An interdisciplinary team of educators from the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies received the 2026 Writing Award from the scholarly, peer-reviewed journal Nurse Educator. The prestigious award recognizes authors Andrew Porter, Ph.D., Nicole A. Gonzaga Gomez, D.N.P., Beck Eliot Graefe, Ph.D., Ashley Falcon, Ph.D., and Cynthia Foronda, Ph.D., for outstanding scholarly writing that advances nursing education and practice.
The collaboration united faculty with expertise in public health (Porter and Falcon), nursing (Gonzaga Gomez and Foronda), and education (Graefe contributed while completing a Ph.D. in research, measurement, and evaluation).
The manuscript, which appeared in Nurse Educator’s September/October 2025 issue, was selected from among all Nurse Educator articles published in 2025. “This is a special award recognizing your important contributions to nursing education,” Marilyn H. Oermann, Ph.D., the journal’s editor-in-chief and a Duke University distinguished professor of nursing, shared with the team in May. The award “reflects excellence in writing and fosters an inclusive and sustainable work and learning environment in academic nursing,” she said.
The award-winning article, “Teaching Truth in Turbulent Times: Navigating Politicized Policies on Sex and Gender in Nursing Education,” examines how nurse educators can uphold scientific integrity and inclusive, evidence-based educations.
Nominated by Nurse Educator, the article won a second award in June—the 2026 APEX Award for “Excellence in Writing about Social Issues.” APEX Awards for Publication Excellence are open to all corporate, nonprofit, and independent sector communicators across all fields and topics of interest.
These two national accolades highlight the power of interdisciplinary collaboration to address pressing educational challenges while advancing knowledge in nursing and health professions education. They also reflect the school’s commitment to scholarship that informs practice, promotes excellence in teaching, and contributes to meaningful conversations shaping the future of health care.
“This collaboration was shaped by the support, insights, and commitment of a community dedicated to seeking truth,” stated Dr. Porter, first author on the piece and an associate professor of clinical at the School of Nursing and Health Studies.
