In June 2007, Mary Faut Rodts received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the Rush College of Nursing. Mary joins an elite group of Advanced Practice Nurses who have earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Less than two percent of nurses in this country hold a nursing practice doctorate.

Building on the established role of the master's prepared nurse, the Rush College of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice program provides real world experience in strategic planning, communication to affect change, data management, and the application of critical business concepts.

The Doctor of Nursing degree is designed to prepare a leader to be able to affect change through system redesign and evidence-based decision making in a variety of clinical, organizational, and educational systems. Mary's doctoral work was primarily focused on the redevelopment of the NAON Foundation which supports clinical nursing practice, leadership and research. This focus is especially important during these times of decreased available funding for these professional nursing activities.

Mary is an accomplished Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner having worked at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center for over 30 years. During her distinguished career, Mary has served as president of the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses and as president for the Notre Dame MSA Alumni Association, her alma mater. Mary is the editor of Orthopaedic Nursing, the official journal of the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. The 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing of Loyola University, she is an active member in many societies including the Scoliosis Research Society.

Mary has also gained national recognition for her dedication to the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation serving on the Board of Dream Halloween Chicago since its inception in 1999.