSN, RN, CARN is one of eight nursing professionals to be selected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing (IAA).

The IAA aims to foster excellence in addictions nursing and to recognize those who have contributed to addictions nursing in sustained and significant ways through practice, administration, research, and education.

“It is such an honor and being selected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing this year, ‘the Year of the Nurse’, has been remarkable,” Zalar said.  “It has given me an opportunity to reflect on my nursing career and where I can make the most impact going forward.”

Zalar is currently the Director of Education and Initiatives for the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium through The Center for Health Affairs. She is responsible for overseeing the Opioid Consortium’s education programming, including the initiatives related to nurse and frontline staff education.

The 2019 Roger T. Beitler Distinguished Former Student Award honoree, Zalar earned her associate (2000) and bachelor’s (2011) degrees from 91�ֿ� Ashtabula before completing a Masters in Health Administration degree from Ohio University. She has over 20 years of nursing experience, encompassing medical, surgical, pediatric, hospice and addiction care nursing.

“It was just over 20 years ago that I graduated from 91�ֿ� Ashtabula, and I can remember that day vividly,” Zalar recalled. “It was one of the greatest moments- achievements- of my life.  Knowing that, as a nurse, I would be helping others, no matter where I decided to work.  It is with gratitude that I’ve been afforded to be schooled by Ashtabula nursing faculty.”

A graduate of the LEADERship Ashtabula County class of 2014, Zalar is an active member of the Northeast Ohio Hospital Opioid Consortium Education Subcommittee; The Greater Cleveland Organization of Nurse Executives; The Ohio Nurses Association (ONA), a 2017 Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) delegate for the at-large district; member of the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) and the American Nurses Association (ANA).

Zalar has previously been honored with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Nurse Alliance Award and the Ashtabula County Medical Center Gold Award. She also received the Student Nurse Award as an undergraduate in the 91�ֿ� Ashtabula Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program.

“Fortunately, I had many great nurses, managers, teachers, and leaders in my life to help me along the way,” she said. “For me, I’m now at a point where I can give back to the profession and share my knowledge with other nurses to advance our professional role.”

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