Dr. Staja “Star” Booker, PhD, RN, FAAN, was inducted as a fellow to the American Academy of Nursing during the annual Health Policy Conference recently in Washington, DC.
The inductees were recognized for their substantial and sustained impact on health and health care. Booker, an assistant professor at the UF College of Nursing, is a leading researcher in pain management, particularly in underserved populations.
Her research focuses on understanding and addressing disparities in pain perception, assessment, and management in older Black patients.
Last spring, she received a $1 million National Institutes of Health grant to investigate pain self-management intervention that encourages behavioral changes in older Black participants.
“We are so proud of Dr. Booker’s scholarship and her induction as a fellow to AAN. Her research and dedication to addressing health disparities in our community are truly commendable. Congratulations to her and may her success continue,” said College of Nursing Dean Shakira Henderson.
Booker’s research has been widely recognized, earning her numerous grants and a reputation in pain management disparities.
“The conference was electric, inspiring, and transformative in many ways. I am so excited to join the ranks of so many nurses who have inspired me from a distance and from near as mentors,” Booker said. “The Living Legends awards ceremony stirred up so many emotions, and as I sat listening and watching their stories, my induction in the 2024 AAN class became crystal clear as God wanted to show me in whose path I followed—those who paved the way for me to be a successful geriatric and health equity nurse researcher.”
Booker noted among those, Dr. Faye Gary, a Black mental health nursing professor, who was denied admission into UF because of her race, but who later became a long-standing professor in the UF College of Nursing; Dr. Mathy Mezey, a pioneer consummate in geriatric nursing; and Dr. Rita Chow who works with marginalized populations.
“It was a complete honor to have family, friends, and colleagues celebrate with me. I’ll never forget the weekend of Nov. 2, 2024,” she said. “It has been one for the books for me, and I am truly grateful.”