American Academy of Nursing to Honor Celebrated Leaders

Annual Awards will be Presented to Recognize Impact and Progress toward Healthier Communities

Washington, DC (July 29, 2025) —The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) will recognize five dedicated changemakers with the organization’s prestigious annual awards. These accomplished leaders will be recognized during the Academy’s Health Policy Conference, Impact Through Integrity and Trust: Our Role as Navigators and Translators, which is being held in Washington, DC from October 16-18, 2025. Each awardee has shown their commitment to the organization’s vision, healthy lives for all people, throughout their careers, demonstrating the impact of research, leadership, and public service.

“The Academy is elated to honor these individuals for their lasting contributions to the health of the nation and around the globe,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “As we consider how to advance policies to improve health, it is inspiring to reflect on the change these leaders have forged in public health and health equity. I look to their courage, innovation, and curiosity for insight on evidence-informed health policy and change to promote the best care practices. It is a privilege to elevate the work of these changemakers and showcase the tremendous impact they have made on health care. Not only through their previous work, but how they will continue to lead through collaboration and mentorship into the future." 

The President's Award, the highest individual achievement award given by the Academy, which recognizes a Fellow who has made extraordinary, lifelong contributions to improving the health of individuals, families, and communities, will be presented to Patricia M. Davidson, PhD, RN, FAAN, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow and interim Co-Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems, UNSW Sydney. Her impressive research portfolio focuses on person-centered care delivery and improving quality of life for individuals with chronic and complex conditions with a special focus on how the social determinants of health affect health outcomes. Her previous academic leadership positions include Vice Chancellor and President, University of Wollongong and Dean, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. A prolific mentor, Dr. Davidson was the first nurse to receive the Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Outstanding Mentor of Young Researchers, the most prestigious research mentorship award in the country. She currently serves in leadership roles as Chair, New South Wales International Education Advisory Board; Chair, Her Heart; and Board Member, Research Australia. 

Sean Clarke, PhD, RN, FAAN, will be presented with the Academy’s Civitas Award. This award recognizes an individual who exemplifies extraordinary dedication to excellence in promoting quality care. Dr. Clarke is the Ursula Springer Professor in Nursing Leadership at the New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing. Throughout his illustrious 30-year career, Dr. Clarke has taught nursing and health policy at all levels in major universities across the US and Canada, held endowed chairs and leadership roles in nursing schools, and has served as a consultant to government agencies, professional societies, and regulatory bodies internationally. His impressive research focuses on topics ranging from nurses’ working conditions to quality and safety measures in hospitals. Dr. Clarke’s work expertly examines the impact of economic, social, and political factors on the profession as well as through program and policy evaluation. Extensively published, he has served as Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Outlook, the Academy’s official journal on nursing leadership, policy, and professional issues, since 2023 where he has adeptly developed the journal’s thought leadership. 

The Health Care Leader Award, which recognizes an influential national leader dedicated to improving the health of the nation through contributions to organizational excellence, will be given to Brenda Nevidjon, MSN, RN, FAAN. Ms. Nevidjon leads the Oncology Nursing Society and its affiliated corporations as the Chief Executive Officer and is Clinical Professor Emeritus at Duke University School of Nursing. Internationally recognized for her leadership in professional and non-profit organizations, innovation in health programs, and support of federal health priorities, Ms. Nevidjon was also notably the first nurse and first woman to be named Chief Operating Officer of Duke University Hospital. Through her prolific scholarship, dedication to mentorship, and unwavering leadership, Ms. Nevidjon has championed nurse excellence at every step of her five-decades-long career. Her exceptional commitment to the profession is showcased through the integration of volunteer leadership within her clinical, academic, and executive experiences across a variety of healthcare delivery systems and institutions. 

The Academy will present Ada Sue Hinshaw, PhD, RN, FAAN, with the Lifetime Legacy Award. This award recognizes extraordinary individuals who have dedicated their life to advocating for positive health system changes. Dr. Hinshaw’s legacy includes being the first permanent Director of the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she advanced research and research training in the key fields of nursing science, disease prevention, health promotion, acute and chronic illness, as well as public health from 1987 through 1994. A former President of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Hinshaw has had a transformative influence on improving health through her devotion to providing better care and positive outcomes for patients. Dr. Hinshaw’s storied career includes academic appointments at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, University of California at San Francisco, the University of Kansas, and service as Dean of the University of Michigan School of Nursing and Uniformed Services University Graduate School of Nursing. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Hinshaw served as the Distinguished Nurse Scholar-in-Residence at the National Academy of Medicine from 2006-2007 and was honored as a Living Legend of the Academy in 2011. 

Kenya Beard, EdD, AGACNP-BC, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN, will be presented with the Mary Elizabeth Carnegie Leadership Award. The Mary Elizabeth Carnegie Leadership Award recognizes a Fellow whose significant and sustained contributions have advanced the organization’s core values of equity, diversity, and inclusivity in nursing and health care. Currently serving as the inaugural Dean and Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy University’s School of Nursing, Dr. Beard is a nationally recognized leader in health equity, policy, and nursing education. Rooted in her deep commitment to justice, she has spent her career building inclusive pathways to improve care outcomes and systems. A former Chair of the NY State Board of Nursing and a 2012 Macy Faculty Scholar, Dr. Beard co-produced healthcare disparity segments on WBAI-FM, reaching over 400,000 listeners. Featured in the documentary Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us All, she elevated nursing’s power to create equity-driven systems. Additionally, Dr. Beard serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Nursing and teaches transformational leadership at the Harvard Macy Institute. She continues to transform purpose into impact through initiatives like the National Black Nurses Association’s National Academy for Diversity Leaders in Nursing and Mercy’s Health Equity Influencer Program. 

Carolyn Clancy, MD, FAAN, will be presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award. This distinction recognizes Honorary Fellows of the Academy for exemplary service and perseverance as a champion of the nursing profession. Dr. Clancy serves as the Assistant Undersecretary for Health in the Office of Discovery, Education & Affiliate Networks, Veterans Health Administration (VHA). In this capacity, she directs and oversees the coordination of facility-based educators, researchers and clinicians, and VA affiliates to facilitate knowledge transfer. Prior to her current position, Dr. Clancy served as Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she oversaw the development and implementation of enterprise-wide policies, programs, and activities. As VHA Executive in Charge, with the authority to perform the functions and duties of the Undersecretary for Health, she directed a health care system which oversaw care delivery to millions of enrolled Veterans. A highly experienced and nationally recognized physician executive, Dr. Clancy has been awarded Honorary Fellowship by the American Academy of Nursing, the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Quality Champion Award, and the Disabled American Veterans’ Outstanding Federal Executive of the Year.  

These remarkable individuals will be recognized at the American Academy of Nursing’s Health Policy Conference. Learn more about the Academy and visit the policy conference website for more details.

###

About the American Academy of Nursing
The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 3,200 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia.

Contact
Caroline Kane | 202-777-1170 | ckane@AANnet.org