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| Dr. Ninfa Saturnino Springer |
Dr. Ninfa Saturnino Springer is an associate professor emerita of nursing and assistant research scientist emerita at the University of Michigan. She obtained her BSHE at the University of the Philippines, Master of Science and Ph.D. at the University of Iowa. She joined the University of Michigan in 1969 as Program Director of Nutrition at the Institute for the Study of Mental Retardation and Related Disabilities, was promoted to associate professor in 1978 and moved to the School of Nursing in 1992. She was among the first School of Nursing Faculty members to utilize computer exercises in her courses.
Dr. Springer is considered an expert of nutritional status pregnant in women and children and has conducted research and published 12 studies on the subject. She also co-developed Ccase, an acronym for Clinical Computer Aided Simulation Exercise, an interactive, user-friendly software package that allows faculty to develop units specific to their specialties, and has authored/co-authored four instructional units for nursing students. International nutrition is another expertise. She served as Consultant/Visiting Professor/Fellow to United Nations Development and Balik Scientist Programs in the Philippines and Mexico and on the Advisory Committee to the University of Michigan CIC Course Development for the Dominican Republic.
In addition to her academic degrees, Dr. Springer is a Registered Dietitian, a Fellow of the American Dietetic Association and has served in various capacities at the local, state, and national levels.
In October 1996, Dr. Springer was awarded the Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Fund for International Exchange in Nutrition, Dietetics and Management Award during the annual convention of the American Dietetic Association at San Antonio, Texas. The award was offered for an essay describing an innovative, international distance learning program for nutritionists/dietitians, using the Ccase software package. This program collaborates with UP Open University Chancellor Ma. Cristina D. Padolina and the Nutritionist/Dietitians Association of the Philippines President Ma. Patrocinio E. de Guzman.
Dr. Springer continues to author nutrition units for the framework application. An upgraded version of Ccase on the world wide web will be pilot tested in UPOU by November 1996 and initiation of the program is projected in 1997.
This article was published in the UPAAM Newsletter, Winter Issue, 12/96. The newsletter was provided by Ms. Leonor Lim Mandap, President, UPAAM.
