Dr. Huda Abu-Saad Huijer, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Balamand (UOB), has been named the recipient of FNINR Ada Sue Hinshaw Award presented by the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR). Dr. Abu-Saad Huijer is the first international researcher outside the United States to receive this award, recognizing her transformative global contributions to nursing science, education, and policy.

The Ada Sue Hinshaw Award honors nurse scientists whose career-long research has significantly advanced nursing knowledge and improved health care outcomes. Dr. Abu-Saad Huijer’s work in pediatric pain management, palliative care, and nursing education has set new standards in clinical practice, research, education, and health policy, in Europe, the US, and particularly in the Middle East.

With a distinguished career spanning decades, Dr. Abu-Saad Huijer has held professorial and leadership roles at leading universities across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, including the University of California, San Francisco; University of Maastricht; University of Surrey; and the American University of Beirut. At UOB, she has spearheaded initiatives to achieve accreditation of academic programs, to advance research, education, and community health, building strong foundations for leadership in Lebanon and beyond.

Her prolific scholarly output includes over 300 peer-reviewed publications, widely recognized for their influence on pain assessment tools, integrated care models for chronically ill patients, and evidence-based palliative care practices. Her research has not only improved patient outcomes but has also shaped national and international healthcare policies, including her contributions to the WHO Expert Panel on Palliative Care in Children and the Lancet Commission on Global Access to Pain Control and Palliative Care.

Dr. Abu-Saad Huijer’s legacy is also defined by her commitment to mentorship and capacity-building, having guided numerous doctoral and postdoctoral students to establish their own successful research careers. She is a fellow and founding member of the European Academy of Nursing Science (FEANS) and an International Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), in addition to receiving numerous international honors, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the McMillan Cancer Fund in London, distinguished researcher award from the Scientific Society of Arab Nursing Faculties, the Theta Tau International (STTI) Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, the International Association for the Study of Pain Honorary membership, and the Princess Mona Regional Award for her significant contribution to the nursing profession.

“This award is not only a personal honor but also a recognition of the global relevance of nursing research,” said Dr. Abu-Saad Huijer. “I am deeply humbled to join the ranks of distinguished nurse scientists who have received the Ada Sue Hinshaw Award, and I hope this recognition inspires other researchers, particularly from the Middle East, to pursue impactful work that transcends borders.”

Dr. Abu-Saad Huijer will officially receive the award during the FNINR NightinGala, which took place on October 15, 2025, in Washington, D.C ​