WASHINGTON, DC—July 21, 2016—The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) announced its class of 2016 Academy fellows on June 24, 2016. Twelve ONS members were included in the 164 highly distinguished nurse leaders who will join the ranks of Academy fellows to be celebrated at AAN’s annual policy conference held in Washington, DC, from October 20–22, 2016.
AAN fellows consist of more than 2,200 nurses who have distinguished themselves in areas of education, research, practice, or management. As health leaders, their goal is to enhance the quality of health and nursing, promote healthy aging and human development, and reduce health disparities and inequalities, among a number of other efforts to improve the health care of patients.
The 12 ONS members selected to the 2016 AAN fellows represent oncology nurses from 10 different states, encompassing a number of oncology fields: Wendy Landier, PhD, RN, CRNP, PPCNP-BC, CPON®; Savitri Singh-Carlson, PhD, RN, APHN-BC; Mark Lazenby, PhD, APRN; Constance Visovsky, PhD, RN, ACNP; Joseph D. Tariman, PhD, RN, ANP-BC; Ellen M. Lavoie Smith, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®; Sandra Lee Spoelstra, PhD, RN; Lisa Kennedy Sheldon, PhD, ARNP, AOCNP®; Anita Y. Kinney, PhD, RN; Cynthia Miller Murphy, MSN, RN, CAE; Jie Deng, PhD, RN, OCN®; and Kristine Kwekkeboom, PhD, RN.
Visovsky, whose contributions to nursing have been focused on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy—an important, dose-limiting toxicity of cancer chemotherapy affecting sensory, motor and autonomic nerves—says she feels honored. “Selection as a fellow in AAN is a great honor for me,” Visovsky said. “As such, I hope to continue my mentorship of junior nurse scientists, practitioners, and students in making life better for our patients with cancer.”
All of the new AAN fellows are doing tremendous work in increasing the level of nursing care for patients with cancer across the country. The 12 ONS members selected as fellows demonstrate the key vision of ONS of leading the transformation of cancer care through their innovation, excellence, and advocacy for patients.
ONS is a professional association of more than 39,000 members committed to promoting excellence in oncology nursing and the transformation of cancer care. Since 1975, ONS has provided a professional community for oncology nurses, developed evidence-based education programs and treatment information, and advocated for patient care, all in an effort to improve quality of life and outcomes for patients with cancer and their families. Learn more at www.ons.org.