Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award

The Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award is an annual award that recognizes a UCSF School of Nursing faculty member or alumnus who has made an outstanding contribution to nursing science and research.

This award honors Helen Nahm, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor emerita and dean of the UCSF School of Nursing between 1958-1969. Through her research findings, Nahm shared her ideas and vision with a new generation of nurses. It is to exemplify this excellence of scholarship and dedication of purpose that the Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award was instituted.

The Award consists of a monetary gift, commemorative plaque and medal presented at the lecture on a date to be announced.

Susan Chapman to Receive 44th Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award

Susan Chapman, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the recipient of the 2025 Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award in honor of her outstanding contributions to nursing science, health policy and research.

An esteemed professor in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Chapman is a global leader in workforce research and health policy analysis. Her workforce research focuses on transforming health workforce roles in new models of care and payment reform, the long-term care workforce and advanced practice nurses in behavioral health. She has been a principal investigator (PI), Co-PI or Co-Investigator for over 45 grants and contracts at the local, state, national and global level.

Save the date for June 4, 3 p.m., when Chapman will deliver the Helen Nahm Research Lecture. The event will be held in Genentech Hall on the Mission Bay campus. A reception will follow. Register for the event.

Call for Nominations

Nominations for the 45th Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award will open in fall 2025. The individual must be a UCSF School of Nursing faculty member or alumnus to be eligible.  

Only electronic submissions are permitted. Nominations should be forwarded to the School of Nursing Research Committee, [email protected], and include the following documents:

1) Two letters of support from peers documenting (not to exceed five pages per letter):

• Evidence of outstanding contributions to nursing science and research as illustrated by funded research, citations and publications, research students supervised and faculty mentored
• Influence and impact of the nominee on the chosen field over a sustained period of time, with particular reference to local, national and international recognition

2) Curriculum vitae

All nominations and supporting materials will be held in confidence. To avoid potential conflict of interest, School of Nursing Research Committee members should abstain from endorsing candidates (i.e. signing letters of support, etc.).

Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award

Linda Franck, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, recipient of the 2024 Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award (photo credit: Elisabeth Fall).

Franck delivered the 43rd Helen Nahm Research Lecture on May 8, 2024, at the UCSF Mission Bay campus. The title of her lecture was "Family Matters: Advancing Health and Equity Through Nursing-Led Research Partnerships."

Alumni, students, colleagues, family and friends joined Franck for a celebratory reception after the lecture.

Eun-Ok Im, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the recipient of the 42nd Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award.

Im delivered the Helen Nahm Research Lecture on May 25, 2023. The topic was reducing gender and ethnic disparities for midlife women.

Im (center) with Afaf Meleis, PhD, DrPS(hon), FAAN, professor emerita, (left) and Sandra Wess, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, (right).

Past Recipients