UK College of Nursing Dean Janie Heath Named 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has named the University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s Dean Janie Heath as their 2021 AACN Advocate of the Year for her efforts over the past year to promote academic nursing priorities in the federal sphere.
Janie Heath PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN, FNAP, FAANP, was officially presented with the honor during AACN’s Annual Deans Meeting, held March 25-28, 2022, in Washington D.C.
“Janie Heath is a standout leader and advocate for academic nursing—exactly the type of person you want in your corner when advocating for policy and legislative support and change,” said Rachel Stevenson, director of government affairs for AACN. “We are thankful for Dr. Heath’s leadership to help strengthen the federal investment in nursing education, research and practice; and we are proud to honor her impactful efforts with this award.”
The ACCN Advocate of the Year Award is presented annually to a distinguished nurse leader who has exhibited exceptional, steadfast advocacy efforts on behalf of nursing. Dr. Heath has been a consistent voice at the local, state and national level in supporting policies that benefit nurses, nursing students and the profession as a whole. She maintains a strong rapport with federal legislators and also encourages colleagues and students to step up and make their voices heard as well. Dr. Heath has been an inspiring example, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, of how to advance health care, research, and higher education through the nursing lens.
“Elevating nurses’ voices has been a focus of mine for many years,” said Dr. Heath. “Nurses are often overlooked and don’t have a seat at the table when making policy decisions that affect us, our patients and communities; and I will always try to shine a light on the need to include nurses in the conversation. With the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for nurses and the current workforce shortage, now is the time for us to speak out and be louder than ever before—advocating for our needs and how to best serve our profession as whole. I would also like to dedicate this award to my long-time executive assistant, Lisa Galvin, who has been integral to my advocacy efforts and successes throughout the last eight years.”
Dr. Janie Heath was appointed dean and Warwick Professor of Nursing for the UK College of Nursing on August 1, 2014. Prior to that appointment, she was an endowed professor of nursing and the chief academic officer at the University of Virginia and the Medical College of Georgia. She has provided academic leadership for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Critical-Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Programs at Georgetown University in Washington and at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Heath earned her Master of Science Degree, with a clinical nurse specialist focus, from the University of Oklahoma and her postmaster’s with an acute-adult nurse practitioner focus from the University of South Carolina. She completed her PhD in Nursing from George Mason University in 2004. In early 2022, Dr. Heath announced her plans for retirement after serving eight years as the Dean of the UK College of Nursing and more than 46 years in the nursing profession.
About UK College of Nursing
As Kentucky's flagship institution, the University of Kentucky College of Nursing strives to save lives, transform communities and inspire hope in people everywhere through excellence in nursing education, leadership, practice and research. The College’s DNP program is ranked fourth in the U.S. among public universities and the BSN program is ranked 20th among public programs. The average first time NCLEX pass rate for BSN graduates is an impressive 98 percent. And the College also is a leader in nursing research, with $36.2 in annual research funding and more than seven active research programs and/or groups.
About AACN
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for academic nursing. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice.
Caption: Pictured above left to right are Dean Janie Heath and Lisa Galvin.
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