In September 2024, the Nurses’ Health Study 3 (NHS3) established a nurse-led Advisory Board. The Board advises NHS3 leadership on effective strategies to engage current and prospective participants in research and how best to fulfill the study’s Mission & Vision. The Board, composed of nurses with expertise in various disciplines, ensures that nursing perspectives and expertise are integrated into the study’s work.
Board members actively contribute to the nursing field in their roles as researchers, educators, clinicians, and more. Their diverse backgrounds and perspectives enhance our discussions and decisions, with the goal of maximizing the study’s impact.
When asked why he accepted the invitation to join the NHS3 Advisory Board, co-chair Aron King said, “This opportunity allows me to build connections with other nursing scholars. By lending my voice to this space, I aim to contribute to research that informs meaningful change while strengthening my own academic journey.” King is a PhD candidate at the University of California, Davis, and a Nurse Manager at UC Davis Health in Sacramento, California.
Pictured: Mr. Aron King speaking on the “Advancing Nursing Education” panel at the American Nursing Association 2025 Equity in Nursing Summit in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Michael Jones serves as co-chair alongside Aron King. He is the Associate Dean for Culture and Engagement at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and he is interested in increasing male representation in nursing. Dr. Jones shared that he joined the board because “I was sold on the fact that NHS3 is aimed at addressing the many issues faced by nurses. The nursing profession is something I hold very dear.”
Pictured: Dr. Michael Jones speaking on a panel titled “Breaking Barriers: Empowering Men in Nursing” at the American Nursing Association 2025 Equity in Nursing Summit in Washington, D.C.
The creation of the Board is just one of the ways we are addressing participant feedback and ensuring nurses are involved in all aspects of the study. We look forward to the Advisory Board giving nurses an expanded voice behind the scenes at NHS3. Investigator Jaime Hart says, “None of the primary investigators in NHS3 is a nurse. We’ve worked hard to do our homework and talk to nurse-experts when designing questions; however, we realized an external advisory board was needed to make sure NHS3 is a study for nurses, not just of nurses. We’re honored so many nurse leaders accepted our invitation.”
The NHS3 team is grateful to the amazing nurses currently serving as our inaugural Advisory Board members.
Advisory Board members and their current affiliations:
Katie Boston-Leary PHD, MBA, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, FADLN
Senior Vice President of Equity and Engagement, American Nurses Association
Sasha DuBois MSN, RN, NEA-BC
Nurse Director, Spaulding Rehabilitation Mass General Brigham
Stephanie Ferguson PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor of the Practice of Health Policy & Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Michael L. Jones PhD, MBA/HCM, RN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Culture, Engagement & Professional Development, East Carolina University
Aron King PhD(c), RN, MS
Assistant Nurse Manager, UC Davis Health
Adrienne Martinez-Hollingsworth PhD, MSN, RN, PHN, WAN
Director of Research and Evaluation for the Institute for Health Equity, AltaMed Health Services
Melissa Pérez Capotosto Ph.D., WHNP-BC
Associate Professor of the Practice, Connell School of Nursing
Carter Todd MS, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CCRN
Nurse Manager, Kaiser Permanente
To learn more about the NHS3 Advisory Board members, follow our social media. We will highlight individual board members in the coming months.