Alumna Recognized for Outstanding Research

Dean Marsha Lewis and Dianne Morrison Beedy.

Published September 1, 2015 This content is archived.

UB SON alumna (MS ’83) Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN, senior associate vice president of USF Health at the University of South Florida and dean of the College of Nursing, was recently selected for induction into the 2015 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). She is one of 19 nurse scientists from around the world, including Australia, Belgium, Canada and the United States, to receive this coveted award.

Morrison-Beedy will be honored with the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame award during STTI’s 26th International Nursing Research Congress on July 25, 2015 in Puerto Rico. During this event, the USF Nursing leader will also take part in a conversation with STTI President Hester C. Klopper, PhD, MBA, RN, RM, FANSA.

STTI recognized Morrison-Beedy for her outstanding achievements in research and leadership and for her continuous efforts to help transform health care. Her research on the Health Improvement Project for Teens (HIPTeens), an effective program that reduces sexual risk behavior among adolescent girls, was a major reason behind this recognition. HIPTeens is the culmination of Morrison-Beedy’s 20-year research efforts on HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

HIPTeens was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result, HIPTeens is now available to HHS grantees for reproduction through the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program. CDC has also added HIPTeens to its Compendium website, making it available to communities, agencies and organizations.

According to an announcement from STTI, Morrison-Beedy’s research will also be shared through the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository, enabling nurses everywhere to benefit from her research findings.

STTI is a global nursing organization which helps advance world health and celebrate nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. The organization has more than 135,000 members from more than 85 countries.

- DENISE PASSMORE, PhD, University of South Florida