American Academy of Nursing Launches Institute for Nursing
Leadership
Pfizer Inc. grant matched by Academy’s fellows
Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2015) – The American Academy of Nursing today
announced the launch of the Institute for Nursing Leadership. The Institute houses the
Academy’s work to place more nurses on governing boards, commissions and task forces
with an emphasis on federal and gubernatorial appointments and governing boards of
national organizations aligned with the Academy’s strategic plan.
The creation of the Institute for Nursing Leadership was made possible in part by Pfizer
Inc.’s $50,000 contribution that was matched by the Academy fellows.
“We are pleased to support the Institute for Nursing Leadership. Nurses have a unique
perspective within our health systems that should be more pervasively channeled to
advance policies and regulations that will further support public health. An imperative
exists for nurses to be more fully integrated into forums where these impactful
discussions are taking place,” said Pfizer Senior Director, Paula R. DeCola, MSc, RN.
“The Institute for Nursing Leadership will serve as a springboard for nurses to drive
positive change in health care and health policy,” said Academy President, Diana J.
Mason, PhD, RN, FAAN. “In addition to increasing nursing appointments, the Institute
will also seek to fill the gaps in development by connecting qualified nurses with
opportunities to prepare them for leadership.”
The Academy’s Institute will increase nurse appointments to national and select state
governing boards of health-related entities, councils, commissions and task forces;
prepare Academy fellows and emerging nurse leaders for such appointments; and
evaluate the impact and value of nurse appointments on the work of the decisionmaking bodies on which they serve.
The Institute will be led by a National Advisory Council, comprised of forward-thinking
leaders. The members of the National Advisory Council include:
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Angela McBride, PhD, RN, FAAN, Distinguished Professor & University
Dean Emerita, Indiana University (Chair)
Stephanie Ferguson, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, ICN Leadership For Change
Programme Consultant, Nursing & Health Policy, ICN (Co-Chair)
Sheila Burke, MPA, RN, FAAN, Adjunct Lecturer, Harvard University
Darlene Curley, MS, RN, Executive Director, Jonas Center for Nursing
Excellence
Paula R. DeCola, RN, MSC, Director, External Medicine Affairs, Pfizer, Inc.
Patrick DeLeon, PhD, JD, MPH
Joanne Disch, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor ad Honorem, University of
Minnesota School of Nursing
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Alicia Georges, EdD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Chairperson, Lehman
College Department of Nursing
Catherine Gilliss, PhD, RN, FAAN, Helene Fuld Health Trust Professor of
Nursing, Duke University School of Nursing
Jan Heinrich, DrPH, RN, FAAN, Associate Administrator, Bureau of Health
Professions, HRSA
Randy Jones, PhD, RN, FAAN, Director, Baccalaureate Programs, Associate
Professor, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Ramon Lavandero, RN, MA, MSN, FAAN, Senior Director, American
Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Christopher Lee, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, Associate Professor of Nursing,
Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing
Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President, Public Policy
Institute, AARP
Cory Rieder, EdD, Executive Director and Treasurer, The John A. Hartford
Foundation
Rita Wray, MBA, RNC, FAAN, CEO, W.E. Inc
Colleen Conway Welch, PhD, CNM, RN, FAAN, FACNM, Dean Emeritus,
Vanderbilt University School Of Nursing
The Institute for Nursing Leadership is part of the Academy’s effort as a founding
member of the newly formed Nurses on Boards Coalition to reach the goal of placing
10,000 nurses on boards, commissions and task forces by 2020.
The Institute for Nursing Leadership aligns with the Institute of Medicine’s report, “The
Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” and its recommendation on
increasing nurse appointments to decision-making bodies related to health care.
Currently, many Academy fellows hold positions within federal commissions, health
system boards, and other health related governing entities at national, federal, state and
local levels. A list of fellows appointed or elected to leadership positions can be found on
the American Academy of Nursing website (http://www.AANnet.org).