Dean Lisa Kitko Appointed Chair of AHA Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing
By Gianluca D'Elia
Friday, June 27, 2025
School of Nursing Dean and Independence Foundation Chair in Nursing Education Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, has started a two-year term as chair of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing (CVSN).
The CVSN Council serves as a home for cardiovascular nursing science, provides resources for nurses' professional development at all stages and career paths, and advocates for nursing and cardiovascular and stroke conditions across the lifespan.
“Engaging with the CVSN Council embodies my passion for making a tangible difference in cardiovascular health outcomes and promoting excellence in nursing science,” Kitko said in an announcement from the CVSN Council.
“Actively participating in the CVSN Council is significant. It represents not just a professional achievement, but a commitment to advancing cardiovascular health and nursing practice," she said. "Being part of this Council allows me to collaborate with fellow experts, exchange insights, and collectively address the multifaceted challenges in cardiovascular and stroke care."
Kitko, a professor of nursing and geriatric medicine, was named a Fellow of the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2015. She has been involved with the organization both locally and nationally for several years.
An award-winning nurse scientist, Kitko sheds light on the the palliative care needs of persons living with complex chronic conditions and their family caregivers, as well as the role of family caregivers in managing advanced heart failure. She has contributed to the development of interventions and support programs aimed at addressing the needs of both heart failure patients and their caregivers, and her work has been supported by the AHA and National Institutes of Health.
In 2025, Kitko also co-authored the AHA's scientific statement on palliative care and cardiovascular disease in adults. The statement emphasizes a need for palliative care services and support for both individuals and their care partners, and that effective communication, shared decision-making, age-friendly care principles, and advance care planning can significantly improve quality of life for people living with cardiovascular disease.
Kitko joined the School of Nursing as its sixth dean and vice president of the University of Rochester Medical Center in September 2022. Read more about her career and publications.
Categories: Research, Nursing Leadership