Diane Santa Maria, Dean of the Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth, Houston, has been honored with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, highlighting her exceptional potential for leading public health research.
Santa Maria’s research has focused on HIV prevention and youth experiencing homelessness. She has shifted paradigms in understanding the intersection of adolescent health, homelessness and the detrimental effects of HIV.
The Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers acknowledges the transformative advances in science and health that can emerge from early-career researchers.
Santa Maria's accolades include a significant five-year, $3 million study funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, and a current $2.8 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to mitigate HIV in youth experiencing homelessness.
As an appointed member of the NIH Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council, Santa Maria plays an essential role in shaping HIV-related public health research agendas.
Santa Maria has also fostered an environment of innovation and collaboration at the Cizik School of Nursing, building a robust infrastructure for nursing education.
In conclusion, Diane Santa Maria’s achievements and recognition as a leader in public health research serve to reinforce the vital role of nursing in addressing complex health challenges.
Her research on HIV prevention and youth experiencing homelessness is crucial in driving policy changes and addressing systemic inequalities affecting populations at risk.
Santa Maria's focus on collaboration, innovation, and leadership serves as an example of the crucial contributions of nursing science within the larger tapestry of healthcare.
Her extensive academic background and clinical experience establishes her as a leading figure in public health nursing and sets the stage for transformative change in public health.