The University of Arizona College of Nursing has been ranked No. 15 among public nursing schools and No. 24 nationally by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, based on funding from the National Institutes of Health. The rankings highlight the strength, impact, and national competitiveness of the college’s research enterprise, as well as its commitment to advancing nursing science and improving care delivery.

Brian Ahn, PhD, APRN, FAAN, Dean of the College of Nursing, serves as President of the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association through 2027 and as a board member of the World Academy of Nursing Science. In these national and global leadership roles, he advances health equity, leadership development and nursing scholarship while strengthening international research partnerships.

Beth Meyerson, PhD, was appointed to the National Methadone Access and Quality Commission (NMAQC), a three-year national initiative launched by the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine and funded by the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts to improve access to and quality of methadone treatment for opioid use disorder. The commission will address regulatory, policy, financing and clinical barriers that limit methadone access. Meyerson’s appointment highlights her national leadership in harm-reduction research and elevates nursing’s role in shaping evidence-informed policy to strengthen care for individuals and families affected by OUD.

The University of Arizona College of Nursing has named Anne Gassmann Rosenfeld its 2026 Alumni of the Year, recognizing her transformative impact on cardiovascular nursing and women’s heart health. A nationally respected researcher and Fellow of the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Nursing, Rosenfeld reshaped understanding of heart attack symptoms in women, influenced national policy, and mentored generations of nurse scientists.

The College of Nursing honors Mary Eliza Mahoney as the first African American to study and work as a professionally trained nurse in the United States. In 1879, she became the first African American to graduate from a nursing school in the United States.

Doctor of Nursing Practice students Alyssa M. Burton, Dena Pantier, and Stacey N. Healy are addressing some of healthcare’s most urgent challenges, from expanding access to mental health care to improving patient safety and specialty services in rural communities. Through innovative, equity-focused DNP projects, they are turning advanced nursing education into real-world solutions that strengthen healthcare across Arizona. Their work highlights the leadership, compassion, and evidence-based practice shaping the future of nursing.

PhD student and registered nurse Devon Cobos Garcia has received the College of Nursing’s Dean’s Emmons Dissertation Research Award for her innovative research on box breathing and surgical recovery in older adults undergoing knee replacement. Drawing from her clinical experience, her study explores how a simple, nonpharmacological breathwork intervention may help regulate stress, pain, and overall recovery during the perioperative period.

From a love of learning sparked in childhood to a lifetime devoted to caring for others, Nancy Groh’s journey embodies the heart of nursing. A 1964 College of Nursing graduate, Nancy, along with her husband, John, has turned gratitude for her education into lasting support for future nurses through the Nancy and John Groh Nursing Student Scholarship. Their story is a powerful reminder that even small acts of generosity can have an enduring impact.

Induction Day welcomed 210 new students into the College of Nursing as they began the final phase of their nursing education across BSN, BSN–Integrated Health, and MEPN programs in Tucson and Gilbert. The events celebrated students’ transition into professional nursing study, featuring remarks from college leaders who emphasized service, community, and shared purpose. Induction Day marked a unifying milestone, symbolizing the start of students’ journeys into the nursing profession.

Nearly half of the nursing workforce reports symptoms of burnout, yet effective, system-level solutions remain limited. Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN, CNE, and her interdisciplinary research team are leading a $3.6 million NIH-funded project to test a nurse-driven intervention designed to transform organizational conditions in hospital settings. By integrating nursing science, systems engineering, and clinical research, Rainbow’s work demonstrates how nurse-led, evidence-based innovation can strengthen work environments, improve patient outcomes, and support a more resilient health care workforce.