WASHINGTON, DC / AGILITYPR.NEWS / August 19, 2021 / Academy’s Highest Nursing Honor to be Presented at the Health Policy Conference in October

The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) will officially designate four extraordinary nurse leaders as Living Legends this fall. Drs. Betty Ferrell, Terry Fulmer, Susan Hassmiller, and Marla Salmon will be honored at the Living Legends Ceremony held during the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 7-9, 2021. Through their influence in leadership, innovation, and science, these individuals have made a lasting policy impact and significantly advanced the public’s health.

“Recognition and accolades are not what drives the foremost leaders in our profession. Nurses are motivated to leverage their expertise and power to promote better health outcomes for all individuals. Yet, it is vital we acknowledge the exceptional efforts of those who have gone above and beyond to improve health and champion health equity,” said Academy President Eileen Sullivan-Marx. “The Academy is honored to recognize and celebrate these trailblazers who continue to inspire countless nurses and transform the health care system locally and globally through their visionary work.”

Countless lives have been cared for, communities have been strengthened, and systems have improved through the actions of these exceptional leaders who will be honored as the 2021 Living Legends, the highest honor the Academy awards.

Betty Ferrell, PhD, RN, CHPN, FAAN, FPCN, is a celebrated leader, scholar, scientist, and professor who has dedicated the past 44 years researching pain management, quality of life, and palliative care. Notably, she has received over $100 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Cambia Health Foundation, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, among others, and written over 480 publications in peer-reviewed journals and texts. A pioneer in the palliative care field, her most influential work has been as Principal Investigator of the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) project which has educated over 1.25 million nurses globally with over 40,000 healthcare professionals completing an ELNEC train-the-trainer course. Dr. Ferrell’s prolific contributions to palliative care and palliative nursing have shaped the trajectory of serious illness care for patients, caregivers, and their loved ones worldwide. Currently, Dr. Ferrell serves as Director & Professor of Nursing Research and Education at the City of Hope National Medical Center, in California.

Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a leading expert in the field of gerontological nursing and has dedicated her career to improving the care and quality of life for older adults. She was the first nurse to serve as president of the Gerontological Society of America and as a Board Member of the American Geriatrics Society, paving the way for nurses in the field. Dr. Fulmer has been a passionate mentor to many seeking to eradicate elder abuse, her primary area of research. Dr. Fulmer remains actively engaged in health policy, serving on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Advisory Council on Aging, Veterans Health Administration Special Medical Advisory Group, and the National Academy of Medicine Forum on Aging, Disability, and Independence. Dr. Fulmer is the President of The John A. Hartford Foundation where she led the creation of the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, which has to date engaged over 2,300 hospitals, practices, and nursing homes in the reliable delivery of evidence-based care focused on what matters most to older adults and their caregivers.

Susan Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, is an internationally respected luminary known for her devotion to the profession and advancement of policies and programs that bolster nursing science, innovation, leadership, and health equity. Notably, Dr. Hassmiller served as the study director for the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine or NAM) report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, and subsequently has been spearheading efforts to launch the 2020-2030 study as well serving as the NAM Senior Scholar-in-Residence and Advisor to the President on Nursing. She is a skilled convener, collaborator, champion, and advocate for nursing making a remarkable and enduring impact. She has served the American Red Cross for over 40 years from the front lines as a disaster nurse to the highest-level policy making tables. Dr. Hassmiller currently serves as the Senior Advisor for Nursing at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the National Director of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, in addition to her roles at NAM. It is through her leadership at RWJF that she has helped secure over $450 million to fund nursing initiatives nationwide in support of her personal mission to #LeaveNoNurseBehind by elevating a diversified workforce and mentoring the next generation.

Marla Salmon, ScD, RN, FAAN, is a remarkable leader whose reach has advanced nursing’s impact on the health and wellbeing of people around the world. Known globally for her impact on policy, education, practice, and research, Dr. Salmon’s work through her many leadership roles has been deeply rooted in her commitment to health equity and social justice. Most notably, Dr. Salmon served as Director of the Division of Nursing within the US Department of Health and Human Services; Dean and Founding Director of the Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University; Dean of the University of Washington School of Nursing; Member, Clinton White House Task Force on Healthcare Reform; Chair of the World Health Organization’s Global Advisory Group on Nursing and Midwifery; and Trustee of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Salmon’s impact through each of these roles will be felt by the profession and its members for generations to come. Dr. Salmon continues her global leadership as Professor of Nursing and Global Health, and Adjunct Professor of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington, where she focuses on engaging nurses in policy and governance roles, strengthening the position of nursing within health systems, and empowering those around her to make a difference.

The Academy’s Health Policy Conference and Living Legends Ceremony, scheduled for October 8, 2021, will be offered in a hybrid format this year, allowing attendees to participate either in-person (at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC) or virtually allowing for maximum attendance through an inclusive format where colleagues, friends, and family members who may not be able to attend the event in person are able to participate.

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