Boehm to Present Distinguished Research Lecture at NTI

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – April 9, 2026 – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has named Leanne Boehm, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FCCM, FAAN, as its 2026 Distinguished Research Lecturer.

Boehm will discuss her career and research journey during AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI). AACN’s annual conference, NTI 2026, will be held May 17–20 in San Diego, followed by a virtual event June 15–17. The American Journal of Critical Care will publish an abstract of her NTI presentation in its May issue, followed by a complete manuscript in July.

Recognized internationally as a leading expert in critical and acute illness care delivery and recovery and implementation science, Boehm is an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee. She began her career at Vanderbilt as a registered nurse in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center before moving into research and teaching. Her career spans over two decades of clinical experience and research in critical care, and she continues to practice as a board-certified clinical nurse specialist for adult patients.

At the heart of her work is ABCDEF bundle implementation, a set of evidence-based practices aimed at reducing delirium, oversedation and immobilization in ICU patients. Her studies have identified key organizational factors and provider attitudes influencing bundle adherence, informing implementation strategies across diverse healthcare settings.

Boehm’s contributions extend beyond the ICU, focusing on enhancing critical illness recovery to reduce the burden of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) for patients and caregivers/family. Her research has identified problems and problem-solving strategies occurring during a PICS clinic visit, enhanced understanding of factors affecting PICS clinic engagement, investigated alternative delivery methods (e.g., telemedicine), and examined the impact of peer support programs for ICU survivors. Currently leading a multicenter study funded by the National Institute on Aging on telemedicine PICS clinics, Boehm continues to explore ways to advance PICS care and improve recovery trajectories for ICU survivors.

Boehm has a prolific publication history and regularly presents at national and international conferences. She serves on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals, various national committees and the American Delirium Society Board of Directors.

She is a fellow of both the American College of Critical Care Medicine and the American Academy of Nursing. Among her honors and awards, AACN recognized her with its Circle of Excellence award in 2018.

Boehm earned a master’s in nursing and doctoral degree from Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and completed postdoctoral fellowships in nursing research and quality improvement.

She has a nursing degree from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.

About AACN’s Distinguished Research Lectureship: AACN established the Distinguished Research Lectureship in 1982 to honor nationally known nurses who make significant contributions to progressive and critical care research. The annual award recognizes research that impacts patient outcomes and advances nursing education and practice. Recipients present their awarded research at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition and receive a $2,500 honorarium.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 55 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with more than 134,000 members and over 170 chapters in the United States.

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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