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Baltimore, Md. – University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) PhD student Abaneh Ebangwese, Cert ’24, BSN ’15, RN, CCRN, has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship, becoming the first UMSON student ever selected for the honor. The Fulbright is a scholarship granted by the U.S. Department of State that supports research, study, and teaching opportunities in more than 140 countries. As part of the 2025 - 26 Fulbright program, Ebangwese will travel in late December to Yaoundé, the capitol of Cameroon, where she will spend nine months conducting research to identify and analyze cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among adults there. In preparing her Fulbright application, she discovered that Cameroon’s most recent peer-reviewed data on CVD prevalence dates back to 2017. Her work will involve partnering with local health facilities and community stakeholders to collect survey and biometric data on health indicators such as blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, diet, physical activity, smoking, sleep, and body composition. She will also use statistical methods to examine how these risk factors occur individually and in clusters within this population. This will provide insight into patterns of CVD vulnerability in an under-researched region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Ebangwese’s family is originally from Cameroon; she is first-generation American. Her interest in CVD is reflected in her PhD dissertation, which examines CVD risk factors among U.S. long-term care workers, a group considered marginalized due to systemic challenges such as low wages, physically demanding work, limited access to health care, and high occupational stress.  While enrolled in the PhD program, Ebangwese also earned UMSON’s Global Health Certificate, designed to prepare health professionals for global health practice, education, and research.  Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided opportunities for more than 400,000 individuals of all backgrounds to study, teach, and conduct research abroad. They exchange ideas, foster people-to-people connections, and work to address complex global challenges. Notable Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, 82 MacArthur Fellows, 44 heads of state or government, and thousands of leaders across sectors worldwide. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling more than 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. - The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has named five alumnae as its newest Visionary Pioneers, the School’s highest alumni honor, recognizing their significant impact on, and contributions to, the field of nursing based on their leadership, innovation, or entrepreneurship. The 25 inaugural Visionary Pioneers were named in 2014 during the School’s 125th anniversary celebration. Every five years, five additional Visionary Pioneers are inducted. The new Visionary Pioneers join 30 previously recognized alumni who have rendered distinctive service to nursing and health care through clinical practice, education, and research. The newest Visionary Pioneers will be inducted at UMSON’s 135th anniversary gala, “Leaders Who Illuminate: Celebrating 135 Years and UMSON’s Visionaries” on Sept. 18 at The Winslow in Baltimore. The honorees include: Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc, MS ’59, RNCS, FAAN, professor, Boston College Connell School of Nursing Burgess is a world-renowned expert in forensic and psychiatric nursing whose pioneering research has shaped clinical care, law enforcement, and public policy. As a faculty member at Boston College, she has advanced the understanding of trauma’s psychological effects, particularly among victims of sexual violence and serial crime. Her groundbreaking collaborations with the FBI and her widely cited scholarship have earned her numerous honors, including election to the National Academy of Medicine and designation as a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing.   Wanona “Winnie” Fritz, EdD, MSN ’78, NEA-BC, chief operating officer/senior vice president of operations and clinical services, HCCA International Fritz is a global leader in health systems transformation, hospital turnarounds, and workforce development. With projects in 24 countries, she has redesigned care delivery models and strengthened international nursing education. A decorated U.S. Army nurse, pilot, and Bronze Star recipient, she continues to advocate for veterans’ health. She also served 17 years in Jordan, earning the Royal Medal of Honor. In executive roles throughout the United States and abroad, Fritz has advanced care quality, leadership development, and innovation across the continuum of care.   J Taylor Harden, PhD, MS ’77, BSN ’72, FSGA, FAAN, executive director emeritus, National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence  Harden is an influential leader in gerontological nursing and health equity. At the National Institute on Aging, she developed national initiatives to support researchers from historically underrepresented populations and advance aging science. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and recipient of the Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award, she has mentored hundreds of early-career scientists. Her leadership has shaped national policy, research, and training programs dedicated to improving health outcomes for older adults.   Mary Etta C. Mills, ScD, MS ’73, BSN ’71, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor emerita, UMSON Mills is a trailblazer in nursing informatics, health services leadership, and patient safety. At UMSON, she led the development of the first master’s and doctoral programs in nursing informatics and guided interdisciplinary research that improved care quality. She has published widely and mentored more than 40 PhD students, influencing practice and policy in the United States and abroad. A dedicated mentor, prolific scholar, and award-winning educator, Mills has shaped generations of nurse leaders. Her influence continues to be felt at UMSON, where her legacy of innovation, excellence, and service remains foundational to the School’s mission.   Shielda Rodgers, PhD ’92, MS ’83, RN, professor and associate dean for collective well-being, UNC School of Nursing Rodgers has spent more than four decades championing equity, student success, and belonging in nursing education. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has led institutional efforts to advance holistic admissions, cultural competence, and inclusive excellence. She is a nationally recognized mentor, speaker, and advocate for students from historically underrepresented populations. Rodgers’ legacy is one of transformational leadership rooted in compassion and justice.   For complete biographies of these trailblazing Visionary Pioneers, please visit the 135th Anniversary website. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling more than 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

At a time when health care systems face growing strain, the Maryland Action Coalition’s (MDAC) Virtual Leadership Summit — hosted by the University of Maryland School of Nursing on June 9 —delivered a clear message: Nurses are essential drivers of innovation and equity. National leaders called for a bold reimagining of nursing’s role, from economic engine to policy force to front-line changemaker. MDAC is part of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, a nationwide movement to improve health care through nursing and an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The campaign includes action coalitions in 50 states and the District of Columbia working to implement the National Academy of Medicine’s “Future of Nursing 2020 – 2030” recommendations. “This summit is more than an event,” Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and professor, said as she welcomed summit attendees. “I look forward to it every year because it's a call to action. It's a call for us to reimagine how we educate, how we support, and how we empower nurses across the state to lead in every corner of our health care and educational systems.” Rebecca Love, MSN, RN, BS, FIEL, president emerita of the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs & Leaders, a nonprofit global organization committed to empowering nurses to create innovative solutions to transform health care, delivered a passionate keynote address, “Nurse Innovation that Transformed Our Past, Present, and Future,” in which she highlighted Florence Nightingale’s impact on the nursing profession, nursing’s role in the women’s suffrage movement, policy barriers that prevent equality for nurses in the United States, the need to have nursing classified as a STEM profession, the role of nurses in health care innovation, and today’s critical nursing shortage. “Where would we be without nursing?” Love asked. “Nursing led medicine out of the dark ages of medical practice. It was nurses who led the women’s suffrage movement in health and the fight for women’s right to vote. It was nurses who saved hospital systems from failing in the United States in the 1920s and established hospitals as the center of health care delivery, not only in the United States, but now around the world. “And it was nurses, every single day during the pandemic, when everyone else stayed home and sat behind computer screens, it was the nurses who went in to treat patients in all settings when they had no PPE (personal protective equipment), there was no treatment, there was no vaccine, it was nurses who went in and saved health care, to save the future of our nations and our world in the pandemic of COVID, and I strongly believe it must be and will be nurses who save the future of health care.” Later in the morning, Olga Yakusheva, PhD, MSE, FAAN, wondered “What is Nursing Worth?” during a presentation that explored the relationship between health care costs and patient outcomes. Yakusheva is an international expert and thought leader on the economic value of nursing to health care systems and payors. She is an economist and professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and an economics editor for the International Journal of Nursing Studies. She reinforced the power that nurses wield given their sheer numbers; there are more nurses than retail salespeople, she said. “Everybody is connected to a nurse,” she explained. “Everybody loves nurses, and everybody needs nurses, and they need them during the most vulnerable points in their lives. “You would think that nurses rule the world, and that’s how you should see yourselves! You have enormous social power; you have enormous political power!” She presented common myths, including that nurses are a cost to the health care system (she said nurses are a key generator of economic value and are linked with improved patient outcomes and revenue-generating efficiencies) and that a nurse is a nurse is a nurse (successful organizations that thrive financially view nurses as human capital and develop and employ approaches to empower every nurse, she said). She encouraged the audience, especially those who are leaders within nursing, to elevate nurses’ enormous contributions: “How do you quantify it, measure it, and bring it to other members of the C suite to help advocate and negotiate for reinvestment in the nursing budget?” she challenged. She also argued for the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in freeing up nurses’ time, especially related to reducing documentation time, to holistically care for patients, help their fellow nurses, participate in professional development, and participate in mentorship. Her bottom line: You cannot improve outcomes while reducing the cost of care. “There is no non-productive time in nursing,” she said. “Allowing them the time to think, invest in their education, mentor others, just to hold a patient’s hand. That’s not non-productive time. That’s ultimately the most productive time.” The day also included two panel discussions: “Rural Healthcare Delivery,” featuring Kara Platt, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, associate professor and chair of the Department of Nursing, Frostburg University; Danielle Wilson, MSN, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health; Karen Wyche Latham, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, FAONL, vice president and chief nursing officer, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center; and moderated by Crystal DeVance-Wilson, PhD ’19, MS ’06, MBA, BSN ’00, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor; vice chair of UMSON at the Universities ad Shady Grove; and director of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center, UMSON “Nurses Leading the Way,” featuring Ernest J. Grant, PhD, DSc(h), RN, FADLN, FAAN, vice dean for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Duke University School of Nursing, and immediate past president, American Nurses Association; Barbara Aranda Naranjo, PhD, RN, FAAN, former associate provost for health professions, The University of Texas Health Science Center; and Peggy Norton-Rosko, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nurse executive, University of Maryland Medical System; and moderated by Ogbolu. The day continued with poster presentations and a lightning round of live, three- to five-minute presentations exploring emerging innovations in nursing practice, research, and leadership. Mary Etta C. Mills, ScD, MS ’73, BSN ’71, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, UMSON professor emerita, was presented with the Dr. Peggy Daw Exemplary Leadership Award. This honor is bestowed on a distinguished leader whose contributions have advanced the profession of nursing and influenced health care outcomes. The honoree embodies the core values of MDAC; honors diverse experiences and perspectives; and sets an example of including others while exploring new ideas and partnerships to achieve large-scale goals. The person’s achievements enhance MDAC’s strategic mission and advance access and opportunities for others. And in her closing remarks, Ogbolu affirmed that the AI landscape is full of opportunities to improve health outcomes. “Leading with hope and optimism — that’s the guidance we’re really getting from seasoned leadership to stay grounded in our core values and to use system thinking to drive change,” she said. “AI is here to stay, and we must lead its integration.”