Lifetime Achievement in Neonatal Nursing Award
The Lifetime Achievement in Neonatal Nursing Award recognizes an individual’s longstanding commitment to and profound impact on the field of neonatal nursing. This award may be presented to a NANN member, a non-NANN member, a non-nurse, or posthumously.
The nomination period for the 2025 Awards is January 20—March 31, 2025.
Candidates will be able to meet the following criteria:
• Has participated in the publication of materials that have had a profound effect on the direction or practice of neonatal nursing.
• Completed research in the field that has contributed to the advancement of nursing practice in neonatal care or improved outcomes for neonates.
• Has actively worked with other healthcare organizations and the community to improve the quality of neonatal care across the continuum of care.
• Demonstrated outstanding initiative in advancing the education of colleagues, patients, and the public.
Nomination and Selection Process:
Nominations will be submitted by the NANN membership. NANN's Board of Directors will review the nominations and select the awardee. You may not self-nominate for the Lifetime Achievement in Neonatal Nursing Award.
Recognition and Reimbursement:
The awardee will receive complimentary conference registration, airfare/ground transportation stipend of $600, housing stipend of $500, $250 honorarium, and a trophy at NANN's Annual Conference.
2024 Recipient:
Donna Dowling, PhD RN
Click below to read more about Donna.
Dr. Donna Dowling is a distinguished figure in neonatal nursing with a career marked by unwavering dedication to neonatal practice, education, research, and mentorship. She began her career as a staff nurse in labor and delivery and as an Advanced Practice Nurse in neonatology at University Hospitals of Cleveland. She then transitioned to academia, first spending 13 years at Rush University in Chicago and then at Case Western Reserve University, where she precepted and educated student nurses in maternal and newborn care. Following her PhD, she directed a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Advanced Education Program funded by HRSA and contributed early commentaries on the cost-effectiveness of neonatal nurse practitioners. Dr. Dowling also directed the Post-Masters Doctor of Nursing Practice Program where she mentored 16 PhD and 38 DNP students.
Donna Dowling’s research, focused on preterm infant feeding, human milk provision, and safe sleep practices, has resulted in 15 peer-reviewed publications and adoption of improved protocols. Notably, her work on cup feeding for preterm infants has been cited 122 times. Since 2010, Dr. Dowling has served as the research section editor for Advances in Neonatal Care, reviewing over 50 manuscripts annually and mentoring new editorial board members.
Dr. Dowling’s leadership extends to guiding young authors and scholars, fostering the development of new neonatal research and publications. Despite retiring from academia, her commitment to mentoring and advancing neonatal nursing continues, making her a model of the values embodied by the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Dowling's lifelong contributions and dedicated service to neonatal nursing exemplify the highest standards of the profession and have left a profound impact. Congratulations to our 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Donna Dowling!
Past Recipients:
2022 - Rita H. Pickler, PhD RN FAAN
2021 - Madge E. Buus-Frank, DNP APRN-BC FAAN
2020 - Debra Brandon, PhD RN CNS FAAN
2019 - Terry Johnson, APN NNP-BC MN CLEC
2019 - Mary Ellen Honeyfield, DNP RN NNP-BC
2018 - Carol Jaeger, DNP RN APRN NNP-BC
2017 - Jacqueline McGrath, PhD RN FNAP FAAN
2016 - Diane L. Spatz, PhD RN-BC FAAN & Frances Strodtbeck, PhD RN NNP-BC FAAN
2015 - Robin L. Bissinger, PhD APRN NNP-BC FAAN
2014 - Carole A. Kenner, PhD RN FAAN & Terri Cavaliere, DNP RN NNP-BC
2011 - Gene Anderson, PhD RN FAAN
2009 - Charles Rait, MSEd BSN RN PNC
2008 - Kara L. Coker, MSN RN