Suffolk Reporter

Ann-Margaret Navarra, PhD, CPNP, an Associate Professor at the Stony Brook University School of Nursing, has been chosen for a national fellowship aimed at addressing healthcare inequities through the study of social determinants of health (SDOH). The Institute for Policy Solutions (IPS) at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing selected Navarra as one of the initial 10 "innovators" for its Nursing Science Incubator for the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Solutions (N-SISS) Fellowship.

Navarra's selection was based on her exceptional qualifications and her commitment to eliminating healthcare inequities in the United States. Since joining Stony Brook Nursing in January 2024, she has also served as the Associate Dean for Nursing Research and Innovation. Her research primarily focuses on HIV/AIDS, pediatrics, chronic disease, and underserved populations.

In the 1990s, Navarra was among the first advanced practice pediatric nurses to lead care initiatives for youth living with HIV/AIDS. This work significantly contributed to advancements in HIV behavioral sciences and health equity for affected youth.

The N-SISS Fellowship is a three-year program that will eventually expand to include over 30 innovators nationwide. It serves as an incubator to assess SDOH across the country. Participants will engage in virtual and on-campus courses, guided self-study, applied research training, and mentoring. These activities aim to help each participant develop a grant proposal focused on SDOH for submission to a National Institutes of Health agency.

Navarra and her fellow cohort members will commence a two-week intensive training session in Washington, DC, starting February 3.