The University of Florida College of Nursing celebrated research, scholarship and the future of health care at the 2025 Nursing Research Summit and Malasanos Lectureship.
This year’s theme,Then, Now & Forward: Advances in Nursing Education, Practice and Research, emphasized the power of nursing science to drive meaningful change in patient care, policy and practice.
With a focus on honoring the legacy of nursing, while looking to its future, the event featured more than 70 research posters from undergraduate, graduate and faculty across a wide range of topics.
In addition to poster presentations, the event featured lightning talks, where students and faculty delivered dynamic, rapid-fire presentations of their research in just five minutes.
In her keynote address, Dean Shakira Henderson, PhD, DNP, MS, MPH, EMBA, IBCLC, RNC-NIC, UF Health Chief Nursing Executive, opened by stating she hoped to provoke thought and discussion about the state and future of nursing. She emphasized the importance of reflecting on nursing’s past, understanding the present and envisioning the future, especially within education, practice and research.
Then, nurses were seen mainly as assistants, with minimal leadership roles and education focused on limited tasks. Now, nursing is recognized as a science and a profession requiring leadership, critical thinking, community health engagement and advanced degrees. In her vision forward, Henderson stressed the need to embrace ongoing transformation, including interprofessional collaboration, technology and AI integration.
She detailed the growing dangers nurses face on the job from exposure to potentially deadly diseases to increased violence from patients. All while some continue to think of nursing in “then” terms.
Nursing must find a way to unite and speak with one voice to promote unified vision for the future.
The summit also served as a platform for mentorship and connection. Dean Henderson hosted a Lunch and Learn session with PhD students, engaging in thoughtful discussion about their research interests, career goals, and the evolving landscape of academic nursing.
This year’s Nursing Research Summit and Malasanos Lectureship reaffirmed UF College of Nursing’s commitment to excellence in research and to preparing the next generation of nurse scientists and leaders.
The Research Summit poster winners were announced during the event and included four divisions:
Undergraduate Student:
Jenny Ng, First-place
Morgan Emmi, Second-place
PhD Student:
Aisha Rabie, First-place
Rachel Ajiboye, Second-place
DNP Student:
Mayuko Mondestin, First-place
Jacinda Angulo, Second-place
Professional:
Giovanni Banuchi, First-place
Jennifer Dungan, Second-place
