Alumna Zhihong Zhang Receives AACN Nursing Science Award for Cancer Research

Zhihong (Sandy) Zhang ’24N (PhD), ’23 (MS), RN, received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2024 Excellence in Advancing Nursing Science Award.

The award recognizes an outstanding dissertation by a doctoral student in nursing. A previous recipient of the School of Nursing's Jill Thayer Dissertation Award, Zhang studied resilience in symptom trajectory among older adults being treated for advanced cancer. She also holds a master's in data science from the Hajim School of Engineering.

After a successful defense this spring, she joined the Columbia University Data Science Institute as a postdoctoral researcher.

“This award is a significant recognition of my dissertation work, and it inspires me to continue pursuing my research interests in the field of geriatric oncology,” Zhang said.

At Columbia, she will expand on her dissertation work to better understand older adults’ capacity in response to treatments for advanced cancers, analyzing large data from electronic health records and patient outcomes. She hopes to provide insights into patients’ treatment tolerability and shape decision-making for this vulnerable population.

Zhang’s work has earned support from Sigma Theta Tau and the Oncology Nursing Society, and she is also an active member of both organizations. Last year, she also served as a co-coordinator of the Western New York Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Conference, hosted by the University of Rochester at the Memorial Art Gallery.

Zhang shared her gratitude for her fellow students and faculty mentors in the Rochester Oncology Nursing Research group (ROC ON), and her advisor and PhD Program Director Marie Flannery, PhD, RN.

“I want to especially thank Dr. Flannery, who has been an exceptional mentor, providing continuous support and care for both my academic and personal life,” Zhang shared. “My dissertation would not have been possible without data from Professor of Dr. Supriya Mohile (Hematology/Oncology) and guidance from my dissertation committee members, Drs. Marie Flannery, Kathi Heffner (Nursing), and Kah Poh Loh (Hematology/Oncology) as well as statistical consultation from Dr. Eva Culakova (associate professor of surgery).”

Learn more about UR Nursing's PhD in Nursing & Health Science program.

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