Von Visger named American Thoracic Society Fellow

Tania Von Visger, PhD, APRN, CNS, CCNS, PCCN, assistant professor in the UB School of Nursing, was selected by the American Thoracic Society as a member of their 2022 class of fellows. This mark of distinction is bestowed upon members who demonstrate dedication to pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine through education, advocacy and research. Fellows are members of ATS, a world-renowned medical society devoted to accelerating the advancement of global respiratory health.

“My ongoing service within the ATS Nursing Assembly and across other ATS Assemblies contributes to the health and well-being of pulmonary patients,” says Von Visger. “My leadership and collaboration have enriched my research in symptom self-management promotion incorporating mindfulness practice for patients with cardiopulmonary conditions such as pulmonary hypertension." 

Von Visger is experienced in trauma and critical care nursing, including 13 years as a clinical nurse specialist. Her current research focus is incorporating complementary health approaches (CHA) – non-mainstream approaches combined with conventional medical approaches – for symptom management and promoting improved health and wellness in cardiopulmonary patients. Her long-term goal is to provide CHAs that can be applied to clinical and routine care across the care continuum. Two recent grants through the NIH and UB explore mindfulness knowledge and practice among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary hypertension patients.

Von Visger was also recently invited to present at Sigma’s 34^th International Nursing Research Congress. Her poster is titled “Associations between Mindfulness Knowledge and Practice and Symptom Severity among Adults Living with Cardiopulmonary Conditions.”

Von Visger has been an active member of ATS for seven years. During this time, she has contributed to the society in a range of capacities, including as a Nursing Assembly Executive member and Program Planning Committee member. She is also co-chair of the ATS Integrative Therapy Workgroup. Von Visger has also contributed to ATS through presentations, conference organization and moderation of a thematic poster symposium.