University of Louisville School of Nursing Professor Barbara Polivka has been chosen as a fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Nursing.
Polivka, PhD, RN, Shirley B. Powers Endowed Chair at the UofL School of Nursing, is among 164 nursing leaders worldwide chosen for the 2016 class of academy fellows. She and other inductees will be honored at a ceremony during the academy’s annual policy conference Oct. 20-22 in Washington, D.C.
Fellows advance the academy’s mission of transforming health policy and practice by applying collective nursing knowledge. They work with the academy to strengthen the health care delivery system, improve the quality of nursing, and reduce health disparities and inequalities.
Polivka said it was humbling to be recognized for her work in improving environmental and public health.
“Fellows in the academy are a prestigious group of nursing leaders who have and continue to make an impact in nursing and health care,” Polivka said. “I’ve had the privilege of working with a number of amazing colleagues in academia, health care, state and local governments, and professional organizations. I’m indebted to them and to my family for their support, patience and encouragement throughout my career.”
Polivka’s distinguished career in nursing research and academia has spanned more than 30 years. She is leading a $2.4 million study funded by the National Institute on Aging that is comprehensively examining the triggers of asthma in older adults.
Through an $870,000 grant from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Polivka and researchers from The Ohio State University have developed a virtual simulation system that will train home health care workers on how to mitigate hazards they encounter in clients’ homes.
“Dr. Polivka is most deserving of this recognition,” said Marcia J. Hern, EdD, CNS, RN, UofL School of Nursing dean. “Throughout her career, she has been a consummate scholar and researcher, along with being a mentor to an extensive number of students and faculty at various stages in their careers.”
Polivka joins three other UofL School of Nursing professors who have been inducted as American Academy of Nursing fellows: Vicki Hines-Martin, M. Cynthia Logsdon and Karen Robinson.
The academy is comprised of more than 2,400 nursing leaders, including hospital and government administrators, college deans and researchers from all 50 states and 28 countries.
