School of Aerospace Medicine Dean inducted as Fellow into American Academy of Nursing

  • Published
  • By Elizabeth Long
  • 711th Human Performance Wing
WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Colonel Karen Weis, dean of the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, was inducted as a Fellow into the American Academy of Nursing at the Academy's 37th Annual Meeting and Conference on Nov. 13 in Washington, D.C.

Membership in the Academy is one of the most prestigious honors in the field of nursing, according to Academy President Catherine Gillis. Candidates were nominated by two current Academy Fellows and have made outstanding contributions to nursing and health care.

"My extreme thanks go to the Academy for this honor," Colonel Weis said. "It is wonderful to be one of more than 1,600 nursing leaders in education, management, practice and research who comprise the AAN's Fellowship."

As dean of the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Colonel Weis directs enlisted, officer and graduate medical education for more than 6,000 students annually that are attending more than 100 resident and non-resident courses. She also oversees the largest aeromedical library in the world.

Colonel Weis received a doctorate in nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; a Master of Nursing Science degree in acute care nursing with obstetric focus from University of Texas Medical Branch; and a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Wichita State University.

She was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant in 1987 and is a leading researcher in women's health issues. She has received more than $750,000 in federal research funding and recently co-authored the third edition of "Psychosocial Adaption to Pregnancy" with Dr. Regina Lederman. She serves as a consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General on nursing research.

Colonel Weis' military decorations include the Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, an Aerial Achievement Medal, three Air Force Commendation medals, the Air Force Achievement Medal and a Joint Meritorious Unit Award.

Other honors include induction into the University of Texas School of Nursing Hall of Fame; Excellence in Nursing Award from Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Delta Chapter; Federal Nursing Service Award from the Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. for the paper, "Prenatal Maternal Identity Formation in a Military Sample;" and the D. Jean Wood Scholarship Award for the best research paper presented at the Southern Nursing Research Society Conference in 2007.