APHON Early Career Researcher Award

Selected by the APHON Evidence-Based Practice/Research Committee and presented at the annual conference to an APHON member who is an early career nurse scientist. Investigators that received this award have a building record of conducting funded research but have not received NIH RO1 funding, primarily facilitates research by others, or has evidence of contributions to evidence-based knowledge of nursing care of children and their families in hematology/oncology arenas.

The recipient of this award receives recognition at the annual conference, in a press release, and an announcement is sent to the recipient’s employer. 

Candidates for this award must meet the following criteria:

  • APHON member in good standing
  • Completion of an independent research project that:
    • advances the care of children with cancer and/or hematological disorders and their families
    • shows significant promise for development into a program of research that will contribute to the scientific foundation for practice
  • Lead author for a data-based abstract accepted for oral presentation at an APHON conference
  • May be self-nominated or may have nomination submitted by another APHON member. If a nomination is submitted by another APHON member, the EBP/Research Committee may reach out to the nominee to obtain more detailed information to support evidence of a research portfolio if needed to support the nomination.
  • Current members of the EBP/Research Committee are not eligible for this award.

Completed nominations must include two letters of recommendation that elaborate on the above criteria. Candidates will be contacted separately to provide their CV.

Nominations must be submitted by June 15, 2025. 

The 2024 APHON Early Career Researcher Award was granted to Kimberly Pyke-Grimm, PhD RN CPHON®. Pictured left to right: APHON President 2023-2025 Dyane Bunnell, Kimberly Pyke-Grimm and APHON Past President, Dr. Casey Hooke.

Past Recipients

  • 2023: Melissa P. Beauchemin, PhD MSN RN CPNP
  • 2022: Jenny Raybin, PhD RN CPNP
  • 2021: Kitty Montgomery, PhD RN PCNS-BC CPHON®
  • 2020: Brooke Cherven, PhD MPH RN CPON®
  • 2019: Kristin Stegenga, PhD RN CPON®
  • 2018: Janice Withycombe, PhD RN MN CCRP
  • 2017: Lauri Linder, PhD APRN CPON®
  • 2015: Stacey Crane, MSN RN CPON®
  • 2011: Belinda Mandrell, MSN RN CPNP


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