President's Message

 

Dear ENRS Members, 

By all accounts, our 37th Annual Scientific Sessions, held April 3–4, 2025, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, were a resounding success and a powerful testament to the vitality of nursing science in our region. With 806 total registrants, 139 sessions (including workshops and general sessions), and an impressive 339 poster presentations, this year’s conference set a new standard for engagement, scholarly exchange, and visibility of nursing research.

The 2025 conference theme, Trailblazing Innovative Models of Care in Population Health through Nursing Science, continued to inspire the dissemination of cutting-edge research by academic, clinical, and community-based scholars. Our opening keynote, delivered by Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos of Johns Hopkins University, offered a compelling and visionary message about the essential and evolving roles of nurses in driving healthcare innovation and health equity. His remarks were an inspiring call to action—and a powerful reminder of the impact of our collective work.

This year also marked a significant milestone for ENRS as we formally launched a new mission at the All Members Meeting: To empower a diverse community of scholars dedicated to advancing nursing science.This mission reflects our commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and impact in the field of nursing research. The full strategic plan is available on the ENRS website and can be accessed here.

Another highlight of this year’s sessions was the recognition of our 2025 research award winners. Coordinated by the Awards Committee, under the outstanding leadership of Dr. Ariana Chao, the celebration honored excellence across the research spectrum. Congratulations to all paper and poster award recipients, and a special acknowledgement to our named awardees:

  • Lindsey Hodges and the 6th Floor Collaborative Care Council – Evidence-Based Practice Award
  • Dr. Margaret Barton-Burke – Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Research Award
  • Dr. Lauren Covington – Suzanne Feetham Nurse Scientist Family Research Award
  • Mireille Chehade – ENRS/Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS) Dissertation Award
  • Dr. Kristen Sethares – ENRS/Nursing Research Authorship Award
  • Dr. Lacey Heinsberg – Rising Star Research Award
  • Dr. Margaret Quinn-Rosenzweig – Inaugural Excellence in Social Justice & Health Equity Award

As Conference Planning Chair and President-Elect, Dr. Ann-Margaret Navarra provided exceptional leadership in curating and delivering this year’s sessions. I extend my sincerest appreciation to her and to the dedicated members of the planning committee, abstract reviewers, abstract slotters, session support teams, and all committee members whose tireless efforts ensured a successful and enriching experience. My deep gratitude also goes to our partners at ACG, whose logistical expertise and collaboration were essential in delivering a seamless conference.

The success of our 37th Annual Sessions would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and annual partners. This year, their investment in ENRS not only met but exceeded all expectations—underscoring their shared belief in the power of nursing research to transform care.

As we move forward into a new organizational year, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to our outgoing Board members, whose leadership and service have helped advance the mission and momentum of ENRS:

  • Anne Mitchell – Secretary
  • Catherine Cox – Treasurer
  • Paul Quinn – Member-at-Large (IDEA)

We also warmly welcome our newly elected Board members, whose expertise and commitment will guide us into the future:

  • Mei Lin Chen-Lim, Thomas Jefferson University – Treasurer
  • Lisa Duffy, University of Massachusetts Amherst – Secretary
  • Serah Nthenge, Siena College – Member-at-Large (Awards) Incumbent
  • Mitchell Wharton – Member-at-Large (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility)

I am grateful to continue serving as President of ENRS as I complete my first year in this role. Over the past year, we have witnessed shifts in the national landscape that affect federal funding, diversity initiatives, and the research enterprise more broadly. I want to reassure our members that ENRS—alongside our partners and national nursing organizations—is closely monitoring these developments. We remain steadfast in our mission and values, and we will continue to advocate for and support the nursing science community with clarity, focus, and resilience.

Thank you for your continued engagement, your scholarship, and your commitment to advancing nursing research. The strength of ENRS lies in its people—and together, we will meet this moment and shape the future of health through science.

 Warmest regards, 

 

Marie Ann Marino, EdD, RN, FAAN
President, Eastern Nursing Research Society