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 15, 2025 during the 32nd Annual FNINR NightinGala at the Westin Washington, DC Downtown 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 Huda Abu-Saad Huijer, RN, PhD, FEANS, FAAN, a prominent nurse scientist from the University of Balamand, for her contributions to pain management and palliative care.
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's recipient is the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging from the University of Washington for exemplary leadership in advancing gerontological research, education, and practice.
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's recipient is Betty Bekemeier, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, FAAN, from the University of Washington, for her exceptional leadership and breakthroughs in health equity, child, family, and population health nursing.
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 equity, health disparities, and/or the social and structural determinants of health.
This year's recipient is Hudson P. Santos Jr., PhD, RN, FABMR, FAAN, from the University of Miami, for his significant and sustained contributions to research in children’s developmental health, health disparities, and the social determinants of health.
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 Jasmine Travers Altizer, PhD, MHS, AGPCNP-BS, RN, FAAN, from New York University for her outstanding contributions to research elevating the role of geriatric nursing.
