Kaitlynn Eslinger, a College of Nursing DNP student, partnered with Gilbert Fire and Rescue to train first responders in a rare, life-saving airway procedure. Shortly after completing the training, a crew successfully performed the intervention in the field, saving a patient’s life. The hands-on program significantly increased responders’ confidence in managing critical airway emergencies. Her work highlights the real-world impact of simulation-based education in improving patient outcomes.

Miles of desert mark the border between Arizona and Mexico, but in higher education, those boundaries quickly fade. Through a longstanding partnership between the University of Arizona and the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, students and faculty collaborate to learn, research, and serve communities across borders. Recently, seven UNAM nursing students spent six months in Tucson as part of this exchange, showcasing how the global partnership is preparing the next generation of health leaders to work beyond boundaries.

Chiyoung Lee, PhD, RN, has been selected for the prestigious 2026 U.S. Association for the Study of Pain Leadership Academy. The national program prepares emerging leaders advancing pain science, care, and policy. Lee’s research focuses on improving how chronic pain is understood and managed in vulnerable populations, particularly people living with related dementias. Her work aims to develop better strategies to recognize and treat pain in patients whose symptoms are often overlooked.

Cindy Rishel, PhD, RN, OCN, NEA-BC, clinical professor and executive health systems leadership specialty coordinator in the DNP program, has been appointed co-chair of a university-wide effort to align faculty titles across the University of Arizona system. As a member of the university’s Global Campus Title Alignment Advisory Committee, Rishel will help lead a comprehensive review to ensure equity, transparency, and consistency in faculty ranks.

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 policy, 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.