ASU professor selected as 2017 fellow by American Association of Nurse Practitioners

The fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) announced its selection of 67 nurse practitioner leaders from across the country for induction into the 2017 FAANP.  Heather Ross, clinical assistant professor with the School for the Future of Innovation in Society and the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, was selected as one of only three fellows from Arizona this year.

The purpose of the fellowship program is to impact national and global health by engaging recognized nurse practitioners to lead new initiatives. The program also provides opportunities for fellows to mentor and provide leadership development for other nurse practitioners. Ross joins a group of leaders whose scholarly contributions have positively influenced health care and the nurse practitioner role.

At the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Ross is the director of the Applied Ethics in the Professions master’s degree program where she teaches biomedical technology, society and policy. Her research explores human technology interaction with a focus on wearable technologies and health security. She also hosts the Future Out Loud podcast, which is available on iTunes and other platforms, and she is a research scientist with ASU’s Global Security Initiative. 

“We’re grateful for Heather’s commitment to our students and her expertise in health care, specifically biomedical technology and health policy,” said David Guston, director of the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. “Her leadership in the classroom, mentoring students, contributing to cross-disciplinary research, and in the studio where she facilitates conversations on important scientific topics have enriched the collaborative spirit at our very new school.”

In addition to her focus on innovation and technology at SFIS, Ross teaches health policy in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, and mentors current DNP students. In addition to her teaching and research, she continues to see patients one morning each week in her role as a nurse practitioner. It is critically important, Ross said, for researchers and health care educators to remain current and engaged in practice.

“I always want to keep my research focused on the ultimate goal of improving health and the human condition, so I think it’s important to keep a foot firmly planted in the day-to-day experience of health care — particularly as health and health care are constantly evolving with new technologies, policies, and ways of thinking,” she said. “We do little good to produce research knowledge or classroom opportunities that do not apply to people's real lives.”

Ross and the entire group of 2017 FAANP fellows will be inducted at a fellows ceremony and luncheon in Philadelphia on June 22.