International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame

Created in 2010, the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame recognizes nurse researchers who have achieved significant and sustained national or international recognition and whose research has improved the profession and the people it serves. Hall of Fame honorees are inducted annually at Sigma’s International Nursing Research Congress where nearly 1,000 nurse researchers, students, clinicians, and leaders learn from evidence-based research presentations. Award presentation sponsored by Wiley.

2026 Hall of Fame Inductees 


Anne AlexandrovAnne W. Alexandrov, PhD, AGACNP-BC, CNS, NVRN-BC, ANVP-BC, ASC-BC, CCRN, FAAN

Professor of Nursing and Professor of Neurology
University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Research areas: the augmentation of intracranial and systemic hemodynamics to improve brain perfusion in acute stroke patients 

 

Edwin ArokeEdwin N. Aroke, PhD, CRNA, FADLN, FAANA, FAAN

Professor/Interim Assistant Dean for Research & Scholarship
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing
Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Research areas: an innovative interdisciplinary program investigating the role of epigenomic and transcriptomic modifications in racial disparities in chronic low back pain

 

Annemaria BagnascoAnnamaria Bagnasco, PhD, MEDSc, MSN, RN

Professor
Department of Health Sciences University of Genoa
Genova, Italy

Research areas: patient safety, nursing ethics, fundamental care, palliative care, and nursing education, with a strong emphasis on translating evidence into clinical practice and health policy; addresses workforce sustainability, workplace safety, end-of-life communication, and innovative educational strategies, including simulation and digital health 

 

Ashley Leak BryantAshley Leak Bryant, PhD, RN, OCN, FAAN

Senior Associate Dean for Strategy and Global Affairs and Frances Hill Fox Distinguished Term Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Research areas: the critical need to improve interprofessional teamwork and care coordination for older adults with cancer and their care partners 

 

Li-Yin ChienLi-Yin Chien, ScD, MPH, RN, FAAN

Dean and Distinguished Professor
Institute of Community Health Care, College of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Taipei, Taiwan

Research areas: maternal and child health, exploring pregnancy outcomes, postpartum depression, breastfeeding practices, and gestational weight gain; investigating health disparities and care strategies for immigrant women, children with developmental delays, and global health initiatives 

 

Hsaio Yean ChiuHsiao-Yean Chiu, PhD, RN

Professor, Director, and Vice Dean for International Relations
Taipei Medical University School of Nursing
Taipei, Taiwan

Research areas: improving sleep health, preventing delirium, and promoting functional recovery among critically ill and aging populations

 

Yvonne Commodore-MensahYvonne Commodore-Mensah, PhD, MHS, RN, FAAN, FPCNA, FAHA

Tenured Professor and Associate Dean for Research
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Research areas: cardiovascular health equity, hypertension prevention and control, African immigrant health, global cardiovascular health, and the social determinants of health

 

Verna FergusonVerna L. Hendricks-Ferguson, PhD, RN, FPCN, FAAN

Irene Riddle Endowed Chair, Professor, and Research Institute Fellow
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Research areas: interventions to enhance provider discussions with parents about the benefits of early palliative-care support for pediatric patients with a poor-prognosis cancer diagnosis; mind-body interventions, such as art, music, and yoga

 

Judith FinnJudith Finn, PhD, MEdSt, GradDipPH, BSc, DipAppSc, RN, RM, ICCert, FACN, FAHA, ERC(Hon.)

Prehospital, Resuscitation & Emergency Care Research Unit
Curtin School of Nursing, Curtin University
Bentley, Western Australia, Australia

Research areas: improving outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), integrating linguistic analysis of emergency calls, spatial analysis of OHCA occurrence and automated defibrillator placement, and epidemiological research 

 

Karen FoliKaren J. Foli, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Professor and Louise Herrington Endowed Chair for Mental Health Nursing
Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Baylor University
Dallas, Texas, USA

Research areas: developing the middle-range theory of parental postadoption depression and the middle-range theory of nurses’ psychological trauma; examining mental health in nurses, as well as organizational culpability to mitigate avoidable burnout and trauma

 

JinShil KimJinShil Kim, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAHA

Professor
Gachon University College of Nursing
Incheon, South Korea

Research areas: cardiovascular nursing, chronic illness self-care, dyadic caregiving, and advanced care planning (ACP), examining psychosocial, cognitive, and relational factors influencing self-care and decision-making among patients with heart failure and their caregivers 

 

Geraldine LeeGeraldine Lee, PhD, FESC, BSc

Professor of Nursing and Chair of Health Services Research
University College Cork
Cork, Ireland

Research areas: cardiovascular care, cardio-oncology, advanced nursing practice, and health services innovation 

 

Jiying LingJiying Ling, PhD, MS, RN, FAAN

MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor
Michigan State University College of Nursing
East Lansing, Michigan, USA

Research areas: advancing whole-child health through innovative, evidence-based interventions in early childhood; integrates food-body-mind connections into lifestyle programs promoting healthy food growth, school readiness, and emotional well-being, particularly among young children from low-income and underserved communities

 

Ashley Darcy MahoneyAshley Darcy Mahoney, PhD, NNP, FAAN

Professor and Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
The George Washington University School of Nursing
Washington, DC, USA

Research areas: bridging nursing science, neuroscience, and developmental psychology to understand how early experiences shape brain development and long-term outcomes for infants and young children, particularly on preterm infants and their developmental trajectories 

 

Eugenia Flores MillenderEugenia Flores Millender, PhD, RN, PMHNP, FAAN, FAANP

Marie Cowart Endowed Professor, Assistant Dean for Research, and Co-Founder & Co-Director, Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment 
Florida State University, College of Nursing
Tallahassee, Florida, USA

Research areas:  advancing nursing science by examining how cumulative trauma, chronic stress, discrimination, and structural inequities shape mental health and chronic disease risk among historically underserved populations

 

Wendy Trueblood MillerWendy R. Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, CNS, FAAN, FAES

Professor and Sally Reahard Endowed Chair and Executive Associate Dean of Research
Indiana University School of Nursing
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Research areas: advancing nursing science by capturing the authentic voices of people with chronic conditions, especially epilepsy, and ensuring their perspectives inform clinical care, interventions, and policy 

 

Sandra MitchellSandra A. Mitchell, PhD, ACNP-BC, AOCN, FAAN

Senior Scientist and Program Director
National Cancer Institute
Rockville, Maryland, USA

Research areas: implementation science and the use of health information technologies and clinical decision support to support knowledge translation, improve care quality, and strengthen patient self-management

 

Vinciya PandianVinciya Pandian, PhD, MBA, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, FCCM, FAANP, FAAN, FFNRMRCSI

Associate Dean of Graduate Education; Professor of Nursing, Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Ross and Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

Research areas: improving the safety and outcomes of patients with complex airway needs, particularly those requiring tracheostomies or artificial airways 

 

Yeon Hwan ParkYeon-Hwan Park, PhD, RN

Professor
Seoul National University, College of Nursing
Seoul, South Korea

Research areas: promoting healthy aging, strengthening chronic disease self-management, and enhancing the quality of life among older adults across community and long-term care settings

 

Martine PutsMartine Puts, PhD, RN, FCAN, FAAN

Professor
Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Research areas: using geriatric assessment and management to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults, particularly older adults with cancer

 

Sarah RossettiSarah Collins Rossetti, PhD, BSN, RN, FAMIA, FACMI, FAAN, FIAHSI

Associate Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Nursing
Columbia University School of Nursing
New York, New York, USA

Research areas: clinician-driven AI solutions to reduce patient risk for harm and excessive documentation burden

 

Leorey SaliganLeorey Saligan, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN

Professor
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Nursing
Newark, New Jersey, USA

Research areas: understanding the biological, behavioral, and social factors that influence symptom experiences and health outcomes in individuals with chronic conditions, including cancer and HIV

 

Lixin SongLixin Song, PhD, RN, FAAN

Professor and Vice Dean of Research and Scholarship
University of Texas at San Antonio School of Nursing
San Antonio, Texas, USA

Research areas: integrating behavioral science, clinical care, and digital health technologies to design and test family-centered interventions that improve outcomes for patients and families 

 

Maxim TopazMaxim Topaz, PhD, RN, MA, FACMI, FIAHSI, FAAN

Elizabeth Standish Gill Associate Professor
Columbia University School of Nursing; VNS Health
New York, New York, USA

Research areas: applying artificial intelligence to the written records that nurses and clinicians produce daily, transforming routine documentation into tools for improving patient care, reducing documentation burden, and promoting equitable outcomes

 

Linda YoderLinda H. Yoder, PhD, MBA, RN, AOCN-emerita, FAMSN, FAAN

Professor-Emerita
The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing
Austin, Texas, USA

Research areas: improvements in hospital-based outcomes for patients and the development of nurse-led clinics to improve access for chronically ill and stable patients with cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases as well as diabetes; improving the nursing work environment in acute care settings and fostering career development for healthcare staff 

 

Anna ZisbergAnna Zisberg, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA

Professor
The Cheryl Spencer Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Science, University of Haifa
Haifa, Israel

Research areas: advancing gerontological nursing science and improving care for frail older adults, specifically examining how health challenges, particularly hospitalization, affect older adults’ functional, cognitive, and emotional well-being

 

 



 

Emerging Nurse Researchers and Scholars

Created in 2015 and revised in 2019, the Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award recognizes early career nurse researchers and scholars from each of Sigma’s seven global regions whose research or scholarship has influenced the nursing profession and the people it serves. These early career nurse researchers represent all seven of Sigma’s global regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America/Caribbean, Middle East, North America, and Oceania.

2026 Honorees 

 


Muhammad ChutiyamiMuhammad Chutiyami PhD, RN 
Lecturer in Nursing
University of Technology Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | Oceania Region
 
Dr. Muhammad Chutiyami’s research and professional practice are dedicated to advancing health equity and improving health outcomes among underserved populations globally. His research focuses on global and community health, targeting social determinants of health, behavioral and social drivers of vaccination, and community-engaged health initiatives, with a strong emphasis on addressing health disparities affecting under-resourced communities. His work examines how structural, social, and environmental factors shape health outcomes and influence access to healthcare. Through interdisciplinary research and collaboration with community partners, his work seeks to generate evidence that informs equitable health policies, effective public health interventions, and improved healthcare delivery systems, particularly in underserved and under-resourced settings. His research has contributed to a growing body of evidence highlighting the importance of addressing social determinants of health to reduce health inequalities and strengthen health systems. 

In addition to his research contributions, Dr. Chutiyami is actively involved in teaching, mentorship, and academic leadership. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate nursing students and supervises PhD research projects that aim to address real-world health challenges. He is also engaged in mentoring early-career researchers and health professionals, helping to build research capacity and promote evidence-based practice in healthcare. Dr. Chutiyami maintains an active clinical practice as a registered nurse, which informs his teaching and research by grounding them in the realities of healthcare delivery. His combined experience across clinical practice, research, and education enables him to contribute to the development of innovative, community-focused approaches to healthcare. He is a member of the Xi Omicron at-Large Chapter.



 
Mu-Hsing HoBenjamin Mu-Hsing Ho, PhD, MSc, BSc, RN
Assistant Professor
School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong | Asia Region

Dr. Benjamin Mu-Hsing Ho’s research focuses on cognitive function and neuropsychological assessment across diverse populations, notably in intensive and critical care, cancer care, and aged care. Dr. Ho’s work aims to advance understanding, assessment, and intervention strategies for cognitive dysfunction to enhance patient-centered care and recovery. Dr. Ho has extensively studied ICU delirium and post-ICU cognitive impairment, conditions associated with high morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. His research in cancer care addresses cancer-related cognitive impairment, identifying its prevalence, predictors, and effects on survivors’ cognition and daily functioning. He leads innovative projects developing mobile-based cognitive assessments and individualized cognitive rehabilitation interventions using self-administered acupressure to deliver accessible, real-time evaluation and care solutions. In aged and gerontological care, he examines dementia, cognitive frailty, health literacy, and decision-making capacity among older adults to enhance shared decision-making. 

Beyond research, he serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Intensive and Critical Care Nursing and actively supervises doctoral students. Dr. Ho’s scholarship and leadership continue to shape the integration of cognitive science and nursing, advancing health outcomes and professional excellence worldwide. He is a member of the Lambda Beta-at-Large, Pi Iota at-Large, and Xi Omicron at-Large Chapters.



Oluwabunmi OgungbeOluwabunmi Ogungbe PhD, MPH, RN
Assistant Professor
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing 
Baltimore, Maryland, USA | North America Region

Dr. OluwaBunmi Ogungbe is an Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing with a joint appointment at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She also serves as Associate Director for Education and Training at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity and as Associate Faculty at the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research. She leads an independent research program at the intersection of cardiovascular health disparities, community-engaged implementation science, precision nutrition, and digital health. Her work focuses on developing and testing multilevel interventions that address the disproportionate burden of hypertension, cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome, and related conditions among populations in the United States and globally. As principal investigator, she leads the CROWN study, a cluster-randomized trial testing a beauty salon-based intervention for blood pressure management among women, and the THRIVE, iTHRIVE, and WE-THRIVE Food as Medicine trials, which integrate AI-enhanced messaging, produce prescriptions, and personalized dietitian coaching for adults in food-insecure communities. She is co-investigator on large-scale NIH-funded trials in the US and across Africa.

Dr. Ogungbe has authored several peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and contributed to practice and policy recommendations. She is a Fellow of the American Heart Association and the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, serves on multiple AHA scientific committees, and provides policy consultation to the Maryland Food System Resiliency Council. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of nurse scientists focused on improving access to high-quality cardiovascular care, everywhere. She is a member of the Nu Beta at-Large Chapter.