Recollections of Martha Raile Alligood RN, PhD, ANEF
In 2007 I was contacted by Dan Krivicich of Fitne, Inc., that was until recently located in Athens, Ohio. This company had acquired Volume 1 of Nurse Theorists Portraits of Excellence and I was invited and awarded a contract to work with them as a consultant. They were interested in developing additional Nurse Theorists videos and they engaged me as a consultant to work with Julie McAfooes, Vice-President for Software Development at Fitne. Inc., to identify the methodology for the project and the list of theorists to be interviewed to produce a set of videos that in 2008 became, Nurse Theorists Portraits of Excellence Volume 2.
As each theorist was to be interviewed on location the accomplishment of this project included major coordinating and travel activities. For each theorist interview a crew that included a production assistant, media photographer, supervised by Dan Krivicich and me as the interviewer. I was flown in the day before the interview and had dinner with the theorist to discuss the process we would follow and answer any questions they had. The theorists had already shared their biographic information with Dr. McAfooes and provided their references to be included in the video. I met the crew and the theorists at the place for the interview that they had selected and conducted the interview with the assistance of the crew who were very helpful. I was surprised to learn that the equipment such as the camera, lights, and cords etc. to produce each video was available to be rented in each of these locations. Therefore, the video in each location was produced with different equipment that was remarkably similar and always in good condition. The videos were filmed with one camera that followed the person talking. I only remember one time the media photographer who edited the videos needed me to pose a shot needed for a previous video. Because each interview was specific to not only the theorist being interviewed but also to the location there were interesting experiences with each visit. Most of all it was delightful to renew acquaintances or meet some of the theorists for the first and to visit their universities. It was a learning experience and as we were completing the final interview Dan asked me if I thought we could bring the theorists to Athens to be filmed in their studio the next time.
The theorists interviewed for Vol. 2 are listed below:
Dr. Helen Erickson at University of Texas in Austin. Dr. Eun-Ok Im was on the faculty of nursing there and I arranged to meet her since she authors the Meleis chapter in Nursing Theorists and their Work, that I author/edit. As it was Valentine time, she had a small box of chocolates for me to share with the crew. It was a pleasure to see Helen and meet some of her family who were there to join her for filming on campus.
Dr. Afaf Meleis at Pennsylvania University. I flew to Philadelphia and was provided lodging in a beautiful historic hotel, the Inn at Penn. My memory is that it was on campus. I met Dr. Meleis for lunch on Sunday at the White Dog Café. On Monday I walked across campus from the hotel to Penn School of Nursing where the interview was filmed. Although I had met Afaf a few times previously, it was a pleasure to renew acquaintance and learn more about the development of her theoretical work.
Dr. Merle Mishel at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My memory is that the interview was held up because of construction noise that they had arranged to be silent at the time of the interview however there was construction noise so we waited while they were reminded to stop pounding until the filming of the interview was completed. It was a pleasure to meet Dr. Mishel and learn more about her theory.
Dr. Nola Pender at Loyola University in Chicago. She was very appreciative of the opportunity to share her theory and had lists of persons who contributed to the development of her work and its application. Ironically there was an important person she failed to mention so a brief segment was filmed later at another site. Obviously, I had to wear the same suit so that could be spliced into the film.
Dr. Pam Reed at University of Arizona in Tucson. Although it was May they announced as I was deplaning that for the first time that spring it was 93 degrees. In each of these interviews on location we had to create a suitable background for the filming of the interview. We would look through the building and I remember we had to get permission to move something for the filming there. It was wonderful to be there with Pam and learn more about her theory.
Dr. Patricia Benner at University of California San Francisco. Patricia requested that her interview be at San Francisco so she could be interviewed in a particular faculty room. My memory is that it had been the office of Dr. Strauss or Glaser. The office was locked and we waited quite a while for someone to come open it. That office was no longer used so it had become a storage area. We cleaned and moved items around to complete the interview. Dr. Benner and her husband were wonderful hosts. We visited their apartment and they suggested a favorite restaurant on the coast of the Pacific for a late lunch.