Newswise — Belinda Mandrell, PhD, RN, a nurse leader and associate faculty member at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, has been named to the 2020 Class of Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing. This year's inductees will be recognized for their significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Transforming Health, Driving Policy Conference, taking place virtually October 29-31, 2020.

Dr. Mandrell is director of the Division of Nursing Research at St. Jude. This division actively contributes to improving  care and outcomes for children with cancer, their families and childhood cancer survivors. by creating, applying, evaluating and sharing the highest quality clinical care research. Her research focuses on effective methods for maximizing the patients’ emotional and physical comfort, identifying mechanisms of underlying biologic and behavioral processes that contribute to suffering, facilitating patient and family coping with illness and treatment, and promoting the practice of positive health habits. 

“It is a privilege to be recognized by the academy for my research contribution in understanding the mechanism and treatment of symptoms experienced by pediatric cancer patients in active therapy and survivorship,” says Mandrell. 

The American Academy of Nursing is currently comprised of more than 2,700 nursing leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally. This year’s class of 230 fellows were selected based on their contributions to advance the public’s health. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within the profession.

Mandrell holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree from the University of Maryland, and a doctoral degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.