The UAB School of Nursing's track record of developing impactful nurse leaders among its faculty and alumni is proven through the number who are Fellows across professional nursing organizations. From the more than 130 American Academy of Nursing Fellows to the more than 50 Fellows in the American
Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the National League for Nursing and others, UAB nurses are making an impact across the profession and health care. Over the past year, more than 20 faculty and alumni from different specialties have been named as Fellows of national nursing organizations. These include:
American Academy of Nursing
University Professor David Vance, PhD, MGS, MS, has been named a 2024 AAN Honorary Fellow, joining six alumni named to this year's Fellows cohort. Vance, who holds a doctorate in developmental and child psychology, joined the School's faculty in 2006 and is Director of Grant Regulatory and Review Processes. He has made significant contributions to the study of neurocognitive aging and HIV and AIDS care for the aging, bridging multiple disciplines, including health care, psychology, gerontology and infectious diseases.
This year's alumni Academy Fellow inductees include Kristi A. Acker, PhD, DNP, FNP-BC, AOCNP, ACHPN, FAANP (DNP 2009), Thomas W. Barkley, PhD, ACNP-BC, ANP, FAANP (PhD 1994), Luz G. Huntington-Moskos, PhD, RN, CPN (PhD 2013), Cordelia C. Nnedu, PhD, MSN, BSN, RN, CNM, WHNP-BC, CNE, ANEF (MSN 1982), Natasha Schaefer Solle, PhD, MSN, RN (MSN 2019), and Courtney Sullivan, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC, CPHON (MSN 2013, PhD 2021).
National League for Nursing
Professor and Associate Dean for Technology and Innovation Penni Watts, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, FNAP, ANEF, FSSH, FAAN (PhD 2015), and alumna Jennifer Coleman, PhD, RN, CNE, COI (BSN 1976), were named NLN Fellows in 2023 and Associate Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Family, Community and Health Systems Curry Bordelon, DNP, MBA, CRNP, NNP-BC, CPNP-AC, CNE (DNP 2016), and School Archivist Lynn Nichols, PhD, RN-BC (BSN 1989, MSN 1993, PhD 2000), were named NLN Fellows in 2024. They were recognized for their expertise in nursing education and serve as role models and resources for new educators and for those who aspire to become nurse educators.
National Black Nurses Association, INC
NBNA has recognized several faculty and alumni as inaugural fellows of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing for their contributions to nursing education, research, practice, policy and administration in the areas of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Associate Professor and Interim Assistant Dean for Research and Scholarship Edwin Aroke, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Access and Engagement Felesia Bowen, PhD, DNP, APRN, PPCNP-BC, FAAN, Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Family, Community and Health Systems Loretta Lee, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC, CNE, FNAP, FADLN (MSN 1991, PhD 2012), and alumnus Blake K. Smith, MSN, RN (MSN 2017), were recognized as Distinguished ADLN Fellows. Professor Martha Dawson, DNP, RN, MSN, FACHE, FAAN (BSN 1976, MSN 1984), and alumna Marcia Lowe, PhD, RN, GERO-BC (PhD 2019), were named Luminary ALDN Fellows.
National Academies of Practice
Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Family, Community and Health Systems Loretta Taylor Lee, PhD, CRNP, FNP-BC, CNE, FNAP, FADLN (MSN 1991, PhD 2012), and Professor and Associate Dean for Technology and Innovation Penni Watts, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, FNAP, ANEF, FSSH, FAAN (PhD 2015), were inducted as 2024 NAP Fellows. This distinction honors those who have excelled in their profession and are dedicated to furthering interprofessional practice, scholarship and policy in support of interprofessional care.
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Alumni Terri M. Cahoon, DNP, CRNA, COI (BS, Nurse Anesthesia 1994), Lisa Allison Herbinger, DNP, CRNA, COI (DNP 2013), and Brooke Reeves Vining, MNA, CRNA, MSHA, LSSGB (MNA 2003), were named AANA Fellows. Distinguished researchers, advocates, educators and practitioners are selected based on their professional contributions to nurse anesthesiology.
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Retired Professor Patricia Speck, DNSC, CRNP, FNP-BC, AFN-C, DF-IAFN, DF-AFN, FAAFS, FAAN, and PhD student Maria Lanzi, ANP-BC, MPH, COHN-S, were inducted as AANP Fellows, recognizing their contributions to education, policy, clinical practice and research.