Founding Dean Adey Nyamathi (In Office 2017-2021) will be designated a 2023 Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing at their annual Health Policy Conference in October.
 
Each year, the Academy selects exemplars of the profession to be recognized as Living Legends for their outstanding contributions in improving health and advancing the nursing profession as a whole. It is the Academy’s highest honor.
 
The announcement shared highlights of Nyamathi’s career:
 
Adeline “Adey” M. Nyamathi, PhD, ANP, FAAN, is a prolific researcher dedicated to improving health outcomes for individuals living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. Dr. Nyamathi is a Distinguished Professor and Founding Dean of the University of California Irvine, Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing. She has led 32 NIH awards as principal investigator, leading teams in developing effective and state-of-the-art interventions using community-based participatory research methods to address significant health disparities for people experiencing homelessness and incarceration, and those struggling with addiction, stigma, and discrimination. Her findings have clearly demonstrated the positive impact of nurse-led community health models in populations lacking access to healthcare, thus reducing health inequities for those who need it most. She has made a global impact through her pioneering work in India to model the effect of a comprehensive program featuring nutritional supplementation, life sustaining skills, and the co-engagement of nurses, lay village women, and other specialists in providing education and support to women living with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Nyamathi is an exceptional leader who has advanced nursing science and public health in the US and abroad.