More than 80% of tenured faculty members in the URI College of Nursing have been inducted as fellows
A University of Rhode Island College of Nursing professor has been selected to receive the highest recognition of accomplishment in the nursing profession, induction as a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.
Clinical Professor Diane DiTomasso is just the latest URI faculty members to achieve the most prestigious recognition in nursing. She joins more than 80% of tenured professors in the college who are AAN Fellows. Invitation to fellowship requires nurses to demonstrate sustained exceptional contributions throughout their careers, and recognizes a nursing leader’s accomplishments in the profession.
DiTomasso is an expert in obstetrical nursing and lactation care dedicated to promoting the health of women and newborns, advocating for quality nursing care, and providing education and resources for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Her research focuses on human lactation, and she has contributed to a clearer understanding of infant weight patterns, maternal experiences, and milk expression practices to support breastfeeding success. Her studies and systematic reviews have informed clinical guidelines and are widely used by clinicians, educators, and researchers working to strengthen maternal child health.
“I am honored to be inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing,” DiTomsso said. “This recognition highlights the critical role of nursing research and clinical practice in improving the health of women, infants, and families. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the evidence that guides care and supports better outcomes for families, and I look forward to continuing work that advances maternal-child health.”
DiTomasso, who has also been inducted as a fellow in the national Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, has more than 35 years of experience in women’s health, and has worked as an obstetrical nurse and board-certified lactation consultant, in addition to her role as clinical professor of nursing and family health at URI. Her research has been widely published, and has earned previous awards from AWHONN, the International Lactation Consultant Association, the Eastern Nursing Research Society, and the Journal of Human Lactation.
Fellows of the academy are selected through a rigorous nomination and review process and are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 3,400 Fellows, AAN represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia. DiTomasso will be inducted during a ceremony at the American Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 10.