College of Nursing Researcher Named Fellow in American Academy of Nursing

A University of South Florida nursing researcher specializing in pairing exercise physiology with cancer symptom management has been named a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

The coveted award recognizes honorees who have made national and international contributions to nursing and health care.

College of Nursing Associate Professor Hsiao-Lan Wang, PhD, RN, CMSRN, ACSM EP-C, will be inducted into the 2019 class of fellows at the organization’s annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., in late October.

Dr. Wang is among a group of 231 nurse leaders to receive the honor this year. The distinguished inductees represent 38 states, the District of Columbia, as well as 17 countries.

The total number of academy fellows stand at more than 2,600. Members include hospital and government administrators, college deans, and nurse scientists and researchers.

Dr. Wang said she was humbled and excited when she learned she would become a fellow.

“This prestigious award has really encouraged me to keep pursuing my science, teaching new generations of nurses, and serving our community. I feel really proud to be a nurse. It’s a real privilege,” she said.

As a nurse and certified exercise physiologist, Dr. Wang has expertise in physical activity-based health behavior research and cancer symptom self-management. Her groundbreaking research offers practical solutions for head and neck cancer patients who suffer from persistent pain and fatigue.

In addition to being a faculty nurse researcher at USF, Dr. Wang also serves as an advisory member of the Nursing Research & Innovation Council at Moffitt Cancer Center and the Professional Advisory Group for the Clinical Pastoral Education program at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. She has also been a grant reviewer for the Oncology Nursing Society for the past four years.

Applicants into the academy require sponsorship letters from two current members. The selection committee also considers whether a potential fellow has shown significant contributions to nursing and health care, as well as having a nursing career that has influenced health policies.

Ellen Lavoie Smith, PhD, APRN, AOCN®, FAAN, one of Dr. Wang’s sponsors, said she supported the nurse researcher’s nomination “wholeheartedly and without reservation.”

Dr. Smith is a professor at the University of Michigan and has been a consultant and mentor on Dr. Wang’s research projects studying the use of exergaming to manage pain and fatigue in head and neck cancer patients.

“Her influential and sustained contributions as a nurse scientist has had a major impact on advancing nursing science and improving cancer symptom management for patients undergoing active treatment,” wrote Dr. Ellen Smith.

“Dr. Wang’s work is addressing a critical gap in our scientific knowledge; there are no known effective behavioral interventions for fatigue and pain for use by head and neck cancer patients,” she wrote.

USF College of Nursing Professor Barbara Smith, PhD, RN, FACSM, FAAN, also endorsed Dr. Wang, highlighting her exceptional contributions to nursing.

“Dr. Wang’s leadership has resulted in improved standards of care for head and neck cancer patients and she is passionate about enhancing the quality of life of patients through her research. The academy will benefit from her research specialty and regional and national services,” wrote Dr. Barbara Smith.

Dr. Wang said she is grateful to have such inspiring mentors and appreciates the support and opportunities the College of Nursing has given her.

“I’m very fortunate to work with them, and I have learned a lot. They have pushed me to move forward every day, always raising the bar and asking me to grab it so that I am always working toward my next goal,” she said.

Story by Elizabeth L. Brown, USF College of Nursing