Dr. Yeow Chye Ng and Dr. Azita Amiri have been selected for induction into the 2022 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing.
Michael Mercier / UAH
Two University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) College of Nursing faculty members are among eight nursing leaders statewide who have been selected for induction into the 2022 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).
Dr. Azita Amiri, PhD, and Dr. Yeow Chye Ng, PhD, are the inductees from UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System, and both are associate professors of nursing. They will be recognized during the Academy's annual Health Policy Conference Oct. 27-29 in Washington, DC.
“It is probably the biggest honor of my life. The title FAAN indicates prestige and usually demonstrates the recipient's exceptional work in a particular field of interest,” says Dr. Amiri.
“To be nominated to the Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, nominees must describe their achievements and show substantial work that has enhanced their profession,” she says. “My contribution was and is focused on reducing health disparities and inequalities and shaping healthy behaviors and environments. I am thrilled that I have met the requirements of this application.”
Dr. Amiri has been a nurse and midwife for over 30 years, and she says that while she is happy for herself, she is pleased to be able to bring the award to the College of Nursing.
“This title is not only a career growth for me, but it also expands opportunities for the recipient's school and helps the school's ranking,” Dr. Amiri says. “I am confident having fellows on the faculty at the College of Nursing offers UAH nursing faculty and students more opportunities in research, high-quality education and within the professional membership organizations.”
Fellowship connections can give her doctoral students access to populations and collaborators that are only available through the Academy, and Dr. Amiri envisions better exposure to invaluable professional networks and engagement in challenging and varied work.
“I encourage all nurses to join state or national organizations. By joining these organizations, nurses have the most vital voice on the table for critical decisions and can be more vigorous advocates for their communities and patients,” she says.
“And I must say this doesn’t come to you independently. I had terrific mentors, colleagues, students, family and friends who allowed me to act and make changes. Those people supported me selflessly. I am very thankful.”
Dr. Ng says that becoming an American Academy of Nursing fellow has always been a crucial part of his career trajectory dream.
“This fellowship reinforces my passion to continue serving as a medical provider with a focus on promoting Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV preventative treatment at the national and international level,” he says.
“The fellowship will provide an opportunity for me to collaborate with other national and international fellows and continue our focus on reducing health disparities by promoting the initiation of PrEP,” Dr. Ng says. “As a global nurse leader, I continue to build collaborations to disseminate innovative strategies to prevent HIV disease.”
Dr. Ng serves on panels pertaining to global nursing and health, as well as being an advocate for health equity for minority populations in the U.S. and around the world.
“Being multilingual, I am in a strategic position to disseminate my work and share my expertise with other global leaders,” he says. “I will also continue being an advocate for health equity for minority populations such as the LGBTQ community.”
The American Academy of Nursing serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through generating, synthesizing and disseminating nursing knowledge.
The 2,900 Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing are nursing leaders in education, management, practice and research. Fellows represent association executives; university presidents, chancellors and deans; elected officials; state and federal political appointees; hospital chief executives and vice presidents for nursing; nurse consultants; and researchers and entrepreneurs.
Invitation to fellowship is a recognition of accomplishments within the nursing profession and also a responsibility to contribute time and energies to the Academy, and to engage with other health leaders outside the Academy in transforming America's health system.
