Newswise — Faculty members at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing will be honored in all three categories of the American Academy of Nursing’s Fellows recognition. Sharon Kozachik, PhD, RN, and Jennifer Wenzel, PhD, RN, CCM, will be inducted as Fellows, Laura Gitlin, PhD, will be awarded an Honorary fellowship, and Fannie Gaston-Johansson, PhD, RN, FAAN, will be recognized as a Living Legend—the academy’s highest distinction.

“These accomplishments speak volumes to the expertise, passion, and skills of our new inductees and reflect the professional magnitude of nurses and educators we have here at Johns Hopkins,” says Dean Patricia M. Davidson, PhD, MEd, RN, FAAN.

Kozachik, a researcher who takes a bedside to bench approach, studies the mechanisms of pain and sleep disturbance, especially among those undergoing chemotherapy. “My work as a bedside nurse was the motivator for my work in the lab. I look at science through the lens of nursing to improve care and global health. I am humbled to be included among the many clinicians and scientists who have made significant contributions to our profession.” says Kozachik.

Also an expert in cancer care and a faculty nurse researcher, Wenzel combines her experience in case management and health disparities to provide resources for urban African-Americans and other vulnerable groups undergoing cancer diagnosis and treatment. “Being inducted as a FAAN is a terrific honor. Joining the ranks of distinguished nurse scholars and clinicians is a testament to the generous support of my mentors and funders and to the amazing partnerships I’ve been a part of locally and nationally.”

For both Gitlin and Gaston-Johansson, these prestigious acknowledgements exemplify the depth and breadth of their contributions to nursing and healthcare. Gitlin, although not a nurse, has led instrumental advancements in caring for older adults through her work on aging in place, with minority populations with depressive symptoms, and in dementia care that focuses on patients and caregivers. Her non-pharmacological approaches to care and symptom management in all of these areas have helped improve daily function and wellbeing of older adults and their family members and promoted client-centered care strategies.

“To stand with my nursing colleagues and be recognized as an Honorary Fellow is one of the pinnacles of my career,” says Gitlin. “Researchers and clinicians alike will find the most successes when they approach their work through interdisciplinary thought, work, and action. This is what I have always tried to do to promote the wellbeing of older adults and their families.”

Gaston-Johansson, now Professor Emerita at the school and a University Distinguished Professor, is receiving the Living Legends honor for her contributions to nursing that have continued to influence care. Gaston-Johansson was the first African-American woman to be a tenured full professor at Johns Hopkins, a pioneer in examining emotional and sensory components of pain, and an advocate for students, diversity, and finding solutions to global health disparities.

“Nursing is truly a life-long challenge and exciting profession, and my work as a clinician, researcher, and educator is far from finished. I have cherished the opportunity to work with the American Academy of Nursing throughout the years, and I’m thrilled to accept this new honor and be recognized among my outstanding colleagues.”

All four faculty members will be recognized at the Academy’s annual policy conference in October.

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Faculty at JHSONLast year's FAAN inductees

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a leader in nursing education, research, and practice, locally and globally. The school’s academic programs are recognized for excellence in educating innovative nurse leaders who set the highest standards for patient care and safety. Top ranked in graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing provides students and faculty with interprofessional opportunities and resources unparalleled in scope, quality, and innovation. For more information, visit nursing.jhu.edu.