The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — Dr. Catherine A. Hiler of Covington has been named the head of the Nursing Pro-gram at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College.
The announcement was made by Dr. Benjamin Worth, DSLCC vice president of Academic Affairs.
Dr. Hiler, who began her new position on March 30, replaces Laura Meadows, who was serving as interim program head. Meadows remains on board as lead faculty member.
Dr. Hiler comes to DSLCC from the Radford University Nursing Program (previously Jefferson College of Health Sciences), where she served as an associate professor and program coordinator for the bachelor of science nursing degree program, for about 325 students on the traditional as well as accelerated tracks.
Dr. Hiler is a 1995 graduate of DSLCC, where she earned an associate degree in nursing. She received her BSN in nursing from the College of Health Sciences in Roanoke in 2001, and a master’s degree in nursing education in 2007 from the Jefferson College of Health Services.
In 2016, she earned a doctor of nursing practice with a track in educational leadership from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
“I’ve always been interested in giving back to my community, in particular my alumni school, and mentoring new nurses,” she said.
Dr. Hiler has served as the clinical coordinator for the Virginia Western Community College Nursing Program and as an adjunct nursing faculty member at the Ameritech College of Healthcare.
“She has hands-on experience as a nurse as well, having served as the clinical team leader for the Coronary Care unit at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital,” added Dr. Worth.
Because of the current situation with the COVID-19 virus, and the DSLCC campus being closed, Dr. Hiler has been working from home, but still getting to know her fellow faculty members as well as students. She says she’s very comfortable with conducting online virtual courses.
“I recently hosted two teleconferences with both cohorts of Dabney nursing students via ZOOM, and was able to answer a lot of their concerns and questions,” she said.
“I encourage anyone interested in enrolling in the ADN (associated degree in nursing) program at DSLCC to please call Student Services at (540) 863-2820 or email me at chiler@dslcc.edu for more information,” Dr. Hiler added. “There is a critical shortage of nurses right now, and it’s a wonderful profession to be a part of.”
