Purpose

Support a professorship in the College of Nursing. The purpose of the professorship is support of excellence in nursing research in the College.

History

Dr. Linda Harman Aiken is the director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, the Claire M. Fagin Leadership Professor of Nursing and a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. She conducts research on the health care workforce and quality of health care in the U.S. and globally, and is the author of more than 300 scientific papers.

Aiken received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees in nursing from UF. She credits her education at UF for helping launch her successful career in nursing and policy research.

“My education at the UF College of Nursing was the very best, and my career was very much shaped by the vision of the future of nursing practice, education and research I was exposed to at UF, particularly by Dean Dorothy Smith,” Aiken said. “I learned the importance of thinking big, challenging the status quo and always using a patient care lens to guide my research and my career. I want to give back to UF to help the college excel in nursing research, and, by doing so, improve outcomes of health care and prepare the next generation of nurses for national leadership roles in health care.”

In 2016, Aiken was presented with a special Legacy Award by the UF College of Nursing in recognition of her commitment to the college, the University of Florida and the nursing profession.