Kathleen Shannon Dorcy, photo courtesy of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

UW nurse faculty, alumni selected as American Academy of Nursing fellows

The UW School of Nursing is proud to announce that Kathleen Shannon Dorcy, an alumna and longtime lecturer at the UW Tacoma Nursing & Healthcare Leadership Program, was selected as a member of the American Academy of Nursing’s 2017 class of Academy fellows. She will be among 173 nurse leaders inducted at a ceremony to be held during the Academy’s annual policy conference Oct. 5-7, 2017 in Washington, D.C.

“Congratulations to Kathleen and all of the Class of 2017 Academy Fellows,” said Dr. Azita Emami, the Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Dean of the UW School of Nursing and a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. “The perspective and expertise of these nursing leaders is invaluable to overall sustainable improvement in health, locally and globally.”

“Yet today, too few nurses sit on boards, or are in leadership positions at non-governmental organizations or global health agencies, despite compromising 80 percent of the global healthcare workforce,” she said. “I am thrilled that the newest Academy Fellows will join us as engaged leaders that will design, implement, evaluate and develop policy to advance our important work.”

Shannon Dorcy has been an oncology nurse for 31 years and been a lecturer at UW Tacoma for 26 years. She is also the Director of Clinical/Nursing Research, Education and Practice at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She started out at Swedish Hospital in 1985 working with pediatric bone marrow transplant patients. Soon after, she joined a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center research team where she worked as an oncology nurse and research coordinator until February 2015.

Shannon Dorcy received earned her master’s degree in nursing from the UW School of Nursing in 1991 and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Seattle University in 1983.

Inductees also include several UW School of Nursing alumni, including:

• Patricia Hurn, PhD, RN – University of Michigan
• Rachell Ekroos, PhD, APRN-BC, AFN-BC – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Marilyn Hammer, PhD, DC, RN – Mount Sinai Hospital
• Deborah Anne Burton, PhD, MN, BSN, RN – Providence St. Joseph Health

With the addition of this new class, the total number of academy fellows stands at more than 2,500. Representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 29 countries, the fellows are nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research. Academy fellows include hospital and government administrators, college deans, and renowned scientific researchers.

Fellow selection criteria include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care, and sponsorship by two current academy fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel comprised of elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominee’s nursing career has influenced health policies and the health and wellbeing of all. New fellows will be eligible to use the FAAN credential (fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) after the induction ceremony takes place in October.