USF College of Nursing Professor named AACN 2014 Distinguished Research Lecturer

Dr. Munro is the only nurse scientist in the nation to receive the prestigious award

Tampa, FL (Sept. 17, 2013) – Cindy L. Munro, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, professor of nursing and associate dean at the University of South Florida College of Nursing, recently received the 2014 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Distinguished Research Lecturer award. Dr. Munro is the only nurse scientist in the nation to be recognized as this year’s Distinguished Research Lecturer.

The Distinguished Research Lectureship recognizes nurses who make significant contributions to high acuity and critical care research. The award, established in 1982, is funded by a grant from Philips Healthcare.

“I am so honored to be chosen for this recognition,” Dr. Munro said. “The past Distinguished Research Lecturers are outstanding leaders in critical care nursing who I have admired throughout my career.”

Through her clinical practice and groundbreaking research, Dr. Munro has directly influenced generations of nurse clinicians, scholars and scientists. Her scientific contributions have helped change clinical practice, reduce morbidity and mortality for critically ill patients, and reduce healthcare costs associated with hospital-acquired infections.

Her research focuses on immunological, microbiological, and biobehavioral relationships associated with oral care and systematic infections in vulnerable critically ill patients in the acute care settings. She is the principal investigator on a study funded since 2001, which aims to reduce the incidence of pneumonia associated with the use of ventilators in critically ill patients.

A prolific author and speaker, Dr. Munro has published over 100 practice and research papers in prestigious nursing journals, and has presented at numerous national and international conferences. She has served as co-editor-in-chief of AACN’s American Journal of Critical Care for nearly five years.

“Dr. Munro’s leadership plays an important role in the success of the USF College of Nursing’s Research and Innovation,” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing. “Since she began leading as associate dean three years ago, she has been transforming health care and transforming lives.”

Dr. Munro is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and serves on the Academy’s Acute and Critical Care Expert Panel. She is also president-elect of the Southern Nursing Research Society and was inducted as a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in 2013.

As the Distinguished Research Lecturer, Dr. Munro will discuss her career and research journey on May 19, 2014, during AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition. The American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) will publish an abstract of Munro’s presentation in its May 2014 issue, followed by a complete manuscript in July 2014.

AACN, founded in 1969 in California, is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. The organization is comprised of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses, with more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute care and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.

-USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50^th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.