Dr. Adey Nyamathi designated a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing
July 19, 2023 (Washington, DC) —The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) will officially designate six extraordinary nurse leaders as Living Legends this fall. Dr. Adeline M. Nyamathi will be honored at the Living Legends Ceremony held at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 5 - 7, 2023. Each of the incredible nurse leaders exemplify the resolve and ingenuity of the profession and have made significant impacts on health systems and health policy.
“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. I am delighted to celebrate these accomplished leaders and visionaries,” said Academy President Kenneth R. White, PhD, RN, AGACNP, ACHPN, FACHE, FAAN. “Recognizing those who have transformed the work we do, particularly during the Academy’s 50th anniversary year, is a truly special honor. This year’s Living Legends have championed equity, diversity, and inclusion to collectively improve the public’s health in America and around the world.”
These remarkable individuals have generated policy change through innovation, science, and leadership to advance health equity in the diverse communities they serve. They will be honored as 2023 Living Legends, the highest designation of the Academy.
Adeline “Adey” M. Nyamathi, PhD, RN, 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 Emeritus 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.