Meet Amy Boardman Patten, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PhD student, at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing.
From her military service to community health work, Patten has demonstrated herself as a clinician scholar who offers a human-centered approach and leads with empathy. She has practiced in community health settings as a family nurse practitioner for 20 years, bringing this clinical experience to academia, combining her practical knowledge of the structural determinants of health with the conceptual foundations of research.
Her commitment to community-based participatory research (CBPR) and social justice comes through in her role as a graduate research assistant on multiple qualitative and mixed methods projects with the Thurman Lab at the UT Austin School of Nursing. The Thurman Lab is dedicated to supporting community-led and community-based solutions that improve health and housing outcomes for adults with disabling health conditions and the lived experience of homelessness.
Patten was selected as a Jonas Scholar through the Jonas Philanthropies Nurse Scholars Program, recognizing her leadership potential and commitment to advancing nursing research focused on the health of underserved populations. Her scholarly work includes peer-reviewed publications and a podium presentation at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, where she presented a CBPR study in the Advocating for Health Justice for Marginalized Groups session. She is currently working on a community-engaged dissertation study that explores the impact of food insecurity on adults who have experienced chronic homelessness and now live in permanent supportive housing.
Above all, Patten strives to make a positive social impact as a health care provider, researcher, community organizer, global citizen, neighbor and mom.
From her nomination:
“Amy embodies the principles of community-based participatory research, consistently centering the voices and leadership of those most impacted. In her clinical practice, she builds trust through reciprocal relationships and a steadfast commitment to equity. Her approach to nursing is not only compassionate but transformative, serving as a powerful example of how our profession can advance justice and healing.
“I greatly admire Amy’s integrity, intentionality, and the way she brings her values into every space she enters. It is a privilege to call her a colleague and to witness the impact of her work.”