Clinical Associate Professor, Indiana University School of Nursing
1956-2004
Passed by the IU Indianapolis Faculty Council at their meeting on April 5, 2005.
Barbara A. Chalko, clinical assistant professor in the Indiana University School of Nursing, died December 28, 2004 at age 48 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Barb was an outstanding faculty member of the School of Nursing, having been recognized by undergraduate classes multiple times over the past four years as Outstanding Faculty Member of the BSN Program at graduation ceremonies, most recently at the December 2004 graduation. In addition to student recognition, Barb was recognized by her teaching colleagues and received the IU Trustee Teaching Award in May 2001, 2003, and again in 2004. She was an outstanding role model as both nurse and teacher. Typical of the comments about Barb’s teaching is the following comment:
“This instructor has a countless number of strengths. Some of these include: her enthusiasm, her love of nursing and students, her ways of motivating the students to learn. Her patience and understanding are also relevant. Our clinical group was so lucky to have this woman as our instructor. If it wasn’t for Barb, I doubt that I would be as excited about nursing as I am.”
Barb Chalko was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 12, 1956. After graduating from Carmel High School in 1975, Barb completed the BSN program at DePauw University and the clinical nurse specialist, MSN program, at Indiana University. She began her nursing career as a staff nurse at Community Hospital and St. Vincent Hospital, but she soon began the work that she loved and which reflected the loving influence of her mother and father who were both teachers. She was the Manager of Educational Services at St. Vincent Carmel Hospital when it opened in 1985, designing the nursing orientation and education program for all nursing staff who were hired and continued caring for patients and families for many years. In addition to her teaching at the school of nursing, Barb consulted with other healthcare facilities in the Indianapolis area and continued to work clinically at St. Vincent Carmel Hospital.
Barb served on the executive committee for the Central Indiana Chapter of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses. She was also a member of the Central Indiana affiliate of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Central Indiana Chapter of Oncology Nursing Society, as well as Sigma Theta Tau International. After surviving her first diagnosis of breast cancer 14 years ago, Barb served on the committee for the local Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure during 2001 and 2002. She personally sponsored students every year to encourage their participation in the race. A familiar pre-race scene every year was Barb surrounded by students who had come to support the event because of her influence. In fact she received a first place award for her conference presentation of an innovative teaching strategy she developed to help students learn the journey that women take through breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and living with a cancer history.
Barb was an active member of St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church where she was involved with the children’s liturgy program, CHRP, and as adoration adorer. Barb will be dearly missed by her friends, church community, and teaching colleagues, but most by her husband Stephen and two children, Stephanie and Andrew.
The December 2004 graduation ceremony was one that faculty and students in attendance will never forget. Insisting that she needed to attend graduation for those students who were finishing, and because she knew it would probably be her last graduation, Barb arrived at the convention center for the ceremony. In cap and gown, she marched down the aisle and up the steps to take her seat on stage with fellow faculty. She sat through the entire event, rising to receive yet her final Outstanding Teaching Award from the graduating class. After the ceremony ended, she descended the steps leading from the stage, and marched down the aisle with faculty on each side to the applause and cheers of the students, giving them the “thumbs up” sign as her final salute. Barb died four days later.
This memorial resolution is presented to the Faculty Council of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis as an expression of the school and campus faculty’s profound appreciation of Professor Chalko’s contributions to the University.
Upon adoption of the resolution we request that a copy be sent to her husband Stephen Chalko, daughter Stephanie Chalko and son Andrew Chalko 7763 Kylan Ct. Fishers, Indiana