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Fellowship
Academy Fellows
The American Academy of Nursing is an honorific society and a policy organization. With more than 3,000 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia. The Academy is a respected policy think tank of nursing experts focused on improving health and health care and exploring how the Academy Fellowship can disseminate nursing knowledge for change. Fellows represent elected officials; state and federal political appointees and government officials; hospital chief executives; university presidents, chancellors and deans; researchers; entrepreneurs; and association executives. Fellows reside in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and 55 countries including; Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom; among others. Academy Fellows actively participate in the organization by joining Expert Panels to help support the organization’s policy recommendations, obtain appointments to the organization’s committees and national advisory councils, serve in elected leadership positions, engage in philanthropic efforts, attend Academy events such as the Health Policy Conference, State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, policy dialogues, and webinars.  Living Legends
The American Academy of Nursing is proud to recognize outstanding Fellows who epitomize nursing’s proud history and serve as exemplars for all of us. Since the Living Legends designation was established in 1994, each year a small group of Fellows are recognized with the Academy’s highest honor for the significant contributions they have made to nursing and society. The designation acknowledges the continued impact these contributions have on the provision of health care services in the United States and throughout the world. Esteemed among the nursing profession and the health care community, each Living Legend’s body of work has a continuing impact on the provision of health care. Learn More Honorary Fellows
The Honorary Fellow distinction is only given to dedicated leaders outside the nursing profession who have demonstrated a firm commitment to nursing and to transforming health policy. Each individual selected for this recognition
is a true champion of science, innovation, and leadership as well as the organization’s vision of healthy lives for all people. Noteworthy within their fields, these outstanding individuals have demonstrated extraordinary and
lasting contributions by working with their colleagues in nursing to transform health.  Charter Fellows
Academy Charter Fellows saw a need for an organization that recognized and convened thought leaders in the profession to champion health. These Charter Fellows represented the rich history of diverse expertise and experience of nursing leaders that continues today. Learn MoreHistory of the Academy
The American Academy of Nursing launched over 50 years ago on April 24, 1973, and continues to recognize nurses who make extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. The American Academy of Nursing was formed to provide visionary leadership for the nursing profession. While a key impetus for creating the Academy was to formally recognize “personal achievements and superior performance in nursing,” the founders envisioned the structure as a: “working body which would operate in a climate in which current systems, ideas and practices may be challenged, new ideas in nursing and other fields explored, and the experimentation and innovation in nursing encouraged.” Nursing leaders came together to draft a charge and vision for the Academy that still holds true today— challenge, explore, innovate. The initial concept of the Academy can be traced back to 1946 in a report by Raymond Rich Associates to the American Nurses Association (ANA). The idea was revived in 1964 and later the 1966 bylaws of the ANA ratified an Academy. In 1973, the Academy was established with 36 Charter Fellows. The original operating objectives were to:
In 1999, the organization established itself as a non-profit organization incorporated in the District of Columbia. In addition to the Fellows of the Academy, as members, the American Nurses Association is the Academy’s sole corporate member.
 Past Presidents
On April 24, 1973, the American Academy of Nursing’s thirty-six charter fellows held their first meeting where Fellows were elected to the governing council and Rheba de Tornyay was elected as the inaugural president. Academy presidents
throughout the years have helped to grow the organization and advance the impact the Fellowship.
*Deceased Fellow Directory
Learn more about the expertise and experience of the American Academy of Nursing Fellows. View Fellow Directory Become a Fellow
The American Academy of Nursing is an honorific society, the members, called Fellows, of the Academy are selected through a rigorous nomination process. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. To join the Fellowship and earn a FAAN credential, the most prestigious recognition in nursing, individuals must apply and be sponsored by two current Fellows. |
