Giving Back to the Nursing Profession through Service

Share this content

Published:
May 6, 2022
Dr. Ken Dion

Meet Ken Dion, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, FAAN, Inaugural Assistant Dean for Business Innovation & Strategic Relationships at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, President of Sigma the International Honor Society of Nursing, and a PhD Alumnus from the UT Austin School of Nursing.

“As the Inaugural Assistant Dean for Business Innovation & Strategic Relationships at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, I strive to instill the entrepreneurial spirit in faculty and students, protect their intellectual property, and increase the impact of their nursing innovations through commercialization.” Dr. Dion is the founder of Decision Critical Inc., an information systems company dedicated to developing and promoting nursing competency through the development and publication of competency management technology for acute-care hospitals. They were awarded a US patent for the first of its kind web-based nursing professional portfolio.

“I have also been an active member of Sigma, the International Honor Society of Nursing, since my induction in 1991 as an undergraduate nursing student.” Dr. Dion has served in a number of roles at the international level including Chair of the Foundation Board, Treasurer, President-elect, and President of the International Board of Directors. “As treasurer, I oversaw a multi-million-dollar budget, moved the organization to a sustainable investing strategy and was involved in the organization’s rebranding and strategic plan update in this role. During my tenure as president-elect, I participated in a number of decisions to assure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization and developed the first organizational call to action while leading the organization into its second centennial. This call to action asks Sigma members to Be Bold through fluency in economics, technology, and conservation to advance the global nursing agenda.”

In addition to his professional work, Dr. Dion has been recognized with numerous accolades throughout his career. He is a proud member of the UT Austin School of Nursing’s Advisory Council, recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of the UT Austin School of Nursing, recognized by the National Student Nurses’ Association as an Honorary Member, is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and was most recently inducted as a fellow in the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland.

“I was once asked by one of my graduate professors why I was pursuing my PhD when I already had two terminal degrees and was a successful entrepreneur. My response was this – ‘A PhD in nursing from UT Austin will allow me to give back to an important profession that has been very good to me. From the bench to the bedside to the board room, no other profession has the potential to impact healthcare systems and the clients we serve.’ I believe my degree from UT Austin has allowed me to give back to the nursing profession and that I have kept this important promise to myself.”