From the Dean - May 2025
A busy and productive spring
Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston recently hosted a Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR) board meeting. Leaders from academia and industry traveled from all over the nation to discuss ways to advocate for and support nursing science.
Three of us had a much shorter trip than our fellow board members. The 21-member panel includes Professor Eileen Hacker, PhD, APRN, AOCN, FAAN, chair of the Department of Nursing at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and our alumna Bethsheba Johnson, DNP-NEA, APRN, CNS, GNP-BC. Houston’s prominent representation on this national board reflects the richness of opportunity and the steadfast commitment to nursing science here.
I am proud that Cizik School of Nursing is one of the institutions driving innovations in the Texas Medical Center, as evidenced by our growth in federally funded research. We ranked No. 1 in Texas among nursing schools receiving funding from the National Institutes of Health for 2024, with more than $6.4 million in grants. We also continue to lead the state in nursing education, with our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs both ranked No. 1 in Texas by U.S. News & World Report.
In our efforts to address the growing need for high-quality health care in our communities, we launched initiatives this spring to attract top students to the nursing profession, prepare them for our rigorous undergraduate program, and bridge the gap from nursing research to practice. In this issue, you will read about our popular new summer camp program for high schoolers, our Pre-Nursing pathway that gives students the chance to earn science prerequisites on our campus and access direct entry into our Pacesetters BSN program, and our DNP to PhD option for experienced practitioners and nurse leaders who want to enhance their research skills.
We have also offered practicing nurses some great opportunities to expand their knowledge and skills this year. Nurses in China, Taiwan, and Malawi virtually joined local participants for the “Caring at the Crossroads: End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Training” conference held April 3, and we heard from alumna Terri S. Armstrong, PhD, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, an NIH scientist emerita, at the 2025 Jane and Robert Cizik Lecture. In addition, our first group of 20 participants completed the two-day Foundations in Nursing Leadership intensive offered by the Debbie Adams Leadership Academy (registration is now open for the fall session).
None of our progress would be possible without our supporters. We are grateful for gifts large and small in the past few months that will fund scholarships, educational innovation, and even snacks for hungry students. In addition to these generous gifts from individuals, the PARTNERS organization once again outdid itself by breaking a fundraising record at its Spring Luncheon.
The Spring 2025 semester ended on a high note with another out-of-town guest - Miss America 2025 Abbie Stockard. A nursing student herself, Stockard spoke at commencement, commending our 249 graduates on their perseverance and encouraging them to always remember what inspired them to become nurses.
I am amazed at everything our wonderful faculty, staff, and students have achieved so far in 2025. In many cases, these accomplishments are the results of years-long efforts that will continue to bear fruit long into the future.
Diane Santa Maria DrPH, RN, PHNA-BC, ACRN, FSAHM, FAAN
Dean
Jane and Robert Cizik Distinguished Chair
Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair in Nursing Education Leadership
Professor, Department of Research
