UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Center for Brain Health Equity Launches Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Center for Brain Health Equity Launches Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship

The Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship will empower nurses with the knowledge and public health skills needed to promote brain health in African American and Latino communities

Washington, DC (June 9, 2022)— Today, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Center for Brain Health Equity (the Center) announced the first-of-its-kind Brain Health Equity Nurse Fellowship. With African American and Latino people disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s, the fellowship program is designed to improve brain health and Alzheimer’s disease knowledge, cultivate leadership, and promote conversations across a national network of nurses and experts working at the intersections of brain health, public health, and health equity.

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s also released the names of the 2022 class of fellows, which is made up of twelve African American and Latino Nurses, with the goal of promoting brain health in the communities they serve. 

The Nurse Fellowship is led by the Center in collaboration with the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN), the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA), and an interdisciplinary network of subject matter experts. The fellowship is fully supported by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Healthy Brain Initiative. 

“The numbers are staggering. Black Americans are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s than white people. Latino people are 1.5 times more likely. This should be unacceptable to every American, said George Vradenburg, chair and co-founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. “This fellowship is so important because it helps cultivate these nurses to become champions of brain health in their communities. I am grateful to our partners for their commitment to working with us on brain health equity.”

“Prioritizing health equity in the race to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s is core to the Center’s mission. It’s what drives us every day.” said Stephanie Monroe, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and Executive Director of AfricanAmericansAgainstAlzheimer’s, a network of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. “We’re excited to build upon the Center’s mission by collaborating with nursing professionals and community-based organizations to develop tailored public health strategies for African American and Latino communities. The fellowship will educate and empower participants to take action in their own communities, which is an important step toward addressing health inequities.”

The fellowship will run June to December 2022 and fellows will receive stipend while learning how to become brain health ambassadors.

Nurses play an integral role in advancing health equity and improving the health of our communities,” said Dr. Adrianna Nava, President of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). “NAHN is thrilled to partner with UsAgainstAlzheimer's and the CDC to empower the nurse workforce with culturally tailored brain health messages and public health strategies to support the communities where our members live and work.”

“The Brain Health Equity Fellowship will be critical to ensuring Black nurses are prepared with the tools and messages they need to respond to dementia in communities across the country,” said Patricia Lane, MBA, RN, FAAN, Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Brain Health of the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). “Our work with UsAgainstAlzheimer’s and the CDC is an important step in building a brain healthy future for the communities 308,000 Black nurses represent.” Dr. Martha A. Dawson, President of the National Black Nurses Association, Inc., added that “this fellowship program is an excellent example of how professional nursing associations can partner with industry leaders and each other to address issues and improve health outcomes.” I congratulate this inaugural fellow’s cohort for their commitment to service excellence.”

The full roster of 2022 Brain Health Equity Fellows can be found here.

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About UsAgainstAlzheimer’s

UsAgainstAlzheimer’s exists to conquer Alzheimer’s disease. We take on the toughest problems; bring all of “Us” together to break down barriers; advocate for research that will speed treatments to market; and drive changes that matter most to people living with the disease. We will not rest until brain-span equals lifespan - for everyone.