International Awards for Nursing Excellence

Kuei-Min Chen, PhD, RN

Nancy E. Edwards, PhD, MSN, BSN, ANP-BC

Dr. Edwards, an Associate Professor at Purdue University, directs and teaches in the Adult Gerontology NP Program. She has practiced in the field of gerontology over 30 years. She has an active clinical practice in a Federally Qualified Health Clinic where she precepts NP students. She is instrumental in enhancing geriatric content within the Adult Gerontology NP program and implementing interprofessional education in the field of geriatrics. She has received federal grants to promote geriatric education and to obtain traineeships. Her research focuses on developing effective non-pharmacologic care protocols for older adults with neuroprogressive diseases. She implements interventions such as environmental enrichment utilizing Animal Assisted therapy and chair-based exercise programs among frail persons with dementia in both community and institutional settings. She is developing care guidelines to differentiate the needs of caregivers/patients with various types of dementia. She has numerous research and clinical publications in the area of gerontology.

William Rosa, MS, RN, LMT, AHN-BC, AGPCNP-BC, CCRN-CMC

Safiya George Dalmida, PhD RN APRN-BC

Dr. George Dalmida is a leading researcher in religion and health research among people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. Her program of research focuses on the intersections between religion/spirituality and psychosocial health and function in the context of HIV and HIV risk among adults and adolescents. She is the leading nursing faculty at Emory University involved in the university-wide, Religion and Public Health Collaborative; part of the larger Religion and Human Spirit Initiative. Overall, her research program focuses on vulnerable populations and the intersection between religion and health. She has a chapter on religion's role in the HIV epidemic in a recent book, Religion as a Social Determinant of Health (Oxford University Press, 2014). She is an advanced nurse practitioner and primarily teaches NP students and treats uninsured patients in the Latino community in greater Atlanta. She also mentors undergraduate and graduate students and faculty locally and internationally.

Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Barbara A. Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, NE-BC, FABC

Barbara A. Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, NE-BC, FABC is the Magnet Program Director for Summa Akron City and St Thomas Hospitals in Akron, OH. She has held a variety of nursing professional development positions for the past 36 years. Brunt has presented on a variety of topics locally, nationally, and internationally, and has published 45 articles, five chapters in books, and six books. She served as a section editor for all four editions of The Core Curriculum for Nursing Professional Development. Ms. Brunt hold a master’s degree in community health education from Kent State University and a master’s in nursing from the University of Dundee in Scotland. Her research has focused on competencies. Brunt maintains certification in nursing professional development, as well as a nurse executive. She is a member of the task force revising the current Nursing Professional Development standards, and was involved in several previous versions also.

Joyce E. Sensmeier, MS, RN-BC, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, FAAN

Roy L. Simpson, DNP, RN, DPNAP, FAAN

Dr. Simpson is Clinical Professor Emory University and Vice President, Nursing Cerner Corporation. As doctoral faculty and Cerner executive, he provides applied informatics leadership in academe and industry. Thirty-five plus years of experience pioneering nursing informatics and senior executive administration, he authored over 500 articles, books, and chapters. In 1982, primary executive research focus initiated funding of Werley and Lang Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS). In the 80’s his partnership with industry initiatives developed a cadre of informatics scholars. With fellowship in American Academy of Nursing, New York Academy of Medicine, Simpson sits on boards for University of Minnesota, Emory University, Nurses Educational Foundation and PediaQ. He serves ANA, AONE and AMIA on committees. Dr. Simpson received his doctorate in nursing practice-executive leadership at American Sentinel University. Dr. Simpson’s research focused on informatics’ competencies for CNE in multihospital systems resulting in social media and e-communications in a technology rich environment.