Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, current president of Royal College of Nursing, is the only nurse among the latest group of leading health researchers to be elected to the prestigious fellowship.
“I am proud to represent the nursing profession through this fellowship”
Anne Marie Rafferty
The Academy of Medical Sciences is an independent UK body that’s stated mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society.
Professor Rafferty was selected for her outstanding contribution to advancing medical science and translating research developments into benefits for patients and wider society.
This research has contributed to improving patient outcomes and ensuring the care nurses provide excels.
A spokeswoman for the academy confirmed that Professor Rafferty was the only nurse invited to join the fellowship this year but highlighted that she was not the first to ever do so.
She named previous nurses that had joined the fellowship as Charles Anthony Butterworth, Jessica Corner, Nicky Cullum, Kevin Gournay and Karen Luke.
Professor Rafferty, who is also a member of the Nursing Times editorial advisory board, was elected RCN president in November 2018 and took up the position in January 2019.
In addition, she is professor of nursing policy at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative at King’s College, London.
Professor Rafferty, who will be formally admitted to the academy at a ceremony on 26 June, said: “I am proud to represent the nursing profession through this fellowship.
“Nurses across the country will take heart that they are being recognised not only for their hard work caring for patients, but also for their contribution to health research which improves the care patients receive,” she said.
“It’s particularly reassuring to see this year’s fellowship includes the highest percentage of women, and that nearly two fifths of all fellows this year are women,” said Professor Rafferty.
She added: “Coming from a profession that has always represented an opportunity for women to excel, I hope that I’m not the only nurse to receive this fellowship and that many more will follow in my footsteps.”
https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/research-and-innovation/leading-nurse-researcher-given-prestigious-scientific-fellowship/7028925.article