In an era of rapidly spreading misinformation and eroding public trust, nurse leaders are finding new ways to make health information clear, credible and compelling. That challenge was a central focus during the seventh annual convocation of the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators this summer in Washington, D.C.

More than 50 fellows from five cohorts gathered from across the nation June 23-28 for structured learning experiences focused on leadership, interpersonal skills, negotiation and strategic communications. They were joined by more than 20 members of the Fellowship National Advisory Council (FNAC) and program faculty, along with prominent nurse leaders and program staff.

Fellows engaged with nurses from the Hillman Scholars in Nursing Innovation, grantees of The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation and Hillman leadership and staff. Together, they explored how nurse innovators can lead with greater clarity and purpose, communicate evidence effectively and influence policy.

"This is the second year we've brought together the Betty Irene Moore Fellows with Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation grantees and scholars, and it's exciting to see the connections, collaboration and community that continue to grow among these nurse changemakers," said Heather M. Young, national program director for the fellowship. "Seeing them work together to address shared challenges, exchange ideas and learn from one another shows the power of bringing these leaders together and the impact they can have when they combine their experiences, expertise and perspectives."

Communicating research and impact

In the symposium titled "Signal Through the Noise: Strategic Communications for Nurse Changemakers," panelists discussed conducting and communicating research with the community.

Moderated by Schenita D. Randolph, a 2020 cohort fellow from Duke University, the panel explored practical strategies for translating research into meaningful, real-world impact by strengthening connections between researchers and the communities they serve.

"I was honored to facilitate a discussion on strategic communication for public health impact because transformative ideas and research must reach beyond academic spaces to inform, engage, influence and create change," Randolph said afterward. "Convocation is a safe space to collaborate, grow, innovate and execute strategies that will purposefully have impact beyond our time together."

Other sessions equipped participants with practical tools to influence policy, engage communities and break through the noise that can obscure facts, amplify misleading narratives and drown out trusted voices. They included:

• A panel discussion exploring successful policy advocacy strategies through the lens of Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) scope of practice reform
• A group workshop about reframing critical issues for different audiences to achieve maximum impact
• A collaborative storytelling activity encouraging participants to embrace imperfection and release the pressure to be perfect
• A discussion examining the role of digital creators in advancing credible health information
• A hands-on workshop to develop communication strategies using realistic scenarios, stakeholder analysis and simulated media environments.

"I found the convocation inspiring and extremely relevant to amplifying my fellowship project and the work that I plan to do moving forward. I felt very connected in the space that was created for us," said Dawn Bounds, a 2022 cohort fellow from UC Irvine. Bounds said she valued the shared events as an uplifting opportunity to connect with fellow nurse leaders and explore ways to amplify their work.

Pitching journalists and celebrating the 2023 cohort

Fellows from the 2024 cohort put their communications skills into practice by presenting their projects to a panel of six journalists from prominent national media organizations. Each fellow made a two-minute news story pitch then received feedback on how to sharpen their message and increase its appeal to the news media.

"I appreciated the panel's advice to lead with what the new data show, share personal stories when possible, connect the findings to costs when relevant and, above all, not let perfect be the enemy of good," said Blake McGee from Augusta University.

Fellows gathered for a special lunch reception to reflect on their Convocation experience and celebrate the accomplishments of the 2023 cohort as they completed the three-year fellowship. Cohort members marked the milestone with a lively, Family Feud game show style celebration that highlighted their experiences, accomplishments and lasting connections forged throughout the program.

"It's really been an enlightening, iterative growth experience. I'm a better scientist - but I would argue that I'm also just a better professional, leader and human - after going through this experience," said Breanna Hetland, a 2023 cohort fellow from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine.

About the Fellowship

The Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators launched in 2020 with a $37.5 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The foundation gave an additional $7.4 million in 2023 to increase the number of future fellows and build on the fellowship's momentum. Early- to mid-career nursing scholars and innovators are selected to participate in the three-year program and take part in an innovative project or study. Fellows receive $450,000 in funding for their project plus $50,000 for their home institution. Fellows gather annually for a convocation and participate in an online learning community and mentorship throughout the three-year period. The foundation has funded five cohorts of fellows, with the fifth cohort concluding its three-year program on June 30, 2027.