John G. Beard
John G. Beard has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to healthcare in Alabama, particularly palliative and hospice care. For over 40 years, he has been affiliated with Alacare Home Health and Hospice, where he is chairman and president.
Although not a nurse, he has contributed greatly to the profession of nursing in Alabama through his support of nursing practice and nursing education. Among his many contributions, Mr. Beard is a member of the board of the Alabama Nurses Foundation, which promotes recognition of the nursing profession.
He is a valued partner with nursing education programs throughout Alabama. Mr. Beard was instrumental in forming The University of Alabama Capstone College of Nursing’s Board of Visitors, and has served on that board in multiple capacities. He is a member of the Auburn School of Nursing’s Community Advisory Board, and he is the chair of the school’s Capital Campaign Committee. He also serves on the Community Advisory Board for the Center for Palliative and Supportive Care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Through Alacare, Mr. Beard provided funding to support a first ever Nursing Simulation Laboratory at Jacksonville State University. He partners with the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing at Samford University to provide scholarships for nursing students to attend its Faith Community Nurses Foundations Course.
John Beard has received multiple honors, including the Alabama State Nurses Association’s
D. O. McCluskey Award, all of which demonstrate his tireless efforts on the behalf of nursing and nursing education in Alabama.