Remembering Susan Dudas (1935-2022)
Remembering Susan Dudas (1935-2022) Heading link
Colleagues and friends remember Susan Dudas, UIC College of Nursing associate professor emerita, as a beloved professor and mentor, a skilled clinician in oncology nursing, and an advocate for the Midwest Nursing History Research Center.
Dudas died on July 11 at 87 years old.
Dudas was born Olga Susan Dudas but dropped her first name while in high school in Whiting, Indiana, and was forevermore known by her middle name, Susan, or Sue for short. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Indiana University. In 1968, she worked as a nurse consultant for Project Hope in Trujillo, Peru, helping to establish a new bachelor’s in nursing degree at the University of Trujillo, according to her obituary.
At the UIC College of Nursing, she served as associate dean for academic affairs under dean emerita Mi Ja Kim, PhD, RN, FRCN, FAAN.
“We owe her a great debt of gratitude for excellent administration of academic matters in the college, and in the department of medical-surgical nursing as the interim head,” recalls Kim.
Dudas also co-authored two editions of a medical-surgical nursing textbook and published numerous articles and chapters in other nursing books and professional journals. She was also a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, according to her obituary.
She was instrumental in ensuring the viability of the Midwest Nursing History Research Center, housed at UIC Nursing, Kim says, by sitting on the advisory board for many years and helping to secure some of its earliest collections.
“[We] feel the acute pain of losing a friend and a rare champion of nursing history,” Kim says.
“It was my privilege to work with Sue who served as the associate dean for academic affairs during my tenure as the dean,” Kim continues. “We owe her a great debt of gratitude for excellent administration of academic matters in the college, and in the department of medical-surgical nursing as the interim head.
Sue was a beloved professor/teacher to hundreds of students, a mentor to faculty, and an avid clinician in oncology, specializing in ostomy care. She was a lover and practitioner of history. She was instrumental in insuring the viability of the Midwest Center for Nursing History Research at our college. [We] feel the acute pain of losing a friend and a rare champion of nursing history.
She leaves behind nieces and nephew and their children. Those of us who knew her well can say without hesitation that the world is a better place because she touched our lives. May she rest in heaven!”
Friends and colleagues remember Sue Dudas Heading link
Sue’s contributions to our college (and to me personally) are huge. She touched the lives of so many of us through her dedication and excellence. I am so fortunate to have her as a friend and colleague; she was one of the most honest people I’ve ever known, and always had my back. She will certainly be missed!
| Professor Emerita
Brigid Lusk quote Heading link
Sue embodied the fellowship of the nursing history community for me. She was one of my professors, sat on my dissertation committee, and continued to mentor me throughout my career. When I was new to the field, Sue made a point of introducing me to many of the nursing history luminaries she knew. She also warmly greeted my husband, Rusty, at the various history events they both attended. Sue Dudas holds a special place in my heart.
| Former Director of the Midwest Nursing History Research Center
Karyn Holm quote Heading link
Sue Dudas was a remarkable woman who in her wisdom honored the past, embraced the now and looked to the future. I knew her first as a mentor, then as a colleague and finally as a trusted friend. She instilled in myself and others an appreciation of history and of the importance of nursing in society. The Midwest Nursing Research History Center is alive and flourishing because of the foundational efforts of Sue Dudas and others early on, who understood the value of preserving nursing’s contributions to the care of patients, families, and communities.
| Former Professor
Gwyneth Milbrath quote Heading link
Sue Dudas was such an enthusiastic supporter of nursing history and served on the Midwest Nursing History Research Center’s Advisory board for many years. She was actively engaged in supporting and mentoring other faculty in the History of Nursing and assisted with the development of the center in its infancy, helping to secure some of the priceless collections we treasure today.
| Director of the Midwest Nursing History Research Center
Ruth Kleinpell quote Heading link
Sue involved me as a graduate student in the Alpha Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, first on the program committee, and then to run for vice president and ultimately serve as president of the chapter. I stayed in touch with her over the years after receiving my PhD from UIC and as I assumed leadership roles in nursing, and she was instrumental in my professional nursing leadership development and scholarship trajectory.
| Associate Dean for Clinical Scholarship and professor, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing