Each year at the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR) Annual NightinGala, FNINR confers awards to truly deserving candidates who are nominated by their peers. This year’s awards were presented on October 30, 2024 during the 31st Annual FNINR NightinGala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.
The Ada Sue Hinshaw Nurse Scholar Award is considered the pre-eminent award given by FNINR, which is named in honor of the first permanent Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research. Recipients have a substantive and sustained program of research that would afford them recognition as a prominent senior nurse scientist.
This year’s recipient is David Vlahov, PhD, RN, FAAN, a prominent nurse scientist from Yale University, for his contributions to urban health equity.
The Faye Glenn Abdellah Leadership Award is named for the renowned researcher, whose vision resulted in inestimable value created by nurse scientists over the years. The award is presented to an organization or individual with a sustained or lasting impact on nursing science through advocacy, institutional leadership, or with an individual program of research that has led to the public awareness of nursing science in improving health at the individual and/or population levels.
This year the award has two recipients: Stella Aguinaga Bialous, DrPH, FAAN, from the University of California San Francisco, for impactful research related to tobacco and cancer control;
and Yvette P. Conley, PhD, FAAN, from the University of Pittsburgh, for lasting contributions to genomics research.
The Welch/Woerner Path-Paver Award is given to a mid-to-late career nurse scientist who has achieved one or more breakthroughs in theory development, research methods, instruments, or subject matter that has paved the way for other scientists and who has influenced and mentored the next generation of nurse researchers.
This year the award has two recipients: Lusine Poghosyan, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, HFAANP, from Columbia University, for breakthroughs in health services research;
and Connie M. Ulrich, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, from the University of Pennsylvania, for career excellence and advances in bioethics.
The President’s Award is awarded to a nurse researcher with sustained contributions in the field. This year the theme was aimed at research related to health promotion, disease prevention, or management of acute, chronic, or mental health illness in children (birth to 21 years).
This year's recipient is Debra Huffman Brandon, PhD, RN, CNS, FAAN, from Duke University, for research in neonatal health promotion.
The Protégé Award is given to an evolving nurse scientist who shows great promise in advancing science and who is within the first 6 years of completing either their PhD or Post-Doctoral study.
This year's recipient is Junxin Li, PhD, RN, FAAN, from Johns Hopkins, for high impact research to promote sleep and cognitive health in aging.
