The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) has selected three The Ohio State University College of Nursing faculty members, Michele Christina Balas, PhD, RN, CCRN-K, FCCM; Lynn Gallagher-Ford, PhD, RN, NE-BC, DPFNAP; and Janine Overcash, PhD, GNP-BC, FAANP, to be inducted in its 2017 class of Academy Fellows.
The inductees will be honored at a ceremony being held during the AAN's annual policy conference, Transforming Health, Driving Policy, Oct. 5-7, 2017 in Washington, D.C.
“I am proud to welcome this talented cohort of nurses as they join the ranks of the nation's foremost healthcare thought leaders," said AAN President Bobbie Berkowitz, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. "They bring a rich variety of expertise to the table, and we look forward to recognizing their accomplishments at our policy conference, and then working with them to transform health policy, practice and research by applying our collective nursing knowledge."
Balas, Gallagher-Ford and Overcash will be inducted as AAN Fellows along with 170 other highly distinguished nurse leaders. With the addition of this new class, the total number of AAN Fellows stands at over 2,500. Representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 29 countries, the Fellows are nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy and research. AAN Fellows include hospital and government administrators, college deans and renowned scientific researchers.
Fellow selection criteria include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care and sponsorship by two current AAN Fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel comprised of elected and appointed Fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominees' nursing careers have influenced health policies and the health and well-being of all.
The 2017 class of AAN Fellows from Ohio include:
- Michele Christina Balas, PhD, RN, CCRN-K, FCCM - The Ohio State University
- Lynn Gallagher-Ford, PhD, RN, NE-BC, DPFNAP - The Ohio State University
- Scott A. Hutton, PhD, MBA, RN - Department of Veterans Affairs
- Janine Overcash, PhD, GNP-BC, FAANP - The Ohio State University
- Melissa Ann Stec, DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM - University of Cincinnati
