Linda D. Scott, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FNAP, FAAN, started her term as President of the American Academy of Nursing (Academy) at the organization’s annual business meeting held on October 7, 2023. Dr. Scott is Dean and Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing, a role she has served in since 2016. A skilled and prominent nurse scientist, Dr. Scott’s research findings have directly influenced policy and practice related to patient safety and the nurse work environment. Her research, which has been widely cited and disseminated, focuses on the impact and association between nurse fatigue and adverse patient outcomes and effects, ultimately informing state and national policy recommendations and measures to help safeguard the public’s well-being.
In 2015, Dr. Scott was initially elected to the Academy’s Board of Directors (Board) and was re-elected for a second Board term in 2017. In 2021, she was elected to the position of President-Elect and she will lead the organization as President through October 2025. During her time on the Board, Dr. Scott served as Board liaison to the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Committee, Finance Committee, 50th Anniversary Committee, Fellow Selection Committee, the Fellow Selection Review Steering Committee, and in 2017, she spearheaded the planning for the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference through her role as Chair of the Policy Planning Advisory Committee. She has also served as a Board Liaison to several Academy Expert Panels; including Health Behavior, Health Equity, Psychiatric/Mental Health/Substance Use, Palliative & End of Life Care, Bioethics, and Quality Health Care. Dr. Scott has been heavily involved in the Academy’s journal, Nursing Outlook, having previously served as an Associate Editor and as an appointed member of the Editorial Board.
“I look forward to the opportunity to raise the profile of the Academy and implement innovative strategies to elevate member engagement while serving as an ambassador for the organization and conducting outreach to incredible nurses who may be interested in Fellowship,” said Dr. Scott. “My many years of active service to the organization demonstrate my commitment as a Fellow and to advancing the Academy’s mission that utilizes our expertise in nursing science, leadership, and innovation to develop health policy solutions focused on health equity.”
As President, Dr. Scott will lead the Academy’s work to develop its new 2025 – 2028 Strategic Plan. Under her leadership, the Academy will advance key recommendations passed by the Board to modernize the Fellow selection processes and amplify outreach efforts to ensure the Academy is continuing to induct nursing’s most accomplished leaders who reflect, represent, and understand the diverse patient populations and communities that nurses serve. Dr. Scott is uniquely poised to champion these efforts. She plans to leverage a strategic, intentional lens to achieve sustainable growth and increase access for nurses who are having measurable impact in research, administration, education, practice, and policy, while still honoring the history of the Fellowship.
Dr. Scott has been an active member of the organization since her induction as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2008. Prior to her service on the Board, she was a member of the Fellow Selection Committee and led the committee as Chair in 2014. As Chair, she facilitated the work to evaluate significant contributions of applicants from diverse foci, perspectives, and professional backgrounds. In this role, she promoted an environment in which the committee could engage in open, thoughtful deliberations and rigorous decision-making processes that supported the Academy’s mission and vision. She also collaborated with the Diversity and Inclusivity Taskforce (now the EDI Committee) to achieve their goals to maximize diversity within the Academy through joint presentations and assisting with the development of a diversity assessment tool.
“A central tenet of my career has been inclusive excellence. As the Academy just held its 50th anniversary celebration and my School will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, I understand the importance of reflecting on our past to help inform our vision for the future,” said Dr. Scott. “This is an opportunity to ensure that the Academy’s legacy remains one of positive impact on health equity, that nursing’s voice is amplified in policy decisions, and that nurse leaders are recognized for their outstanding expertise and efforts to advance the public’s health.”