Jean Edward, Linda Gorton Receive Top Recognition from Kentucky Nurses Association

Congratulations to Dr. Jean Edward and Alumni Mayor Linda Gorton for their awards at the 2024 Legacy & Leadership Gala hosted by the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA)!

Dr. Edward, Associate Professor and Director of the PhD program at the UK College of Nursing, was named Researcher of the Year. Her research promotes equity in healthcare access, affordability, and health outcomes for underserved communities by intervening on the social determinants of health. Dr. Edward has been funded by the National Cancer Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Cancer Society, Kentucky Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International. She has received several recognitions, including the American Public Health Association's Public Health Nursing Junior Investigator Award. Dr. Edward has a robust series of peer-reviewed publications and has presented at nearly 100 national, regional, and local conferences.

Mayor Linda Gorton, an esteemed alumni of the UK College of Nursing's BSN program, was named Citizen of the Year by KNA. Mayor Gorton learned about leadership and problem-solving as a nurse and never hesitates to say: "I am a nurse first." During her nursing career, Mayor Gorton served in acute and critical care services and ambulatory settings. She is dedicated to volunteering and uplifting the community. This dedication can be seen through her involvement in the PTA, becoming a Scout Leader, and her contributions as the Leader of her Neighborhood Council. Mayor Gorton is the longest continuously serving Lexington-Fayette Urban Council member and is currently in her second term as mayor of Lexington. Mayor Gorton uses the motto "People First" and upholds this value every day, both professionally and personally.

We are so proud of our Big Blue Nursing Nation! #BBNN