American Academy of Nursing Announces New Linda Burnes Bolton Polaris Award

Award Commemorates the Life and Legacy of Nursing Icon who Exemplifies Mission-Driven Leadership

Washington, DC (September 25, 2025) — The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) is proud to establish the Linda Burnes Bolton Polaris Award, in honor of the late Academy President, Living Legend, Fellow, industry leader, and generous benefactor. In alignment with Dr. Burnes Bolton’s legacy, this award will recognize an individual who exemplifies dedication to fulfilling the Academy’s mission through leadership within the organization by offering their time, talents, and building a philanthropic culture. The inaugural recipient of the Linda Burnes Bolton Polaris Award is Kenneth R. White, PhD, RN, LFACHE, FADLN, FAAN, Immediate Past-President of the Academy and the organization’s first male President. Dr. White’s tenure was marked by his dedication to sustaining philanthropy within the organization and thoughtful preparation for the Academy’s 50th anniversary and its future.

Dr. Burnes Bolton, the former Vice President for Nursing, Chief Health Equity Officer, Director of Nursing Research, and Chief Nursing Officer at Cedars-Sinai, was a pioneering titan of the nursing profession. She started her Cedars-Sinai career as a staff nurse in labor and delivery in 1971 and became the first advanced practice nurse at the hospital, dramatically shifting the nursing culture. Dr. Burnes Bolton was extremely dedicated to uplifting the profession, and through her mentorship, she was committed to diversifying and elevating nurse leaders. She viewed nurses as essential in ongoing efforts to address social determinants of health and healthcare reform, advocating for better health policies. Dr. Burnes Bolton was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2015 and served as President of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Organization of Nurse Leaders, the National Black Nurses Association, on the Board of Trustees for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Vice-Chair of the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) Committee to prepare its seminal report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.

"Dr. Linda Burnes Bolton is an icon within the nursing profession,” said Academy President Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN, FNAP, FAAN. “Lovingly referred to as LBB, she mentored countless individuals and championed the profession in the boardroom as well as at policy tables. She embodied the mission of the Academy and, as the 21st President, worked to ensure the organization advanced nursing leadership at all levels. Above all, she always encouraged us to aim for our true north, our north star, our Polaris."

Dr. White’s selection for this special award recognizes his commitment to the Academy’s true north. Under his leadership, the Academy revitalized its stewardship, personal outreach, and relationship building to strengthen the sense of community within the Fellowship. Of significance, Dr. White’s presidency coincided with the Academy’s 50th anniversary, which included a celebration that broke record attendance numbers at the 2023 Health Policy Conference. To commemorate this occasion, Dr. White established and engaged the Academy’s 50th Anniversary Committee for their leadership to honor this milestone. In recognition of the partnerships that have propelled the organization and its mission to advance health, raise the impact of the profession, and champion health equity, the committee created the one-time Gold Award, which was awarded to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Additionally, Dr. White garnered support from the Academy’s past leadership for a special 50th anniversary matching fundraising campaign - The President's Fund for Investment in Policy. And like the namesake for which this award was created, under his presidency, Dr. White examined the Academy’s growing global footprint and international Fellowship to strengthen connections to Fellows abroad and harnessed their diverse perspectives.

"It is an honor to receive this award named for such an esteemed and celebrated legend within the profession," said Kenneth R. White, PhD, RN, LFACHE, FADLN, FAAN. "Everyone who knew Dr. Burnes Bolton understood that mission-driven leadership not only champions the association we choose to serve, but the people who are impacted by the actions our organizations take. Of all the organizations for which I have served, the Academy holds a special place. I wanted to achieve more by supporting the Academy Fellows, with my heart open wide, my hands extended for partnership, and my mind committed to thought leadership. I aimed to see nurses “Out Loud” in our actions, and Dr. Burnes Bolton was an exceptional figure who championed this every day of her life."

Dr. White, inducted in 2012, has served in numerous industry and academic roles throughout his illustrious career, including thirteen years at Mercy Health Services. Over the course of his career, he has generously lent his leadership skills to organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives (in which he holds Fellowship and was awarded the Gold Medal Award for Lifetime Achievement), the Association for University Programs in Health Administration, and service on numerous governing boards. He formerly served as Associate Dean for Strategic Partnerships and Innovation at the University of Virginia School of Nursing and held the UVA Health Endowed Professorship in Nursing along with joint appointments in the McIntire School of Commerce, the Darden School of Business, and the UVA School of Medicine. He has also maintained a clinical practice as a palliative care nurse practitioner. He went on to become the Dean and Associate Chief Nurse for Academic Affairs at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston.

The Linda Burnes Bolton Polaris Award will be presented to Dr. White at the 2025 Health Policy Conference on Saturday, October 18.

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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