ACU researchers awarded international honours in nursing science

Two ACU professors have been inducted as fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, recognising their contribution and dedication to the nursing and health care professions on an international scale.

Of the 164 distinguished nurse leaders who were inducted into the Academy’s 2016 Class of New Fellows at the Academy’s annual policy conference held in Washington DC last Saturday, Professor Simon Stewart and Professor Michelle Campbell are the only Australians.

Professor Stewart is the inaugural Director of the Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research at ACU and Professor Campbell is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. The induction to the fellowship recognises their leadership and efforts in health research, influence on health policy, and contribution to the health and wellbeing of society.

Fellowship selection criteria requires evidence of the nominee’s significant contributions to nursing and health care, and sponsorship by two current Academy fellows.

Both Professor Campbell and Professor Stewart have had longstanding careers within the nursing and healthcare professions.

Professor Campbell has collaborated with the Australian government to implement strategies addressing potential nursing shortages and increasing national healthcare workforce diversity.

At ACU, she oversees the largest nursing education program in Australia, with nursing programs in four states and 6,500 students undertaking undergraduate and graduate degrees, including innovative double degrees designed under her leadership that combine nursing and para medicine, business administration, and public health. This infrastructure has given multiple students international healthcare experiences and facilitated research worldwide.

Professor Stewart trained as a cardiac nurse and completed his PhD in Adelaide before being appointed to several prestigious health positions, including Chair of Cardiovascular Nursing at the National Heart Foundation Australia, and Head of Preventative Cardiology at the world-renowned Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute. He is widely-regarded as a pioneer in the area of cardiovascular disease management and has been particularly influential in the area of nurse-led, home-based heart failure management and chronic atrial fibrillation. Professor Stewart has also made significant contributions at an international level, with a strong focus on understanding cardiovascular disease in disadvantaged communities, most recently in South Africa.

Professor Pauline Nugent, acting Vice-Chancellor and President of ACU, said it was a unique privilege to have two ACU staff recognised for their achievements in public health.

“The recognition of two ACU staff as fellows of the American Academy of Nursing is testament not only to their individual strengths in nursing and public health, but to our entire institution as one of Australia’s leading health science learning hubs,” said Professor Nugent.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming Professors Stewart and Campbell back following the receipt of these distinguished awards.”