Virginia Commonwealth University

10/08/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2025 10:22

Lana Sargent of the School of Nursing selected as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

By Nan Johnson
Development and Alumni Relations

Lana Sargent, a professor, associate dean, researcher and community-focused leader in Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Nursing, will receive one of the field's most prestigious honors this month when she is inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Sargent, Ph.D., an associate professor and the associate dean for practice and community engagement, is among 299 nurse leaders selected for the 2025 class of fellows, who are being recognized for their contributions to health and health care through research, education and clinical practice. The induction will be held at the academy's annual Health Policy Conference from Oct. 16-18 in Washington.

Sargent's expertise ranges from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders research to geriatric health outcomes and community engagement. She is co-leading federally funded research on Alzheimer's progression and resiliency prediction by exploring how wearable devices, in tracking physical activity, can reveal the impact of mobility patterns and social factors on brain health, with the goal of developing interventions that can halt decline or improve cognitive function.

Sargent was appointed chair of the Virginia Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Commission in 2018. She is also conducting research and educational initiatives centered around aging and community engagement.

"The academy has been highly responsive to removing structural and societal barriers to health," Sargent said. "As a fellow, I pledge my contributions to rigorous nursing science and support of the development of future nurse scientists. Serving in this role is an honor."

Her community-focused leadership includes managing the School of Nursing's Mobile Health and Wellness Program, an innovative nurse-led model for interprofessional education and care. Originally founded to serve older adults in Richmond, the program has since adopted a lifespan approach and now serves six urban and three rural communities in Central Virginia. Over 2,700 interdisciplinary VCU health care students have gained hands-on clinical experience in communities with little access to basic health monitoring and assessment.

"Dr. Sargent's interprofessional research and leadership trajectory demonstrate her commitment to advancing nursing science and practice in the field of aging," said Patricia A. Kinser, Ph.D., Judith B. Collins and Joseph M. Teefey Distinguished Professor and dean of the VCU's School of Nursing. "She is a gifted researcher, educator, clinician and leader - a true asset to VCU and to the communities we serve."

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Virginia Commonwealth University published this content on October 08, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 08, 2025 at 16:22 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]