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Emily Jones
Oklahoma City, Okla. — The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center is pleased to announce that Emily Jones, Ph.D., RNC-OB, FAHA, FPCNA, an
associate professor and the Ph.D. program director at the college, has been selected to be a Fellow of
the American Academy of Nursing. Jones is the only nursing professional to be selected from Oklahoma.
A significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career, induction into the academy is an honor acknowledged
by colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their contributions and
impact to advance the public’s health.
The academy is an honor society that recognizes nursing's most accomplished leaders in policy,
research, practice, administration and academia. Academy Fellows, from nearly 40 countries, hold a
wide variety of influential roles in health care. Induction into the Fellowship represents more than
recognition of one's accomplishments within the nursing profession. 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.
“The American Academy of Nursing Fellowship is an exclusive honor that recognizes the most
accomplished nurse leaders and scholars,” said Julie Hoff, dean of the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of
Nursing. “We at the College of Nursing are so honored and pleased with this prestigious recognition of
Dr. Jones’ contribution to health and health care in Oklahoma and beyond. Focused scholarship and
recognition of this nature propels the college forward in revolutionizing the nursing profession to drive
health equity and improve health outcomes.”
Jones’ work as a nurse scientist and tribal-community research partner impacts the evolving U.S.
Indigenous maternal health research landscape and advances maternal health equity. Her research was
the first to demonstrate the unique type 2 diabetes-related risk perceptions of Indigenous women with
gestational diabetes and set the stage for a decade-plus of sustained research collaborations with
regionally diverse tribal nations. Her work contributes to redefining perinatal-life course care as she
leads interdisciplinary research teams to advance Indigenous postpartum health equity and collaborates
nationally to advocate for nursing care that is culturally safe and whole-person oriented.
She currently leads a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute -funded project focused on building
capacity to advance Indigenous maternal health equity in the Southern Plains. Additionally, as a Fellow
and Board of Directors member of the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, she elevates
nursing’s role in preventing maternal cardiometabolic disease and addressing cardiovascular-related
pregnancy complications. Through leadership in research and national service, her work advances
perinatal-life course health equity.
“For me, the meaningful recognition as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing comes with
responsibility to continue to apply a health equity-informed lens and partner with tribal communities to
advocate for research, care and policies that will optimize health outcomes for Indigenous mothers and
transform maternal health in the United States,” Jones said.
Through a competitive, rigorous application process, the academy’s Fellow Selection Committee
reviewed a record number of applications, representing a 30% increase from the previous year, to select
the 2022 Fellows. Jones was one of 250 individuals selected to be inducted. The 2022 Fellows represent
35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 17 countries.
The 2022 inductees will be recognized for their significant contributions to health and health care at the
academy’s annual conference scheduled Oct. 27-29 in Washington, D.C., at the Marriott Marquis. The
Induction Ceremony will be held the evening of Oct. 29. Once the newest Fellows are inducted, the
academy will be composed of more than 3,000 leaders who are experts in policy, research,
administration, practice, and academia who champion health and wellness, locally and globally.
Learn more about the academy and visit the policy conference website for more details. For individuals
interested in attending the Induction Ceremony, tickets can be purchased online.
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About the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing
Founded in 1911, the OU College of Nursing is Oklahoma’s largest nursing school and is nationally
recognized for offering bachelor's-, master's- and doctoral-level programs to professional nurses. The
OU College of Nursing advances health in Oklahoma and beyond by educating future leaders, engaging
in scientific discovery, translating evidence into practice and driving innovation. For more information,
visit nursing.ouhsc.edu.
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.