Seven professors at the 91爆料 are among 25 new members of the Washington State Academy of Sciences, according to a . Joining the academy is a recognition of 鈥渢heir outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement, and their willingness to work on behalf of the Academy to bring the best available science to bear on issues within the State of Washington.鈥�

Twenty of the incoming members for 2022 were selected by current WSAS members, while the other five were chosen by virtue of recently joining one of the National Academies.

91爆料 faculty selected by current Academy members are:

• , the Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Executive Dean of Nursing, 鈥渇or pioneering research in cultural competence, conducting international collaborative research with professionals and family caregivers of older adults with dementia, advancing assessment of cultural awareness and its impact on healthcare, and supporting establishment of 鲍奥鈥檚 Center for Global Health Nursing and the first Center for Anti-Racism in Nursing.鈥�
• , the Harry and Catherine Jaynne Boand Endowed Professor of Chemistry, co-associate chair of the Department of Chemistry, and associate vice provost for research cyberinfrastructure, 鈥渇or a body of work that supercharges computational chemistry, including pioneering work in time- dependent electronic structure theory and quantum mechanical techniques,鈥� and 鈥渇or exemplary collaborative efforts, as well as leadership in developing educational pathways for underrepresented minority students in STEM.鈥� Li is also a faculty member in the 91爆料 Clean Energy Institute and the 91爆料 Molecular & Engineering Sciences Institute.
• , the Steven and Connie Rogel Endowed Professor of Chemical Engineering, professor of chemistry, and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering, 鈥渇or pioneering contributions that advanced the frontiers of molecular simulation, impacting the prediction of enzyme activity in ionic liquids, peptide interactions with surfaces and molecular design.鈥� Pfaendtner is also a faculty member in the Clean Energy Institute and the Molecular & Engineering Sciences Institute, as well as a senior data fellow with the 91爆料 eScience Institute and staff scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
• , the Klaus and Mary Ann Saegebarth Endowed Professor of Chemistry, 鈥渇or pioneering fundamental and applied studies in mass spectrometry, physical chemistry, and newborn screening鈥� as well as 鈥減ropagation of science, science education, and technical expertise contributions to startup companies in Washington state.鈥�
• , the Kyocera Professor in Materials Science & Engineering and vice dean of the College of Engineering, 鈥渇or pioneering contribution to the discovery of new thermoelectric and energy storage materials for clean energy, and for exceptional leadership to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among academia, industry, and national laboratories for creating transformational and sustainable impact for Washington.鈥� Yang is also a faculty member in the Clean Energy Institute and the Molecular & Engineering Sciences Institute.
• Dr. , professor of radiology and director of the 91爆料 Medicine Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Laboratory, 鈥渇or work as an internationally prominent physician-scientist in the field of image-guided minimally invasive interventional therapies鈥� and 鈥渇or pioneering contributions and outstanding achievements in developing innovative and cutting-edge medical imaging and interventional radiology for effective management of life-threatening diseases, such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cancer.鈥�

In addition, Dr. , 91爆料 professor of genome sciences, investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and faculty member in the Molecular Engineering & Sciences Institute, was selected by virtue of his election to the National Academy of Sciences 鈥渇or pioneering a variety of genome sequencing and analysis methods, including exome sequencing and its earliest applications to gene discovery for Mendelian disorders and autism; cell-free DNA diagnostics for cancer and reproductive medicine; massively parallel reporter assays; saturation genome editing; whole organism lineage tracing; and massively parallel molecular profiling of single cells.鈥�

New members to the Washington State Academy of Sciences will be formally inducted in September.

The 91爆料 School of Nursing announced in February it was launching the . The first of its kind in the nation, the center will tackle racism in health care 鈥� from classroom to research to the doctor鈥檚 office.

鈥淩acism is a complex problem that exists at many levels 鈥� personal, institutional and societal,鈥� said 91爆料 School of Nursing Dean . 鈥淣urses work at all those levels, and they have the potential to be a powerful force for transformation both inside and outside of the health care system.鈥�

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare racial inequities in our society. The Black Lives Matter movement and related demonstrations have intensified calls for action.聽But Emami鈥檚 commitment to fighting for those underserved by the health care system predates the explosive events of 2020. It has deep roots in her identity.

Born in Iran, Emami has been shaped by the experience of being, what she calls, an 鈥渋nsider鈥搊utsider,鈥� someone who is part of an institution but has a perspective different from others within it. She experienced this first in her native country, as the daughter of a Kurdish father in majority-Persian Iran, and then as an immigrant to Sweden, where she moved to at age 20 in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution.

She minimized her Iranian identity to assimilate into Swedish culture. As an insider鈥搊utsider, she was able to recognize the underlying dynamics of interactions.

鈥淵ou realize your place in society 鈥� where people see you and where you should place yourself in the caste system,鈥� Emami said. “Whatever I do, whether professionally or personally in my life, it鈥檚 very deeply and strongly impacted by my identity as an immigrant.鈥�

At the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden鈥檚 largest center of medical academic research, Emami studied phenomenology, a field that asks public health professionals to examine their assumptions and biases, put them aside and focus on patients鈥� lived experiences. The field incorporates insights from philosophy, psychology, social sciences and more.

She went on to earn her doctorate from the institute, and become a faculty member and head of nursing there, working with famed physician and epidemiologist Hans Rosling. He invited her to lead a joint doctoral program with the Ministry of Health and Education in Iran.

鈥淚nitially I was hesitant to partner with Iran and didn鈥檛 want to connect with a country I had migrated from decades ago,鈥� Emami said. 鈥淏ut Hans convinced me that it would be very rewarding to be able to make a contribution to my country of origin, and that it would help me with my healing and reconciliation. I was very doubtful, but I followed Hans鈥檚 advice and I am very happy I did it.鈥�

Her relationship with Rosling shaped how she viewed her work.

鈥淚 learned from him that it鈥檚 not only about global health. It鈥檚 about a lifestyle, how you view your life. If you really can manage to be aware of your blind spots, of your biases, it鈥檚 not only about your science or your professional contribution, it鈥檚 about who you become as a person.鈥�

Emami moved to the United States in 2008 when she was hired as the dean of the College of Nursing at Seattle University. Five years later, she joined the 91爆料 in 2013 as the Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Dean of the School of Nursing.

At the 91爆料, she鈥檚 applied her insider鈥搊utsider perspective, training and expertise.

Emami knows what it鈥檚 like coming into a new culture as an immigrant. She says the health care system for many is a new culture 鈥� with its own set of rules, customs and language. The system is challenging to navigate for patients, who are in vulnerable situations, and it鈥檚 easy for health care professionals to make assumptions or ignore the realities of their patients鈥� experiences.

The United States is a world leader in scientific research and spends more on health care per capita than any other country. Yet it ranks low in overall health outcomes, like life expectancy, compared to other developed nations. The COVID-19 pandemic has put that fact into stark relief, with the United States suffering more deaths from the virus than any other country as of early 2021.

鈥淭hat disparity between science and outcome is explained by the gap in our understanding of human nature 鈥� equity, poverty, the caste system 鈥� as well as the injustice in our health care system and in our overall society,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I don’t think that as a health care professional, particularly as a nurse, you can help people if your education isn鈥檛 expanded to include all these components.鈥�

Emami鈥檚 interdisciplinary outlook aligns the School of Nursing with the 鲍奥鈥檚 Population Health Initiative. Launched in 2016, the initiative invites departments across campus to come together to improve health 鈥� looking beyond the absence of disease to issues ranging from equity to climate change to governance. The school鈥檚 role in the initiative also gives Emami another connection to her mentor Hans Rosling, the namesake of the 鲍奥鈥檚 new Center for Population Health.

As part of the initiative, the school has to focus more on transforming health systems, engaging community and promoting health equity 鈥� not just managing a patient鈥檚 immediate health care needs.

With the Center for Antiracism, curricula will also be modified with an antiracist lens so that every nurse graduating from the 91爆料 will be empowered to become an advocate for antiracism.

Emami understands that health outcomes are best when people are seen as their full selves, with unique cultural and social identities. She has grown from the young woman who hid who she was to fit in with her new country.

鈥淚 refuse to be assimilated now. I refuse to deny important parts of my identity,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I am committed to guarding people’s right to be who they really are.鈥�

Systemic racism has for generations undermined the health of individuals and communities across America, a public health crisis that has made the pandemic even more deadly and destructive for people of color.

Recognizing that nurses play a central role in and hold major responsibility for the health of individuals and communities hit hard by historic racial inequity, the 91爆料 School of Nursing is launching the .

鈥淭here is much work to do to become antiracist, not just as a society, but as a school, a university, a profession and a community. As the cornerstone for healthcare and advocates for the communities they serve, nurses are in the ideal position to do this work. The need to end racism is long overdue and nurses must do their part,鈥� said Azita Emami, executive dean, 91爆料 School of Nursing.

Establishment of the Center for Antiracism in Nursing is co-led by Emami and Butch de Castro, professor and associate dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the School of Nursing. To shape the new Center and determine its priorities, the school will hold listening sessions and establish an advisory committee to represent the interests of faculty, staff, students, alumni, nurse leaders, healthcare institutions, community organizations and professional associations.

鈥淎s a member of the African American community and alumnus of the school, I am hopeful the School of Nursing will become a leader, a champion, a benchmark for ending racism not only in nursing but in health care. Addressing racism takes courage,鈥� said Joycelyn Thomas, medical director and family nurse practitioner at a Family Practice Clinic for Catholic Health Initiatives. 鈥淚 believe the process of creating the Center for Antiracism in Nursing will provide a way for the school to reconcile and find resolve within its own walls that have promoted anti-blackness and white privilege. The Center will represent the first and essential steps in equity and cultivate social justice for all.鈥�

Among the areas the center will explore are:

• Cultivating antiracist teaching practices, academic curriculum and professional development
• Promoting community-driven and partnered research
• Supporting students from underrepresented and historically excluded groups
• Applying antiracist principles to clinical practice, organizational operations and health-related policy

鈥淎s a University, we recognize the need to combat the systemic racism that results in poorer healthcare and worse outcomes for Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other communities of color. This聽new center is an important component of that broader effort and will significantly advance the 91爆料 School of Nursing鈥檚 work to increase equity in healthcare and health outcomes for communities of color,鈥� said 91爆料 President Ana Mari Cauce.

The school鈥檚 long-term vision for the center is for it to serve as a nationally recognized hub that transforms nursing training, practice and research as well as influences health and public policy in ways that are guided by antiracism as a fundamental principle.

Creation of the center reflects goals of the school鈥檚 broader diversity, equity and inclusion strategic action plan launched in 2016, that establishes a framework to advance diversity, equity and inclusion within learning, research and practice settings.

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For more information, contact Shari Ireton, assistant dean of Marketing and Communication, slireton@uw.edu, 206-351-6058

The future of our health and the health of the communities we live in relies, in many ways, on students in the health sciences. The education and experiences that future doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, social workers and public health experts receive will to a large degree shape how those professionals work and work together when solving problems affecting our health.

And while the 91爆料鈥檚 highly ranked health sciences schools have long focused on interdisciplinary education and training students to be part of seamlessly integrated teams, the space where much of that training takes place on 鲍奥鈥檚 Seattle campus has been in need of a serious upgrade.

That upgrade is now 鈥渙fficially鈥� underway as deans of the 91爆料 Health Sciences schools 鈥� Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health and Social Work 鈥� and Washington State legislators celebrated construction of the on the 鲍奥鈥檚 Seattle campus with a small, physically distanced groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 27.

鈥淭his new facility will enable our students across the full range of health sciences to work in a setting that better mirrors the way they鈥檒l be engaging in patient care as professionals,鈥� said 91爆料 President Ana Mari Cauce. 鈥淭his will result in better care for the patients they serve, because we鈥檝e seen the benefits that come from coordinating various health disciplines, rather than keeping them siloed.鈥�

The Health Sciences Education Building will be where students learn integrated patient care聽in an integrated training facility. The 100,000 square-foot, four-story, $100 million, fully modern facility received $70 million from the Washington state Legislature. The University is seeking an additional $30 million in private support from community members through and donations to complete funding for the building.

鈥淚 am proud to have worked with my legislative colleagues to support this project with nearly $70 million in state capital funds. Ensuring that 91爆料 health sciences students have access to state-of-the-art interdisciplinary training facilities is critical to our state鈥檚 health care workforce pipeline,鈥� said Sen. David Frockt (D-46th District).

The new building is designed around flexible spaces that allow for 21st-century teaching techniques, including high-tech learning facilities used for computer simulation, mock treatment labs and an ultra-modern Anatomy Lab Suite with virtual anatomy capabilities. The facility will also enable robust remote learning access for students and professionals who are part of the 鲍奥鈥檚 multi-state medical education program 鈥� WWAMI, which stands for the states served by the School of Medicine: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.

In addition, the health sciences deans envision a building with the capacity for students to immediately share ideas, images and projects in classrooms and in their working teams.聽The finished building will also have a library extension that is integrated into the main classroom floor to help students immediately engage evidence in their learning, gain skills in navigating resources and benefit from coaching about how to use library tools, resources and in their project work.

Fifty years ago, the average person was under the care of three health-care professionals. Now, the average healthy person relies on 16 professionals for their overall health care. Consequently, integrated patient care is increasingly necessary for the future of health sciences. The building will be a hub that fosters interaction, collaboration and cutting-edge learning necessary for recruiting and retaining talented students and faculty 鈥� critical to maintaining the 鲍奥鈥檚 top-ranked programs.

鈥淭he Health Sciences Education Building is a state-of-the-art facility that will prepare the next generation of professionals for a more collaborative, more collegial role as part of interprofessional teams to address today鈥檚 health care needs. From pandemics to health equity, the nation鈥檚 first integrated health sciences training facility will provide students with a high-tech learning space to develop solutions to global issues affecting population health,鈥� said School of Nursing Executive Dean Azita Emami, who is also chair of the Board of Health Sciences Deans.

The building will be completed in May 2022.

For more information contact Jake Ellison at Jbe3@91爆料.edu.

With their education forced online and in-person clinical practice opportunities canceled by the novel coronavirus pandemic, 91爆料 nursing students eager to use their skills and knowledge during this historic challenge to human health and well-being had few options.

Unwilling to accept this limited role for nursing students, the 91爆料 School of Nursing has partnered with Public Health鈥揝eattle & King County to give students three opportunities to join frontline efforts to meet health needs and treat patients suffering from COVID-19, the deadly disease caused by the virus.

鈥淭he clinical student experience in a real-world setting is a critical part of every nurse鈥檚 education,鈥� said , executive dean of the 91爆料 . 鈥淭his innovative partnership not only allows our students to use their skills, which are in high demand during this global pandemic, it also enables them to respond to a very compelling, very urgent public need in our community.鈥�

The unique partnership includes three voluntary opportunities:

• First, since April 6, graduating senior nursing students have been volunteering at . Students use their nursing education to provide scientific, evidence-based and accurate information that reflects Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local public health guidelines.
• Second, doctoral students work in telehealth and telemedicine call centers in local health care organizations. Students are working with faculty advisors to provide virtual health visits for patients who may not be able to visit a traditional clinic due to quarantine, mobility issues or lack of transportation.
• The third clinical experience will place licensed graduate nursing students at area care centers designated for assessment and recovery for the community鈥檚 most vulnerable patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms but are not so ill that they require hospitalization.

鈥淭he next generation of nurses is strengthening our COVID-19 response right now, aiding some of our community鈥檚 most vulnerable people at a critical moment,鈥� said King County Executive Dow Constantine. 鈥淭his innovative School of Nursing program is just one more way that the 91爆料 is a leader in responding to the pandemic, and another reason we are fortunate to have the 91爆料 at the center of our community.鈥�

鈥淭his is an extraordinary partnership for extraordinary times,鈥� said Patty Hayes, director for Public Health鈥揝eattle & King County. 鈥淲e are deeply grateful to the School of Nursing and their students for rising to the occasion for our community鈥檚 COVID-19 needs, and so pleased to be able to contribute to their growth in this unique way.鈥�

Safety for students and faculty is a priority for both 91爆料 School of Nursing and Public Health鈥揝eattle & King County, Emami said. Students and faculty offering direct care at treatment centers will be supplied with personal protective equipment, or PPE, and trained how to properly put it on and take it off.

While all graduating nursing students in the Class of 2020 can meet their clinical requirements through online clinical learning during spring quarter, Emami added, at least 45 students have volunteered for these unique clinical opportunities.

鈥淪erendipitously, 2020 is the International Year of Nurses and Midwives and the final year of the Nursing Now intitative, which recognize the vital role nurses play in our society,鈥� said Emami. 鈥淭his pandemic has truly shown the heroic role that nurses and other health care professionals play to save lives.鈥�

Financial support for launching these opportunities, including the purchase of PPE, was provided by the聽CDC Foundation and the de Beaumont Foundation, a public health foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland.

For more information, contact Shari Ireton, Assistant Dean of Marketing & Communication, 91爆料 School of Nursing, at slireton@uw.edu and (206) 351-6058.

Learn more about the 鲍奥鈥檚 Population Health Initiative: a 25-year, interdisciplinary effort to bring understanding and solutions to the biggest challenges facing communities.

Premera Blue Cross, a leading health plan in the Pacific Northwest, today announced a $4.7 million grant to the 91爆料 to establish the Rural Nursing Health Initiative to place current students in rural practices in Washington state.

According to a 2017 study from the聽, people living in rural areas suffer worse health outcomes than their urban counterparts. They have less access to primary care, less access to preventive care, less longevity and less chance of surviving a major heart attack, stroke or other health event. In Washington state, more than a million people, or 14% of the state鈥檚 population, live in rural communities.

鈥淧remera is proud to support the 91爆料 School of Nursing in their efforts to deliver health care to remote and medically underserved communities,鈥� said Jeff Roe, president and CEO of . 鈥淲e know that students who learn in rural settings are much more likely to return to that community when they graduate. With the growing disparity between urban and rural health care access, it is critical we invest in sustainable solutions that close that gap.鈥�

The will spearhead the effort and will build the Rural Nursing Health Initiative over a four-year period, supporting 20 students each year. The program will create enhanced clinical placements for advanced practice registered nurse students, or APRNs, in rural areas throughout Washington, as well as build a pipeline for student placements and provider support, especially critical for rural communities without robust networks.

While the program will be led by the 91爆料, students from Seattle University, Washington State University, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University and Gonzaga University will also be eligible to apply for placements in rural settings and to participate in the new Rural Health Nurse Practitioner Fellowship Program after graduation. Additionally, 91爆料 nursing faculty will consult alongside Washington State University nursing faculty to conduct a comprehensive outcomes evaluation study. Faculty will analyze the data from this study to provide evidence of the effectiveness of this effort.

鈥淚 firmly believe that advanced practice nurses are the answer to providing equitable access to primary and preventive health care in rural and underserved areas, and I believe the Rural Nursing Health Initiative will prove that out. This grant allows us to ensure the sustainability of the rural nursing workforce, improving health outcomes across our communities,鈥� said Azita Emami, the Robert G. and Jean A. Reid endowed executive dean, 91爆料 School of Nursing. 鈥淚t is critical that this work happens in an academic setting because we have the resources required to gather the necessary data to evaluate the overall success of this program and to report the findings in scientific publications.鈥�

Premera鈥檚 investment in and partnership with the 91爆料 School of Nursing is part of a larger Premera program to improve access to care in rural areas. The company is focusing its investments in the following areas: physician, nurse and health aide recruitment and training; clinical integration of behavioral health; provider to provider consultations to support isolated rural doctors; and programs to increase the capacity of mental health crisis centers in rural areas.

For more information, contact Jackson Holtz at jjholtz@uw.edu or 206-543-2580 or Dani Chung at dani.chung@premera.com or 425-361-3021.

Nurses and nurse-scientists interested in advanced multi-disciplinary training for population and global health practice can now apply for a new 91爆料 . The concurrent Doctor of Nursing Practice in Population Health and Master of Public Health in Global Health Degree is a three- to four-year program that aims to expand the skills of public health nurses and nurse scholars to work in partnership with populations and health systems to ultimately improve access to health care and help achieve health for all.

“Graduates of the new concurrent degree program will be equipped to lead sustainable change in collaboration with health systems, communities, and populations; and will have the skills to evaluate program and policy impact,鈥� said , associate professor with the 91爆料 Departments of Global Health, and Psychosocial and Community Health, and Schools of Public Health and Nursing.

The doctorate program prepares registered nurses for advanced practice roles, nursing leadership and the application of evidence-informed decision-making models to nursing practice. The master’s degree in global health provides social justice and practical skills-based frameworks for achieving health equity through partnerships, with a focus on health conditions that transcend borders. Graduates of the new concurrent degree program will gain the knowledge and skills of both degrees.

鈥淚 believe that the study and understanding of population health is the future of nursing and I鈥檓 very excited that we are offering this concurrent degree. Students in this program will integrate research findings and evidence into healthcare policy and practice and they will be grounded in a deep understanding of the social, economic, and political determinants of health,鈥� said , dean of the School of Nursing.

To earn both degrees, a student must complete two sets of degree requirements. Students must submit an application for each program, either at the same time or to the second program during their first year of study.

The 91爆料 School of Nursing is holding a series of through Nov. 5. Applications are now open for students to begin the program in fall quarter of 2019.

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For more information: populationhealthnursing@uw.edu or 206-543-8736.

“We are very excited that Dr. Emami will be joining the 91爆料 and providing leadership to the top nursing school in America,” said Young. “She brings broad vision and a global perspective, as well as a remarkable record of accomplishment in research and innovation. She’s a perfect match for the excellence of our school of nursing.”

She will hold the Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Endowed Deanship in Nursing at the 91爆料.

has been dean at Seattle University since 2008. Her career has included seven years at the Karolinska Institutet of Stockholm, Sweden, where she was an endowed professor in elderly care research and senior lecturer while also holding other administrative and research leadership positions. Emami still holds positions at Karolinska as senior researcher and doctoral-candidate supervisor.

At Seattle University, she implemented a five-year strategic plan including major reorganizations that emphasized excellence in integrating teaching, research and clinical practice, as well as an expansive global-engagement program. Her objectives were to develop a substantial professional development program for faculty and staff, greater accountability of faculty and staff members and better support for faculty collaboration. She also placed a central focus on student experiences to prepare nurses to lead in an era of challenge and change by studying in a learner-centered environment.

In 2011-12 she implemented a curriculum transformation plan for a cutting-edge educational program. Under her leadership, Seattle University’s College of Nursing was successfully reaccredited and expanded its offerings with the launch of a nurse midwifery specialty and a doctoral degree in nursing practice. The college has begun offering online hybrid programs in the past year.

Emami has more than 60 published scientific articles in refereed international and Swedish journals, three book chapters and two scientific reports. She serves on the editorial boards or as a reviewer at six peer-reviewed journals. She has participated in major international collaborations with institutions in the U.S., Great Britain, Australia and Iran. She recently became a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.

Emami holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Karolinska Institutet, a master’s degree in international health care from Karolinska and the Red Cross College of Nursing, a nursing education degree with a teaching certification and a doctorate in medical sciences from Karolinska.

Her annual salary will be 颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅颅$320,000

For more than 29 years, the 91爆料 School of Nursing has been a top-rated school, including the past 19 years atop the U.S. News & World Report list, which began ranking nursing schools in 1993. Ranked No. 2 in research funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2011, the school is a national and international leader in improving the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.

The school’s three departments are family and child nursing, psychosocial and community health,聽and bio-behavioral nursing and health systems. Its is to advance nursing science and practice through generating knowledge and preparing future leaders to address health.

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