Associate Dean for Research in the Adelphi College of Nursing and Public Health Named Academy Fellow

Jane H. White Ph.D., PMH-CNS, BC, Vera Bender Professor of Nursing and associate dean for research in the College of Nursing and Public Health

On Saturday, October 17, 2015, the American Academy of Nursing will recognize 163 nurse leaders to be inducted as Academy fellows at its annual policy conference, Transforming Health, Driving Policy, in Washington, D.C. Jane H. White Ph.D., PMH-CNS, BC, Vera Bender Professor of Nursing and associate dean for research in the College of Nursing and Public Health at Adelphi University is one of just seven individuals in New York State to achieve this designation.

Fellow selection criteria include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care, and sponsorship by two current Academy fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel comprised of elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominee’s nursing career has influenced health policies and the health and wellbeing of all. Established in 1973, the Academy has approximately 2300 members.

Throughout her career, Dr. White has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of psychiatric-mental health nursing in the areas of practice, education, research and policy. Early in her career, she worked with colleagues to successfully revise the nurse practice act in D.C. to include clinical nurse specialists in psychiatric-mental health nursing as advanced practice nurses, sanctioned to practice independently. As a faculty member, she developed innovative, funded graduate programs in community mental health nursing including a nurse-run, child-adolescent mental health clinic for the underserved in D.C. As the first executive director of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, she established their national office. In this position, she developed significant programs for the education of its members, increased membership and collaborations with other mental health organizations. Since joining Adelphi in 2005, she developed the Ph.D. program, and now mentors faculty in their research and chairs several dissertation committees. In 2012, she was named the first Visiting Nurse Scientist at the North Shore-LIJ Health System, where she collaborates with the vice president for nursing research to advance nursing research system-wide. A major focus of her research and publications is on eating disorders. She received her BSN from Purdue University, an MSN from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America. 

“We are pleased to welcome this talented class of clinicians, researchers, policy leaders, educators and executives as they join the nation’s thought leaders in nursing and health care,” said Academy President, Diana J. Mason, Ph.D., RN, FAAN. “We look forward to working with them to continue the Academy’s work in transforming health policy and practice through the use of our collective nursing knowledge.” 

To learn more, visit the Adelphi University College of Nursing and Public Health.