Michele Polfuss, associate professor of nursing at UWM, has been selected to be a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.
Polfuss, who is also Joint Research Chair in the Nursing of Children, joined the UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing as an assistant professor in 2013. Her research has focused on pediatric obesity and its related comorbidities with a special focus on children who have developmental disabilities. Her research includes accurately assessing body composition, identifying the variation in energy expenditure, and highlighting the role of the family through parenting and feeding behaviors.
She is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner both in acute and primary care. Her previous clinical experience includes working in pediatrics within the subspecialties of obesity, endocrinology and cardiology.
“I am delighted to celebrate Dr. Polfuss being selected to become a fellow of the academy,” said Kim Litwack, dean of the UWM College of Nursing. “Her commitment to nursing science and improved patient outcomes shows through the work and collaborations she manages in her research chair position. Dr. Polfuss has progressively grown and built upon her existing research to be a model for others at UWM.”
The American Academy of Nursing is an honorific society that recognizes nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration and academia. Academy fellows, from nearly 40 countries, hold a wide variety of influential roles in health care. Fellows are selected based on their contributions and impact in advancing the public’s health.
“Being selected as a fellow of the academy is an honor, one in which I’m extremely proud of,” Polfuss said. “Each of the nurses who are in the academy have achieved such high success in their careers and are amazing role models. I am so proud to join this elite group who has and continues to advance the science of nursing.”
The 2022 inductees will be recognized at the academy’s annual Health Policy Conference in October.
