What made you want to become an FNINR Ambassador?
Commitment to serve nursing and advance nursing science.
How long have you been an FNINR Ambassador?
2 years
What advice would you give your younger self?
Patience is necessary; Resilience is required; Care is the key
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Hawaii, Big Island
What made you want to become an FNINR Ambassador?
Opportunity to continue the work I was exposed to while a RWJ Health Policy Fellow.
How long have you been an FNINR Ambassador?
1 year
Each year at the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR) Annual NightinGala, FNINR bestows awards to truly deserving candidates who are nominated by their peers. This year’s awards were presented on October 4, 2023 during the 30th Anniversary FNINR NightinGala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.
The Ada Sue Hinshaw Nurse Scholar Award is considered the pre-eminent award given by FNINR and is named in honor of the first permanent Director of the National Institute of Nursing Research. Recipients have a substantive and sustained program of science that would afford her/him recognition as a prominent senior scientist.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Have a growth mindset and not a closed mindset. Utilize your natural resilience, perseverance in grit to believe you can do it and help others through scientific discourse.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
I love anywhere with warm water and beaches. Last year it was Punta Cana and this year it was Cancun.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To follow your heart, do good work, and have fun along the way.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere with my family, a beautiful view, and time to exhale.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Build a strong program of research that can shape macro-level health policies to improve population health. Always connect research to outcomes. In community-based participatory research, know that community engagement is key in shaping health equity focused policy changes.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Paris
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself three things: 1) to continue to follow the work that brings the most joy and enables me to follow my interests and passions. 2) Find colleagues and teams that bring out the best part of you and challenge you to be a better version of yourself as a clinician and scientist. 3) Listen closely to parents and caregivers. They are their child's first and best teacher. Partner with them to optimize outcomes for kids.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
The beach, any beach, but I do love Kauai.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Realize not every opportunity offered to you is right for you at that time or perhaps ever. Be judicious, and grateful, with saying yes.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
I will be in Greece and Italy and the Czech Republic this year so I may change my mind but I think my favorite spot is Aix-en-Provence in France - I received wise advice from many people I met there to “work to live, not live to work”. I am trying hard to find more balance in my life.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Learn early to be purposeful in your goals and intentions. Figure out early what your passion is; and what you are deeply invested in that gives you a sense of purpose and motivates you to keep moving forward. That makes all the hard work so much easier.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Japan, especially during the Sakura Hanami (cherry blossom gazing season)
What advice would you give your younger self?
Never be afraid to take a calculated risk.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Italy.
The Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR) is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1993. FNINR’s mission is to strengthen and magnify the impact of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in the advancement of nursing science.
To celebrate our anniversary, FNINR would like to honor the individuals who have helped shape the organization through donations, volunteering, and support over the past 30 years, including our current and past presidents (listed below); without all these individuals we wouldn’t be where we are today.
What advice would you give your younger self?
It's never going to be easy but a career in nursing is so worth it.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere with the ocean or mountains.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be the person that you want to be regardless of the circumstances.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Anywhere I can completely unplug.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would offer the Zen precept, “Leap and the net will appear.” Courage is a necessity to create a life of meaning.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. It’s a wonderful mix of spectacular beaches, nature, and many venues where our beloved golden retriever family member is also welcome!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Make as many good friends as possible, they are worth their weight in gold.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Canandaigua Lake - or anywhere with swimmable fresh water.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Think about planning options for your career path as a first half then a second half.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Italy
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don't worry about what you can't control.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
The Caribbean
What advice would you give your younger self?
First, relationships are everything! Time spent developing and nurturing relationships is never wasted, and those will be the people who support and celebrate with you when things are good, and who lift you up (and even piece you back together if needed) when things are hard. I could never have been successful in my work (or my life) without so many amazing family members, friends, and colleagues. Second, never underestimate the difference you can make in someone's life by doing even the smallest of things... ones that make a person feel seen, heard, valued, and that you genuinely care about them.
Where is your favorite vacation spot?
Southwest Harbor, Maine, is my favorite place. The scenery is stunning, the people warm and welcoming, and the lobster incomparable. It is where I go to rest, relax, reset and restore my soul before returning to the demanding work we do as nurses.
As the new year begins gaining momentum, Mayo Clinic’s Department of Nursing, Division of Nursing Research is taking a moment to reflect on the research goals and accomplishments made in 2022. Hear directly from a handful of our Nurse Scientists and Post-Doctoral Research Scholars on what they’ve been working on, and what that means for our patients.
