Guyanese among the Network Journal's 40 under 40, 2010 honorees

Aziz Gueye Adetimirin, TNJ’s founder, publisher and CEO; Woolforde-Gardner & Rosalind McLymont, Editor of TNJ’s Magazine.

NEW YORK, NY - June 17, 2010:-- Launette Woolforde-Gardner, Ed.D. (c), DNP, North Shore-LIJ Health System was named to the class of 2010 40 under 40 honorees as selected by The Network Journal. Launched in 1998, The Network Journal's 40 Under-Forty Black Achievement Awards honors men and women under age whose professional accomplishments have significantly impacted an industry or profession, and who also have made an important contribution to their community. They are typically business owners, or management executives with significant decision-making authority in the corporate, nonprofit or academia and medicine, or government sector.

The Guyanese native declared nursing to be her calling and has a committed passion about health and education and she has the experience and background to prove it. Having been a registered nurse for 17 years, she has worked in many positions, from staff nurse to assistant director of nursing. She currently is the corporate director for nursing education at the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, where she oversees related activities for the system’s 15 hospitals, 10,000 nurses and other health staff.

Woolforde-Gardner’s family emigrated from the South American country and settled in Long Island. She has lived there for 31 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pace University, a master’s degree in adult health nursing; clinical nurse specialist from Hunter College, City University of New York, a post-master’s certificate in nursing education from the College of New Rochelle, a doctorate of nursing practice from Case Western Reserve University, and six certifications in aspects of nursing, education, decision making and problem solving. She completed a doctorate of Education at Teachers College, Columbia University just days before this event. Over the years of her studies, she’s won more than 16 scholarships and awards. “I believe that being equipped in the full breadth and scope of organizational leadership, along with research generation, translation and implementation maximizes my impact as a health care leader,” she says.

A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Woolforde-Gardner is just as passionate about mentoring as she is about nursing and education. She hopes to establish a program to inspire, motivate and guide young people to choose education and maximize their potential.