Fresno nursing leaders inducted into Valley hall of fame

Two distinguished nurses from Fresno have been inducted into the Central Valley Nursing Hall of Fame.

Dr. Glen Doyle, Fresno State professor emerita of gerontology, and alumna Laurel Friesen were inducted during the 12th annual awards luncheon at the Smittcamp Alumni House.

A posthumous honor was given to Doyle, who led a distinguished career as a geriatric nurse practitioner and educator before retiring in 2005 at age 80.

Doyle received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at Fresno State before going on to teach at the university and Sacramento State.

Doyle is credited for the expansion of local community programs that served the elderly population.

A bench at Fresno State was dedicated in her name before she died in 2009.

Friesen’s 40-year nursing career began at Fresno Community Hospital, where she was a critical care nurse and supervisor until 1974.

She then received her master’s degree from the University of California at San Francisco and later joined the faculty at UCSF.

Friesen is credited for co-developing critical care classes at UCSF, as well as teaching in the nurse internship program.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 7:12 PM with the headline "Fresno nursing leaders inducted into Valley hall of fame."