April Haberyan Named Distinguished Fellow of National Academies of Practice
By Gianluca D'Elia
Friday, January 3, 2025
Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing April Haberyan, PhD, MS, RN, CNE, was named a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.
The NAP’s distinguished fellowship honors individuals who have made significant, enduring contributions to health care practice, research, education, and public policy. Founded in 1981, the nonprofit advises governmental bodies on healthcare, fosters collaboration, and advances patient-centered care. Distinguished fellows are elected by their peers from multiple different health professions to join the interprofessional group.
Part of the School of Nursing faculty since 2022, Haberyan has extensive experience in behavioral and mental health and wellness and is a nationally recognized expert in disaster response.
“Receiving this recognition is truly an honor and a humbling acknowledgment of my work to advance behavioral and mental health, wellness, and disaster response,” Haberyan said. “This recognition motivates me to continue advocating for better mental health support, particularly in disaster response, and to further contribute to developing healthcare practices and policies prioritizing the well-being of first responders and communities in crisis.”
Haberyan earned her bachelor’s in nursing and master’s in adult psychiatric mental health nursing at the University of Rochester, and holds a master’s in psychology and PhD in social psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She began her career as a staff nurse on an inpatient psychiatric unit at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center and has served as an administrative director of a hospital mental health unit, a health coach, and as a behavioral health nurse educator and nurse residency program manager.
She has been honored with numerous awards, including the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Education, the Indispensable Woman of the Year Award from Northwest Missouri State University, and the University of Rochester School of Nursing’s Josephine Craytor Nursing Faculty Award.
As a recent Geriatric Faculty Scholar at the University of Rochester Aging Institute, Haberyan identified gaps in curriculum related to older adult care in the School of Nursing’s Accelerated Bachelor’s program, with the goal of developing geriatric educational content that can be nationally disseminated.
In 2024, she earned first place in education posters at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association’s annual conference for a presentation highlighting her work with faculty colleagues to develop an older adult mental health simulation for Accelerated Bachelor's students, using the 4Ms Framework of Age-Friendly Health Systems.
In her past work as a nurse residency program manager, she has guided newly graduated nurses through their transition to practice, equipping them with the skills and support they need to succeed in a high-stakes healthcare environment.
Haberyan has also provided disaster mental health training to students in the U.S. and Macedonia, collaborating with professionals from various disciplines to prepare future practitioners to respond effectively to crises. Additionally, she facilitated critical incident debriefings for firefighters and emergency medical responders, helping them process the emotional toll of their work.
In her previous work at Northwest Missouri State, she helped create a campus-wide suicide prevention program, a vital resource aimed at saving lives and promoting mental health on campus.
As part of the Academies, Haberyan looks forward to extending her national impact.
“Being part of the National Academies of Practice offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with experts across disciplines and contribute to shaping healthcare practice, policy, and education,” Haberyan said. “I am especially excited about the potential to influence disaster response strategies and advocate for more comprehensive mental health care for first responders.”
“I believe my experience in interdisciplinary teamwork, disaster response, and healthcare education will enable me to offer valuable insights. I am eager to work alongside others who share the commitment to improving healthcare for individuals in crisis and the professionals who serve them.”
Haberyan shared her gratitude for the faculty, mentors, and leadership who have supported her as a disaster responder, educator, nurse residency program manager, campus suicide prevention program developer, and wellness coach.
“Their guidance, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to the mission have been invaluable,” she said.
Class of 2025 fellowship inductees will be celebrated at the NAP’s Annual Meeting & Forum in Washington, D.C., in March 2025.
Categories: Nursing Leadership, Alumni