Rachel Pozzar, PhD, APRN, FAAN, a nurse scientist in the Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has been inducted into the American Academy of Nursing 2026 Class of Fellows.
The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Recognized for their substantial contributions to improving health outcomes, the 275 members of the 2026 class represent a distinguished cohort of nurse leaders who are poised to continue transforming health and health care for years to come.
"Invitation to fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing is one of the most prestigious honors in the nursing profession. It reflects a nurse's significant and sustained contributions to health and health care nationally and globally," said Anne Gross, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior vice president, Patient Care Services, chief nursing officer and the Ning Zhao Chair of Nursing at Dana-Farber. "This honor reflects the importance of Rachel's program of research and its potential to impact quality of life of cancer patients everywhere."
"It is a privilege to celebrate these remarkable nurse leaders whose vision, dedication and accomplishments represent the very best of our profession," said American Academy of Nursing President Debra J. Barksdale, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, ANEF, FADLN, FAAN. "Through evidence-based innovation, leadership and scholarship, they have improved outcomes, shaped policy and practice, strengthened nursing education and care delivery and advanced scalable solutions that promote healthy lives for all people. Their accomplishments demonstrate the depth and reach that define fellowship in the academy."
Pozzar is a nurse, researcher and educator. Particularly interested in gynecologic cancer, she develops innovative approaches to patient-centered communication and care while exploring aspects of patient-reported outcomes, medical decision-making and symptom science. More recently, Pozzar designed an intervention for women with gynecologic cancers that aims to optimize clinician-patient communication.
As an investigator with more than a decade of clinical nursing experience, Pozzar is an associate professor at Northeastern University and was previously an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She has published more than 60 papers on oncology topics, including journal articles in Cancer and Gynecologic Oncology.
"When I joined Dana-Farber, I immediately had the opportunity to conduct thoughtful, rigorous and impactful research, which has already made a difference for patients, families and caregivers across the institute," Pozzar said. "I am honored to have been inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and am grateful to those who have supported me."
"We are thrilled that Rachel was inducted as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. It is a testament to her far-reaching work and impact on patient care and outcomes," said Marilyn Hammer, PhD, DC, RN, FAAN, director of the Cantor Center. "She will undoubtedly contribute to the academy's mission, vision and priority areas in meaningful ways, representing both Dana-Farber and Northeastern."
The 2026 class of fellows, representing 39 states, the District of Columbia and 17 countries, was inducted during the annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., on October 10. There are more than 3,600 fellows worldwide.
Additional fellows of Dana-Farber include Gross; Hammer; Mary Cooley, PhD, RN, FAAN, a nurse scientist in the Cantor Center; Vanessa Battista, DNP, MBA, FAAN, senior director of nursing, Supportive Oncology; Joan O'Hanlon Curry, DNP, RN, FAAN, senior director of nursing, Inpatient Oncology; and Kimberly Noonan, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, former chief nurse practitioner.
