WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) will honor school of nursing professor Roy L. Simpson, DNP, RN, DPNAP, FAAN, FACMI, with its President’s Award at its annual conference this week. The AAN will offer virtual and in-person activities while honoring award recipients for outstanding contributions to improving care, advancing health equity, and promoting the nursing profession.

The President’s Award specifically recognizes an individual for making extraordinary, lifelong contributions to improving the health of individuals, families, or communities. It is the most prestigious individual award given by the AAN.

“I am thrilled to congratulate Roy for this prestigious award,” said Dean Linda McCauley, PhD., RN, FAAN. “His experience and work in nursing informatics really symbolize what makes Emory special. We are honored that he dedicates his time and talent to our students and proud to call him a member of the Emory team.”

 Simpson lectures extensively around the world and has published more than 500 articles on nursing informatics. He also sits on 12 editorial review boards and is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, New York Academy of Medicine, and the National Academies of Practice. He attained a doctorate in nursing practice, executive leadership/informatics, from American Sentinel University.

At the School of Nursing, Simpson has been a key figure in the Center for Data Science and serves as the Assistant Dean for Technology. The center’s most recent work is Project NeLL, which provides immediate access to searchable, downloadable big data that are clean, organized and HIPPA compliant.

“Dr. Simpson is a brilliant, tech and business savvy, health care expert who is known internationally for his ability to bring different groups and ideas together,” said Academy President Eileen Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are pleased to celebrate him as the recipient of this year’s President’s Award and recognize his remarkable success in transforming our profession’s data systems.”

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About Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing produces nurse leaders who are transforming healthcare through science, education, practice, and policy. Pre-licensure degree graduates go on to become national and international leaders in patient care, public health, government, research, and education. Advanced degree graduates are qualified to seek certification as nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives. Graduates of the school's doctor of nurse practice (DNP) program may go on to become nurse anesthetists and/or advanced leaders in healthcare administration. The school also keeps a PhD program in partnership with Emory's Laney Graduate School. The school is a national leader in research funding and currently employs more than 120 full-time faculty members. Annual student enrollment is more than 900.

About the American Academy of Nursing

The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 2,900 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia.