Belmont University today announced that nursing industry leader Dr. Debbie Gregory has been selected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (Academy). Dr. Gregory serves as Senior Fellow for Nursing Innovation and Interim Inman College of Nursing Center for Nursing Innovation Co-Director. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their contributions and impact to advance the public’s health.
The Academy is a policy organization and an honorific society that recognizes nursing's most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration and academia to advance equitable solutions to the nation’s most complex health care challenges. Academy Fellows, from over 40 countries, hold a wide variety of influential roles in health care. Induction into the Fellowship represents more than recognition of one's accomplishments within the nursing profession. Fellows contribute their collective expertise to the Academy, engaging with health leaders nationally and globally to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation and science.
Dr. Gregory’s contributions to nursing are healthcare design advocacy and education to elevate the voice of the nurse in reclaiming the scholarly and clinical domain of the environment to create healthy work environments. Amplifying the clinical voice through pioneering advocacy, education and leadership along with the formation of the internationally recognized Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design has expanded and contributed to the advancement of the role of nursing across the profession and throughout the interdisciplinary platform of the design and construction industry.
“Dr. Gregory is a proven national leader in healthcare design and innovation, leveraging her experience as a nurse, healthcare consultant and interior designer to advocate for nurse leadership representation in designing and building healthcare environments,” said Dr. Julie Honey, interim dean of the Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing. “We are amazed by the work and leadership of our friend and colleague in reclaiming the physical design of the healthcare environment into the domain of nursing."
Through a competitive, rigorous application process, the Academy’s Fellow Selection Committee reviewed nearly 400 applications to select the 2023 Fellows. The 2023 Fellows represent 40 states, the District of Columbia and 13 countries.
Dr. Gregory and the 2023 inductees were recognized for their substantial, sustained and significant contributions to health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, which took place on Oct. 5 – 7, 2023 in Washington, D.C., and during the Induction Ceremony on the evening of Oct. 7. This is a historic year for the Academy as the organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Once the newest Fellows are inducted, the Academy is comprised of more than 3,000 leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally.
Learn more about the Academy and visit the policy conference website for more details.