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 (pictured, left). 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

Call for Nominations: 45th Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award — Jan. 16, 2026

Nominations for the 45th Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award are now open with a deadline of 5 p.m., Jan. 16, 2026.

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 at [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.).

Susan Chapman Receives 44th Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award

Susan Chapman, PhD, RN, FAAN, was honored with the 2025 Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award in recognition 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.

Chapman received the prestigious award in the presence of colleagues and friends during a celebration on June 4, 2025, on the Mission Bay campus. During the event, Chapman delivered the lecture "Becoming a Nurse Change Agent: A Health Policy Journey." Read an article about the event.

Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award

Susan Chapman, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, recipient of the 2025 Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award.

Chapman delivers the 44th Helen Nahm Research Lecture.

Friends and colleagues attend Chapman's award celebration and lecture event on June 4 at the UCSF Mission Bay campus.

Friends and colleagues attend Chapman's award celebration and lecture event on June 4 at the UCSF Mission Bay campus.

Chapman with Jose Gutierrez, PhD, FNP-BC, AAHIVS, assistant professor, and Caroline Dancu, PhD, alumna and incoming postdoctoral scholar in the National Clinician Scholars Program, a program Chapman helped launch at UCSF.

Past Recipients