2012 international new Fellows - American Academy of Nursing

82
2012
nEW FEllOWs
KEnn m. KiRKsEY, pHD, Rn, aCns-bC
Kenn M. Kirksey is Director of Nursing Strategic Initiatives at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston.
Dr. Kirksey founded nursing research departments and dismantled the divide between academic
research and nursing practice at two major multi-hospital systems. He mentored more than 100
clinically based nurses, imbuing them with a spirit of inquiry, knowledge, and confidence to
engage in scholarship. His mentorship resulted in the completion of 40 nurse-led research projects,
50 publications, and more than 100 abstracts presented at conferences around the world.
Dr. Kirksey has been an integral part of the International HIV/AIDS Nursing Research Network
since 1999. He has served in key roles on eight symptom-management studies in persons
living with HIV. These externally funded projects were conducted at sites around the world
and resulted in more than 35 publications and 80 research presentations on four continents.
His primary scientific contribution has been in creating empirically derived models of care to
address antiretroviral-associated lipodystrophic symptoms and has been recognized by the
American Nurses Foundation, Sigma Theta Tau, and the Texas Nurses Association.
For the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Dr. Kirksey has chaired the Board on
Certification for Advanced Practice and the content expert panel for the Adult Clinical Nurse
Specialist exam. He served as commissioner on the ANCC Commission on Certification.
Dr. Kirksey was elected to the Research Advisory Council at Sigma Theta Tau International,
responsible for setting the research agenda and devising policies and collaborative partnerships
to support the vision for global scientific inquiry and health promotion.
JUDY lEFlORE, pHD, Rn, nnp-bC
Judy LeFlore is a pioneer and leader in teaching/learning innovations, particularly the use of
simulation and technology in nursing education. Dr. LeFlore was the first member of the graduate
faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing (UTACON) to integrate highfidelity
simulation and virtual reality as teaching strategies.
In collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the International Network
for Simulation-Based Pediatric Innovation Research and Education, Dr. LeFlore conducts
interdisciplinary research in neonatal and pediatric resuscitation. Attesting to her commitment
to interprofessional training, she has developed and evaluated competencies for professional
pediatric and neonatal transport teams and has integrated interprofessional education to her
academic programs by developing capstone projects for graduate, undergraduate nursing,
social work, and respiratory therapy students. Her program of team simulation research has
focused on documenting the role of simulation to improve patient safety and care outcomes.
Dr. LeFlore’s research has been published in highly respected peer-reviewed journals that target
simulation researchers and clinical and academic educators. An energetic, creative leader,
scholar, researcher, educator, author, consultant and administrator, she has made consistent,
outstanding, measurable contributions to nursing and multidisciplinary healthcare education.
The depth and breadth of her visionary approach to education and research is evidenced by
her participation in the development of a new national organization being formed: the National
Modeling and Simulation Coalition. It is clear that Dr. LeFlore’s work has demonstrated great
potential and national interest as she has received over $1.13 million in grants from public and
private funding organizations.
pEaRl mERRitt, EDD, ms, msn, Rn
Pearl Merritt is currently Regional Dean of Texas Tech University Health Science Center School
of Nursing.
Dr. Merritt has worked with nursing education for unlicensed and licensed staff for 30 years.
She was selected as the winner of the Texas Association of Homes and services for the Aging
Distinguished Service Award in 2008. She is a powerful supporter of the development of nurses
and education and created the first Career Ladder for Certified Nursing Assistants in Texas and
continues to champion culture change with innovative care models.