The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing joins health care organizations and communities across the country in celebrating National Nurses Week, observed May 6–12, 2026. The annual recognition honors the dedication, compassion, and leadership of nurses while highlighting the essential role the profession plays in advancing health care and improving lives.
National Nurses Week concludes each year on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, whose pioneering work in patient care and public health helped shape modern nursing. Today, the week serves as an opportunity to recognize nurses working in hospitals, clinics, classrooms, research settings, and communities around the world.
“National Nurses Week is a time to celebrate the profound impact nurses have on individuals, families, and communities every day,” Interim Dean Kavita Radhakrishnan said. “We are proud of the work our students, faculty, staff, and alumni continue to do to advance health care, education, and research in Texas and beyond.”
At the UT Austin School of Nursing, the past academic year has reflected the continued excellence and innovation of faculty, students, staff and alumni. A few highlights from the year:
School of Nursing Launches New APRN DNP Program
The School of Nursing announced the launch of its new Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Doctor of Nursing Practice (APRN DNP) program, further expanding opportunities for advanced clinical leadership and practice preparation.
School of Nursing Faculty and Student Recognized at 2026 Southern Nursing Research Society Conference
Dr. John Lowe, Dr. Alexa Stuifbergen, and Merci Paulhill were recognized during the 2026 Southern Nursing Research Society Conference for scholarly contributions advancing nursing science and patient care innovation.
Dr. Jung Kwak Awarded Health IT SPARK Grant to Advance Dementia Care Innovation
Dr. Jung Kwak was awarded the Health IT Speedy Proposal Assistance and Research Knowledge (Health IT SPARK) Grant to Advance Dementia Care Innovation.
Dr. Bo Xie Secures NIH Grant to Advance AI-Powered Research Training
Dr. Bo Xie has received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to support her research project titled, “StatWiseAI: An AI-Powered Educational Tool for Enhancing Methodological Rigor in Large-Scale Data Analysis.”
Dr. Yaolin Pei Awarded NIH Grant to Support Chinese American Dementia Caregivers
Dr. Yaolin Pei has been awarded the prestigious R00 award from the National Institute on Aging to advance research that supports Chinese American dementia caregivers in making informed, culturally sensitive decisions about feeding their loved ones.
Dr. Linda Kim receives National Institute of Mental Health R01 Grant
Dr. Linda Kim has been awarded a highly competitive National Institute of Mental Health R01 Grant. This five-year award will support her project titled “SARS-CoV-2 and Social Determinants of Health Impact on Inflammation Associated Depression Risk (SSIDR).”
Dr. Linda Yoder to be Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International 2026 Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame
Dr. Linda Yoder will be inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious global honors in nursing research, in July 16, 2026, at Toronto, Canada.
UT Austin School of Nursing Formalizes International Partnership with the University of Hyogo in Japan
The School of Nursing formalized a new international partnership with the University of Hyogo in Japan, strengthening global collaboration opportunities in nursing education and research.
UT Austin Advances Dementia Care Workforce Readiness with Continued State Investment
Continued state investment supporting UT Austin’s dementia care workforce readiness initiative, strengthening interprofessional education and preparing future providers to care for aging populations across Texas.
School of Nursing Announces 2026 Faculty Promotions
Excellence in teaching, service, and scholarship led to faculty members Dr. Shalonda Horton and Dr. Stephanie Key being selected for promotion in Fall 2026.
Three School of Nursing Nurses Named Among Outstanding Texas Nurses for 2026
The School of Nursing achieved the Trifecta: three of our nurses were recognized as Texas Nurses Association’s 25 Outstanding Texas Nurses of 2026, including Dr. Veronica García Walker, Dr. Julie Zuniga, and Jacki Hecht.
To read more about recent achievements and initiatives from the UT Austin School of Nursing, visit the School of Nursing News.