Sara Simonsen, PhD, MSPH, CNM, FACNM, has been selected for induction into the American Academy of Nursing's 2026 Class of Fellows, one of nursing's highest professional honors. Simonsen, a tenured associate professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing, holds the Annette Poulson Cumming Presidential Endowed Chair in Women's and Reproductive Health.
The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) is an honorific society and a federally focused policy organization. Members, called Fellows, of the Academy are selected through a rigorous nomination process. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally and are designated with the credential FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing).
"This recognition means a great deal to me," Simonsen said. "I've had the privilege of working alongside incredible mentors, colleagues, and community partners throughout my career, and this is really a reflection of that network. I'm honored by this induction to the Academy and look forward to continuing research that improves the lives and outcomes of patients."
Simonsen joins a cohort of nurse leaders selected for their contributions to health care and health policy. She will be formally inducted at the Academy's Induction Ceremony and Soiree on October 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C., during the Academy's annual Health Policy Conference.
"We are incredibly proud of Dr. Simonsen's well-deserved selection into the American Academy of Nursing," said Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN, Dean of the College of Nursing." Her research is changing outcomes for Utahns at risk for cardiometabolic disease and for patients navigating gestational diabetes, and she brings that same research-driven commitment to educating and mentoring our next generation of nurse scientists.”
A nurse-midwife and nationally recognized nurse scientist, Simonsen is also a Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Her research centers on community-engaged reproductive health, with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention. She is principal investigator on several federally funded studies, including a $3.7 million National Institutes of Health grant examining sleep and cardiometabolic disease risk among Utah women. Her other work addresses health risks for patients with pregnancy complications that can lead to chronic disease later in life, and she collaborates with a national research team studying postpartum care transitions for patients with gestational diabetes.
The 2026 class includes Fellows from 39 states, Washington, D.C., and 17 countries, bringing total Academy Fellowship to more than 3,600 nurses.