Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing authored 637 research publications in 2024, up from 578 in 2023. The third-annual Research and Academic Affairs Awards once again celebrated so many of those individual and team efforts, reminding us all that research remains one of the most effective and enduring ways to advance health—improving outcomes for individuals and communities, both locally and globally.
2025 Research Administration Staff Award—Wura Olawole
Wura Olawole is a biostatistician in the Biostatistics and Methods Core at the Nursing Office of Research Administration (NORA) and works as a research data analyst for the School of Nursing. In her three years at JHSON, she’s been involved in 13 projects, including the myPlan app intervention and a dating violence study as well as international work on addressing gender-based violence in Somalia and female genital mutilation and child marriage in Kenya.
2025 Research Staff Award—Hanna Charankevich and India Kutcherman
Over the past two years, Hanna Charankevich has used open-source data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) to analyze late-life disability trends and linked Medicare and Medicaid data for further insights. She has co-authored four articles, contributed to a grant application, and helped shape policy recommendations while also playing a key role in data management, project development, and studying health care cost savings and the effects of an increased minimum wage.
India Kutcherman joined the team almost three years ago and has quickly become a key leader in the NIH-funded CEAL DMV research project. As senior research program coordinator, she’s played an essential role in coordinating a $5.6M trial, overseeing everything from grant writing to team communication and study management across multiple institutions. Kutcherman’s organizational skills, attention to detail, and proactive problem-solving have been instrumental in the success of a complex project.
2025 Graduate Research Assistant Award—Erh-Chi Hsu
Erh-Chi Hsu quickly made herself a key part of a complex project on memory care in assisted living, becoming a go-to member for her insight and leadership. She not only helped analyze state regulations but also trained new team members and brought fresh ideas to the table. This curiosity and drive are also shining through in a study she’s leading on how access to assisted living affects nursing home residents living with dementia.
2025 Teaching Assistant Award—Thomas Hinneh
Thomas Hinneh has proven an organized, thoughtful, and supportive teaching assistant over the past few years, mentoring dozens of students through complex data projects, offering guidance, clear communication, and individualized support. His ability to lead with care and clarity, even in challenging situations, has made a genuine difference in the student experience.
2025 Outstanding Postdoctoral Research Fellow Award—Asma Rayani
Since joining the SAFE HEART study team last summer, Asma Rayani has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation, developing comprehensive standard operating procedures for community engagement and facilitating impactful collaborations. She also submitted three abstracts—on cardiovascular health equity, mental health, and disparities within Asian American subgroups—that were accepted for presentation at major conferences.
2025 Outstanding Dissertation Award— Emma Jagasia
Emma Jagasia was recognized for her groundbreaking dissertation, “Examining the Effects of Violence Exposure on Neurobehavioral Development During Early Adolescence.” Childhood exposure to violence is a global epidemic, impacting over a billion children every year. Jagasia’s innovative research shines a light on this urgent issue by exploring how violence experienced in early adolescence—a time of rapid brain development—affects long-term neurobehavioral outcomes.
2025 Excellence in Health Equity Research Award—Thomas Hinneh and Kelly Bower
Thomas Hinneh is a rising leader in health equity research, with a focus on cardiovascular disease and diabetes among underserved populations in the U.S. and Africa. Through projects like the AFRO-DPP, the LINKED-BP study, and community-based work in Baltimore and Ghana, he has advanced innovative, community-driven solutions to health disparities.
Kelly Bower’s groundbreaking research has shaped our understanding of how racism, discrimination, and structural inequities impact birth outcomes. Her work doesn’t stop at research—she’s led statewide implicit bias training, developed equity toolkits for hospitals, and built lasting partnerships with community organizations. Her commitment to justice, innovation, and impact is transforming maternal health across Maryland and the nation.
2025 Excellence in Community-Engaged Research Award—Faith Metlock and Oluwabunmi Ogungbe
Faith Metlock was recognized for her outstanding commitment to community-engaged research. Her dissertation work explores how social and psychological factors influence hypertension among Black and Hispanic women—groups often overlooked in cardiovascular research. As program manager for the SAFE HEART study, she’s led culturally tailored interventions and fostered strong community partnerships. From her early work in the Black Impact Study to her current research, she exemplifies research done with communities, not just about them.
Bunmi Ogungbe is known for her innovative, community-engaged research advancing cardiovascular health equity. Her THRIVE study—an adaptive intervention combining produce prescriptions and personalized dietitian coaching—addresses hypertension in food desert communities through a food-as-medicine model. Her commitment to authentic partnerships and translating research into practice exemplifies how community-centered approaches can drive meaningful, lasting health improvements.
2025 Outstanding Faculty Research Paper Award—Jennifer Peterson and Noelene Jeffers
Jennifer Peterson’s “Trisomy 21 and Congenital Heart Disease: Impact on Health and Functional Outcomes from Birth Through Adolescence” stands out for its comprehensive and compassionate approach to care. By translating evidence into actionable recommendations and highlighting future research priorities, the paper not only advances clinical practice but also advocates for more equitable, inclusive, and ethical care.
Noelene Jeffers’ “This Year Is Not About Carrying the Heaviest Burden” offers an innovative contribution to maternal health equity by centering the postpartum experiences of Black women in Washington, DC. Rather than focusing solely on adverse outcomes, the paper emphasizes promoting well-being and offers actionable recommendations to transform post-partum care. It represents a powerful call to reimagine care through a lens of equity and justice.
2025 Exceptional Community Partner in Research Recognition Award—Anna Maria Izquierdo-Porrera
This award honors organizations that demonstrate a deep commitment to supporting research that uplifts and benefits the local community. Care For Your Health Inc. (C4YH) and Executive Director Anna Maria Izquierdo-Porrera deliver inclusive, multicultural health care to low-income and minority communities across Maryland through an innovative model that includes community and mobile clinics, home health services, and outreach programs. Serving over 10,000 individuals in 2022—most of whom are Spanish-speaking and Hispanic—C4YH has earned deep trust within historically marginalized populations.
2025 Excellence in Research Mentoring—Martha Abshire Saylor, Kelly Gleason, Kali Thomas, and Katie Thompson
Martha Abshire Saylor invests time in understanding each student’s unique goals, strengths, and challenges. She meets mentees where they are in their academic journey and helps them grow as compassionate, ethical scholars. She encourages critical thinking and fosters a culture of open dialogue where questions and new ideas are welcomed. Under her mentorship, students develop their research identities and grow both academically and personally.
Beyond academic guidance, Kelly Gleason’s mentorship extends to supporting mentees through personal transitions. She demonstrates deep understanding and flexibility, offering encouragement during challenging times. Her commitment to normalizing the dual identity of scholar and parent sets an example that strengthens the academic community and promotes inclusivity.
Kali Thomas brings rigor, vision, and dedication to developing emerging scholars, known for investing deeply in her mentees’ growth—helping them shape meaningful research, navigate structural barriers, and connect with experts and opportunities that propel their careers. Her mentees thrive not only because of her expertise, but because of her kindness and contagious passion for improving the lives of older adults.
Katie Thompson has demonstrated exceptional dedication to DNP students throughout their doctoral journey, providing invaluable support and guidance, helping students refine their projects and build confidence in their work. Her guidance on the interconnectedness of the DNP program and real-life practice ensures that students are not only learning theory but also gaining practical insights that will serve them throughout their careers.