Leorey Saligan has been named the first vice dean of research at the Rutgers School of Nursing, following his service as a tenured senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health.
Saligan, who joined the Rutgers School of Nursing as an adjunct professor last September, has more than 30 years of nursing experience and has advanced nursing science and health care through innovative clinical trials and translational research at the National Institute of Nursing Research, Division of Intramural Research. His NIH-funded research focuses on the nature and causes of fatigue resulting from cancer and its treatments.
In his vice dean role, which began Feb. 1, Saligan will identify and advance the school of nursing’s research priorities, cultivate externally funded, faculty-led programs of research with an emphasis on NIH or NIH-equivalent funding, mentor research-focused faculty and aid in the recruitment of research-focused faculty.
“This appointment celebrates the strength and momentum of research at Rutgers School of Nursing,” said Dean and Professor Angela Starkweather. “Building on our school’s strong foundation, Leo’s globally recognized scholarship and innovative leadership will help amplify our research enterprise and expand the reach and impact of our faculty’s work in improving health across communities and health systems.”
A nationally certified family nurse practitioner, Saligan joined NIH — the nation’s medical research agency — in 2006. He examines persistent cancer-related fatigue and associated symptoms, including cognitive impairment, pain and sleep disturbances with the goal of improving quality of life for cancer patients, survivors and their families. He brings with him a collaborating network of scientists and experts based at the NIH as well as at universities nationwide and internationally.
“This network of expertise will help Rutgers School of Nursing faculty connect with other researchers and build partnerships and infrastructures that promote translational research within our school,” Saligan said. “At the heart of my work is mentorship. Over the years at the NIH, I built a consortium of early-career and mid-career researchers who have collaborated, creating standardized research outcomes and common databases that they use to publish papers and apply for grants. I plan to bring the same template to the School of Nursing.”
Saligan is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, and his honors also include the 2024 Outstanding Mentor Award from the National Institute of Nursing Research and the 2024 Outstanding Service Medal from the Office of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
