Two Loyola faculty members to be inducted into the American Academy of Nursing

Two Loyola University Chicago faculty will be inducted as fellows into the prestigious American Academy of Nursing (AAN) in recognition of their contributions to nursing science and their substantial impact in advancing public health.

Jenny O’Rourke, associate professor and associate dean of academic affairs in the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, and Monique Ridosh, associate professor in the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON), will join the organization during a November ceremony in Washington, D.C. 

O’Rourke specializes in developing and testing strategies to improve nursing education and practice using simulation-based experiential learning. Ridosh’s research advances the science of self-management and quality of life in families living with spina bifida.  

Fellows are selected for membership in the AAN through a competitive peer review process and induction is a significant career milestone. “Becoming an AAN fellow is one of the highest honors in nursing,” said Lorna Finnegan, dean of the School of Nursing. “Having two nurse leaders from Loyola be invited to join this organization reflects the caliber of our faculty in the School of Nursing and across the breadth of our Health Sciences programs. We are honored to have these faculty represent Loyola.” 

The AAN is a health policy organization and honorific society composed of more than 3,000 fellows who hold roles in policy, research, practice, administration, and academia. According to the AAN, fellows collectively contribute their expertise to improving health and health equity through policy impact.  

A leader in simulation

Simulation—the use of sophisticated mannequins or patient actors to help develop clinical skills—in nursing education and practice has increased dramatically in the past two decades, and O’Rourke spearheaded the early adoption of simulation in graduate nursing programs. She has partnered with national and international organizations on simulation curriculum development, course facilitation, and outcome evaluation.     

During the coronavirus pandemic, O’Rourke led the creation of a telehealth toolkit and telehealth competencies for advanced practice nursing, a project funded through the federal Health Research Services Administration (HRSA).   

O’Rourke, who previously worked as director of simulation at the University of Illinois Chicago, came to Loyola in 2016 as an assistant professor and associate dean for graduate programs at MNSON. She transitioned to Parkinson in 2023.  

“The world of nursing education opened me to opportunities in research, interdisciplinary collaboration and leadership,” she said. “I believe my nursing background and the role of associate dean is in direct alignment with my goals to support the diverse programs within Parkinson while growing new academic initiatives.” 

Parkinson Dean Elaine Morrato said O’Rourke’s innovative strategies have elevated the school’s reputation within the fast-growing field of health care. “We are proud of her recognition as a leader in interprofessional nursing education with expertise in high-quality simulation and graduate education,” she said. “The Parkinson School is honored to have her academic affairs leadership in advancing new and exciting interdisciplinary programs to prepare our students for immediate impact in health care delivery and public health.”

Improving patient, family quality of life 

Ridosh seeks to understand why some children with spina bifida are better able to independently manage their condition than others and develop novel family-centric models of care that improve well-being for patients and their families.  

Approximately 1 in 2,875 babies in the United States are born each year with spina bifida, which requires lifelong care to manage their condition. Ridosh’s research, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), emphasizes the importance of assessing depressive symptoms, quality of life for patients and their families, and self-management. 

Ridosh, who came to the School of Nursing in 2007 and recently completed a prestigious three-year NIH career development award, noted that people who identify as Hispanic or Latino are disproportionately impacted by unexplained high rates of spina bifida. Her research has shown differences in self-management related to family relationships and the role of an engaged family as central to quality of life. 

“My research advances the health of diverse communities of children and families living with chronic conditions and disabilities,” she said. “I advocate for those families that are understudied and underserved in our clinical research and health care systems.”  

Dean Finnegan noted that Ridosh’s research, service, and advocacy have been extended to those living with diabetes and have generated new insights within nursing for the disability community nationally and globally. 

“Even as her work is having an extraordinary impact on the lives of children and families living with spina bifida, she is a voice for health equity by advocating for people of all communities to be included in nursing research,” she said.   

Read more stories from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. 

Read more stories from Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health.