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.

Linda Franck Receives 43rd Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award

Linda Franck, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, is the recipient of the 2024 Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award in honor of her outstanding contributions to nursing science and research. An esteemed alumna and professor, Franck is the Jack and Elaine Koech Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing. Her influential career in interdisciplinary research focuses on family- and community-partnered interventions to improve health equity and outcomes for infants, children and reproductive-age people. 

Watch a recording of Franck's lecture, "Family Matters: Advancing Health and Equity Through Nursing-Led Research Partnerships."

Call for Nominations 

Nominations for the 44th Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award will open in December 2024. 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 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.).

42nd Helen Nahm Research Lecture Award

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).

A reception followed Im's lecture. Associate professor Soo-Jeong Lee, RN, PhD, ANP, (second from right) and professor Oi Saeng Hong, PhD, RN, FAAN, (far right) were among the attendees.

Past Recipients