The Yale School of Nursing (YSN) proudly celebrates that four of its distinguished faculty members have been awarded endowed professorships by the Yale Corporation – among the highest honors Yale University bestows on its faculty. These prestigious appointments recognize exceptional achievements in research, teaching, and leadership, and are awarded for the duration of the recipient’s career at Yale.
Endowed professorships reflect a lasting investment in academic excellence. Made possible by the generosity of donors committed to advancing healthcare, these endowments provide sustained support for groundbreaking contributions in nursing. They stand as a testament to the enduring value of faculty work within the university community and across local, national and global systems of care.
YSN Dean Azita Emami emphasized the significance of these appointments, “endowed professorships are an investment in advancing better health for all people,” she said. “Today, we’re honoring the lasting impact our distinguished scholars have through discovery, education and service.”
Learn more about the newly honored endowed professors:
Professor Xiaomei Cong, PhD, RN, FAAN is now the Beatrice Renfield Professor of Nursing. She is a nursing researcher with longstanding clinical and research interests in symptoms science, including the bio-behavioral mechanisms of pain and stress and self-management of health outcomes. Her research addresses some of the most complex issues surrounding early life experience in high-risk infants and implementation of pain management strategies in vulnerable populations.
Associate Professor Deena Costa, PhD, RN, FAAN has been named as the Helen Porter Jayne and Martha Prosser Jayne Professor of Nursing. Her experience as a critical care nurse has resulted in a research focus on optimization of the organization and management of critical care across the entire critical care team. She is dedicated to supporting all clinicians and creating an environment that optimizes their ability to provide high quality care for each mechanically ventilated patient, by examining key characteristics of, and interactions among, ICU interprofessional teams.
Associate Professor Soohyun Nam, PhD, APRN, ANP-BC, FAHA, FAAN is the newly named Gayle King Less Professor of Nursing. In addition to her YSN position, she is a faculty affiliate of the Yale Institute for Global Health. An internationally recognized expert in cardiometabolic health, health disparities, and community-engaged research, Dr. Nam brings over 25 years of clinical experience as a nurse practitioner to her research and mentorship. Her research has focused on healthcare disparities that are the outcome of structural and social determinants.
Professor Xuehong Zhang, MBBS, MSc, ScD has been named as the Florence Wald Professor of Nursing. Dr. Zhang has an extensive record of research and publication on primary prevention and early detection of gastrointestinal diseases and cancers; advancing clinical care quality; and promoting health equity and global health. As a dedicated mentor, he takes pleasure in teaching and has actively mentored more than 30 early-career researchers at Harvard and other institutions.
By furthering excellence in teaching, research, and service, these endowed professorships elevate the entire field and inspire the next generation of nurse leaders.