Honor Recognizes Chair of Solomont School of Nursing
08/19/2022
Media Contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus, Emily_Gowdeybackus@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
The true value of nursing, and its role in a community’s health policy and day-to-day care, has never been more evident than during the past two years.
In recognition of her dedication to those for whom she cares and the profession of nursing, in July, Heidi Collins Fantasia was elected a member of the 2022 American Academy of Nursing Class of Fellows. She was one of nine Massachusetts professionals named in a group of 250 from across the nation and the globe.
AAN fellows represent the nursing industry’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration and academia and are selected based on their contributions and impact to advance the public’s health.
In three-plus decades of practice, Fantasia has helped strengthen the reputation of nurses today and in the future. As a women’s health expert, she informs and advocates on behalf of her community while supporting the next generation of nurses as the chair of the UMass Lowell Susan and Alan Solomont School of Nursing.
Fantasia, who has served the community as a nurse for 32 years, specializes in women’s health including reproductive health, contraception, intimate partner violence and sexual consent. She said it is a “true honor” to be named an AAN fellow. This recognition, however, doesn’t mean she’s done helping those in need.
“Through my national work, and at UMass Lowell, I will continue to advance health policy and clinical care for the most vulnerable members of society,” she added.
Shortie McKinney, dean of the UMass Lowell Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, echoed Fantasia’s enthusiasm and praised her colleague. “To be named fellow of the academy is a well-deserved honor for Fantasia,” said McKinney. “We are proud of her research on women’s health, leadership of the Solomont School of Nursing and appointment as the editor of Nursing for Women’s Health.”
Fellows contribute their collective expertise to the academy, engaging with health leaders nationally and globally to improve health and achieve health equity by impacting policy through nursing leadership, innovation, and science.
Through a competitive, rigorous application process, the academy’s selection committee reviewed a record number of applications, a 30% increase from the previous year, to select the 2022 fellows. The 250 health care professionals selected represent 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 17 countries. Today, AAN counts more than 2,500 nursing and health care professionals as fellows.