August 31, 2017
Philadelphia, PA — CGFNS International, Inc. awards Ms. Barbara Nichols, DNSc (hon), MS, RN, FAAN, former Board President and Chief Executive Officer of CGFNS, as its 2017 International Distinguished Leadership Award Recipient. Ms. Nichols will be the ninth individual to be inducted into this esteemed group of global nursing leaders.
Ms. Nichols’ professional career spans across four decades, and includes various leadership and policy-making positions in professional associations and health related organizations. Throughout her career, Barbara has championed equality and diversity in all forms, particularly advocating for minority inclusion in both the US and international nursing professions.
Guiding our organization as CEO from 1999 to 2011, Ms. Barbara Nichols made several enormous contributions to both our work and the greater global nursing community. Leading our organization during a particularly turbulent time, Ms. Nichols worked diligently to fortify CGFNS’ legitimacy as the leading credentials evaluation provider both domestically and internationally. Barbara developed the CGFNS VisaScreen® program, partnering with the US Department of Homeland Security to get CGFNS legally recognized as the only organization authorized to certify healthcare professionals seeking occupational visas.
In 2005, Ms. Nichols strengthened CGFNS’ relationship with the International Council of Nurses (ICN) by developing the International Centre on Nurse Migration (ICNM), a CGFNS and ICN partnership dedicated to develop and disseminate research, policy, and information regarding global nurse migration. Apart from organizational development, Ms. Nichols contributed greatly to advancement of global nursing scholarship during her tenure as CEO. She wrote, edited, and published more than 200 works on nursing and health care delivery, including two CGFNS books which would come to serve as the world’s official guides for foreign-educated nurses and allied health professionals wishing to migrate to the United States.
Dr. Franklin A. Shaffer, President and CEO of CGFNS International, considers it an honor to induct his predecessor and dear friend as this year’s IDL award recipient. “Barbara’s contributions to this organization are innumerable and we will be forever indebted to her for her longstanding passion and dedication to the greater nursing and healthcare community, both in the United States and throughout the world.”
“I am enthralled and honored to be the CGFNS 2017 International Distinguished Leadership Fellow and I look forward greatly to participating in this celebration” said Ms. Nichols upon being notified of her selection for this prestigious award.
Join us in recognizing and officially inducting Ms. Barbara Nichols during the CGFNS 40th Anniversary Reception, held on the evening of September 17, 2017 on the lawn of the beautiful and historic Pennsylvania Hospital. The celebrations will continue into September 18, 2017 with our 9th International Distinguished Leadership Symposium. You may find more information and register for this event here.
About the International Distinguished Leadership Award
CGFNS International, Inc. established the International Distinguished Leadership Award in 1999. Over the span of 18 years, CGFNS has recognized global nursing leaders who have dedicated their careers to the advancement of the nursing profession throughout the world.