Members of the UVM College of Nursing and Health Sciences community feel honored to have shared their lives with Dr. Barbara Rouleau, who passed away last week. Faculty, students and staff remember Rouleau for her great energy and passion in the classroom, clinic and community.
“The world is a little less kind, a little less patient, a little less generous, and a little less fun without Barb in it. To say she will be missed is insufficient,” said her friend and colleague, Clinical Assistant Professor Amy Mandeville O’Meara.
Rouleau was a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Nursing and a nurse practitioner in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences faculty practice at Appletree Bay Primary Care. She earned three degrees from the University of Vermont: her Bachelor of Science in Education and Nursing degree in 1990, a Nurse Practitioner Certificate in 2001, and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree in 2016. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Sage College in 1992.
Rouleau’s many successes are not single finite events, but the beginnings of new programs, new protocols, new software systems and new awareness. During the past three decades, she amassed professional skills and experiences needed to solve the most challenging problems in her profession.
In the 1990s, Rouleau worked as a critical care nurse in Boston, MA and Saratoga, NY, and then applied her clinical experience to IDX Systems first online patient record. When UVM created a certificate program for Nurse Practitioners, Rouleau jumped at the opportunity and reentered the clinical world. Working as a Nurse Practitioner at Colchester Family Practice shaped her perspective on today’s challenges to healthcare and education. She then combined this knowledge with her expertise in healthcare software for Pure Wellness, a company that led the industry on patient education and prevention.
Rouleau became one of the first UVM students to earn the title of Doctor of Nursing Practice.
“It was my privilege to hood Dr. Rouleau at the Graduate College Commencement Ceremony in May 2016 as she received her doctorate,” said CNHS Dean Patricia Prelock. “Dr. Rouleau will be remembered for her great energy and passion for what she did, whether in the classroom or in the clinic with her patients and students.”
She continuously accepted challenges while raising a family, pursuing her career and supporting her community. She served on the Green Mountain Health Care Board, shaped the school nursing program at Christ the King School and volunteered for her children’s schools.
“Her house was always filled with teenagers while she completed her DNP degree,” recalled Nursing Professor Mary Val Palumbo, director of Interprofessional Education. “She managed to find time to write 10 text questions when I suggested five and still make it to her daughter's lacrosse game. “
Working closely with her peers at CNHS, she looked for ways to improve outcomes by embracing new protocols for interprofessional care. She helped implement and improved student clinical experience tracking database.
“Our curriculum is full of Barb's touch - E-Value, Shadow Health and many innovative flipped classes - to name a few examples,” Palumbo said.
Rouleau became an assistant professor and joined a team of dedicated nurse practitioners in creating Appletree Bay Primary Care -- the first university-owned family practice, with a mission to teach while providing care. Constantly leading by example, she taught advanced nursing classes while managing a full patient load.
“She saw and lived the value of collaboration, contributing in important ways to the College’s Interprofessional Education initiative,” Prelock said. “Although for those she leaves behind there is a great sense of loss, there is also a spirit of celebration of all that she brought to life—kindness, patience, energy, and seeing the possibilities.”
“Dr. Barbara Rouleau was the whole packet - an innovative teacher, a wonderful provider and a dear colleague and fun friend. We were so thankful for the time we had with her.” - Mary Val Palumbo
Memorial contributions may be made to UVM Foundation, Department of Nursing Chairs’ Student Emergency Fund, in honor of Barb Rouleau, 411 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401.