Sheila H. Ridner, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, the Martha Rivers Ingram Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN), will be honored by Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) with induction into its International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be held July 29 during the 28th International Nursing Research Congress held in Dublin, Ireland.
Ridner is an internationally recognized scientist and expert in the field of lymphedema and lymphatic research. Her pioneering work on lymphedema—painful and sometimes dangerous swelling caused by retained fluid in the lymphatic system after cancer treatment—has led to worldwide standards of care for the more than 140 million lymphedema patients across the globe. Ridner’s research and development of potential treatments focus on early detection and self-care and have the potential to improve quality of life for cancer survivors diagnosed with lymphedema.
The principal investigator on several active studies, Ridner has received more than $14 million in research grants from the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, Vanderbilt University, and Tactile Medical and ImpediMed, medical device manufacturers.
Ridner serves as the director of VUSN’s Ph.D. in Nursing Science program and is known for her mentorship of other nurse-researchers, several of whom have also pursued groundbreaking work in lymphedema management. She is also a member of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Scientific Review Committee.
Also among the 23 honorees will be part-time VUSN professor Lorraine C. Mion, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN. Mion, an expert in acute care geriatrics with a focus on patient safety, is also a research professor at the Ohio State University College of Nursing.
Induction into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame recognizes nurse researchers who are considered venerated by colleagues and the profession. It is awarded to those who have achieved significant and sustained national or international recognition and whose research has improved the profession and the people it serves. Inclusion in the hall is considered one of the highest honors in nursing research. The 2017 class includes honorees from Australia, Canada, Finland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.