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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kimberly Bookout
Kimberly Bookout, a graduate student in the doctoral program, College of Nursing,
TWU, to be honored with Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholarship
Dallas, TX – January x, 2010 – Kimberly Bookout, MSN, RN, CPNP, CWON, a Highland
Village resident and doctoral student in TWU’s College of Nursing, will receive one of four
prestigious scholarships given by Texas Woman’s University at the Eighth Annual Virginia
Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon, presented by Bank of Texas and Texas Woman’s
University, Feb. 25, at noon, at The Belo Mansion and Pavilion. Bookout’s scholarship is
sponsored by CIGNA HealthCare of Texas.
Bookout’s passion for nursing was born at an early age. “My mother says I was born with a
baby in my hand,” said Bookout. “I love children and knew I would pursue a career that involved
them. I grew up watching Marcus Welby, MD and Emergency 51. I think those popular TV
shows of the 70’s fueled my desire to take care of people.”
A native of Lubbock, Bookout attended Texas Tech University and received a B.S. in nursing in
1989. She then went on to complete the University of Texas MD Anderson Enterostomal
Therapy Nursing Education Program and was certified in 1994. Bookout received a Master of
Science degree in Nursing from The University of Texas HSC Houston in 2004.
After working in a variety of settings, including pediatrics and acute care, Bookout transitioned to
primary care and was exposed to the growing problem of pediatric obesity. Her passion for this
project would later extend beyond the physical benefits of weight control into the psychological
impact of empowering children to make healthy choices.
Bookout then joined the teaching staff at TWU for two years as an Assistant Clinical Professor.
She resigned her teaching position when she decided to return to school, a decision which she
says TWU was very supportive of. She is currently pursing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in
order to augment her clinical knowledge and improve her delivery of care to patients. She is
currently a 4.0 student in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program at TWU, a program she
entered into in order to augment her clinical knowledge and improve the delivery of care to her
patients.
Tapping into her experience with overweight children in pediatric care, Bookout is currently
working on her capstone study project titled, Promoting Healthy Behaviors in Children Through
the Use of Health Coaching in Primary Care. The study is a pilot project spanning a 6-week
evaluation period and is focused on management strategies for primary care providers in
overweight and obese children ages 6 to 11 years. Data collection should be complete by the
end of this month, and Bookout’s graduate work will be completed in May 2010.
“I recommend the TWU’s doctoral nursing program to everyone who is interested in nursing and
not afraid of a challenge,” said Bookout. “The DNP program at is comprehensive in its
approach and has really accomplished a great deal of credibility and prestige in a short period of
time.”
Bookout is thankful for the support that her family has provided her while working to complete
her doctoral degree. She credits her husband, Tim, for stepping in to take care of daily duties
that she is unable to complete with her hectic school schedule. The couple will celebrate their
20th wedding anniversary in April and have 4 children: Shelby (18), Morgan (14), Barrett (8), and
Erin (6). Bookout loves to cook, read and scrapbook in her spare time and teaches a craft
workshop at Crossroads Bible Church for elementary age children. In November 2009, at the
age of 41, she also completed her first half-marathon and will be running her next one in March.
“This scholarship is such an honor. It relieves a substantial financial burden that attending
school created and, while it does not cover all of the expenses associated with this advanced
degree, it does relieve a large amount of stress,” said Bookout. “TWU offers so many ways for
students to be successful with their work, and I am humbled to be recognized in this way."
For more information on TWU’s Eighth Annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award
Luncheon contact Karen Martin, Director of Development, Texas Woman’s University, 940-8983865 or KMartin9@mail.twu.edu. Seats are $150.
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Texas Woman’s University occupies a notable position in higher education as the nation’s
largest university primarily for women. Its campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston are joined
by an e-learning campus offering innovative online degree programs in business, education and
general studies. Seven consecutive years of growth have produced a record enrollment of
13,358. TWU serves the citizens of Texas in many important ways, including: graduating more
new nurses and health care professionals than any other university in Texas; easing the teacher
shortage by placing highly qualified professionals in the classroom; offering a liberal arts-based
curriculum that prepares students for success in a global society; conducting research that
impacts the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, osteoporosis, stroke and diabetes.
For more information, visit www.twu.edu or call (940) TWU-2000.