Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Nursing is pleased to announce that Bimpe (Bebe) Adenusi, PhD, APRN, CRNA, CNE, FAANA, FNAP, and Jane Tobias, DNP, CPNP-PC have been selected to become Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (Academy). Dr. Adenusi is an associate professor, Chair & Program Administrator of the Nurse Anesthesia Program at Jefferson College of Nursing. Dr. Tobias is an associate professor at Jefferson College of Nursing. Induction into the Academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their significant contributions and impact to advance the public’s health.
The Academy is a policy organization and an honorific society that recognizes nursing's most accomplished leaders in policy, research, practice, administration and academia. Academy Fellows hold a wide variety of influential roles in health care and collectively they contribute their thought leadership to develop sound policy that help to achieve the Academy’s vision of healthy lives for all people.
Dr. Adenusi made significant contributions in nurse anesthesia through inclusive collaborations. She founded the Nigerian American Nurse Anesthetists Association (NANAA), a nurse-led partnership that supports recruitment and success of BIPOC students in nurse anesthesia programs. Through mentorship, education and networking, Adenusi created a global support network for underrepresented students, faculty and CRNAs.
Dr. Tobias’ clinical, education and advocacy efforts directly impact the care of patients and families affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She has worked at local, regional and national levels to ensure individuals with IDD receive the highest quality of care advocating for their needs and ensuring their voices are heard.
Marie Ann Marino, EdD, RN, FAAN, Dean of Jefferson College of Nursing, says, “Becoming a fellow in the Academy is a highly competitive process and recognizes individuals who have achieved notable national and global impact in their fields. This prestigious honor recognizes their substantial and sustained contributions to the field of nursing and their commitment to advancing health equity. I am so pleased to announce the AAN Fellow selection of two outstanding Jefferson University College of Nursing faculty.”
“I am so honored and humbled to have been chosen as a 2025 AAN Fellow. I look forward to opportunities where my expertise can be useful to the Academy and its members, and to gaining new insights from other Fellows,” Adenusi says.
Tobias says, “I am deeply honored to be inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. This recognition affirms my commitment to advancing health through nursing leadership, scholarship and service.”
The newest Fellows, selected from a sizeable and competitive pool of applicants, represent 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries. Their unique expertise will soon bolster the collective impact of over 3,200 Academy Fellows.
Drs. Adenusi and Tobias along with the other 2025 inductees will be recognized for their substantial, sustained, and significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 16 – 18, 2025 in Washington, DC during the Induction Ceremony on the evening of October 18th. After the ceremony, the new inductees can use their FAAN (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) credential, the most prestigious recognition in nursing.