Fagin, Claire (1926–)

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Fagin, Claire (1926–)

American nurse. Name variations: Claire Mintzer Fagin. Born Claire Mintzer, Nov 25, 1926, in New York, NY; dau. of Mae (Slatin) Mintzer and Harry Mintzer (grocer); Columbia University Teachers College, MA, 1951; New York University, PhD, 1964; m. Samuel Fagin, 1952.

Contributor to pediatric psychiatric nursing practices in America, studied at Columbia University with Hildegard Peplau, a psychiatric nursing pioneer; wrote doctoral dissertation, "The Effects of Maternal Attendance during Hospitalization on the Behavior of Young Children" (1964), which influenced visiting policies for children; directed a child psychiatric program at NYU; served as chair and professor of newly opened Herbert L. Lehman College in NY (1969–77); as dean, developed the University of Pennsylvania nursing program into one of the highest-ranking of its kind (1977–92); in interim post, served as 1st woman president of University of Pennsylvania (1993–94), then as professor, dean emerita, and program director of John A. Hartford Foundation's "Building Academic Geriatric Capacity" there.