The 2025 Beatrice Renfield Lecture in Research Nursing
Understanding and Addressing Youth Mental Health:
Trends, Challenges, and Solutions
Featuring Kathleen R. Delaney, PhD, APRN, PMH-NP, FAAN
| Date: | Tuesday, March 25, 2025 |  |
| Time: | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. | |
| Reception: | 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. |
The Heilbrunn Family Center for Research Nursing at The Rockefeller University is pleased to present the 2025 Beatrice Renfield Lecture in Research Nursing, featuring Kathleen R. Delaney, PhD, APRN, PMH-NP, FAAN. Dr. Delaney is a professor emeritus of nursing at the Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing at Rush University College of Nursing. Dr. Delaney was also the project director for Heartland Health/Howard Brown/Rush Integrated Care Advanced Nursing Education Nurse Practitioner Residency program.
Dr. Delaney has significantly contributed to adolescent mental health through various roles and projects. Her work includes membership in the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM), where she helped develop the standard outcome set for addressing depression and anxiety in young people. She also authored the child psychiatric nursing chapter in the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (IACAPAP) e-Textbook of Child and Adolescent Mental Health. As editor of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing for ten years, Dr. Delaney influenced the field by disseminating crucial research and best practices. Her current policy work focuses on child mental health and the behavioral health care workforce. She has received numerous honors, including the National Organization of NP Faculties Outstanding Policy Award, the Dahlberg Scholar Distinguished Lectureship, the Heart of Heartland Community Service Award, and the Excellence in Education Award – Rush University.
On March 25, Dr. Delaney's lecture will address the vital issue of youth mental health by examining the increasing prevalence of poor mental health among adolescents as well as the strategies to address these challenges. She emphasizes the importance of critical analysis of data and evidence-based practices in understanding and mitigating these trends, ensuring that focus remains on core issues affecting adolescent mental health.
Dr. Delaney's academic journey includes earning a bachelor's degree in nursing from Georgetown University, a master's degree in nursing from Catholic University, and a PhD from Rush University. Her extensive background and ongoing work underscore her commitment to improving adolescent mental health outcomes.
This lecture series is made possible by the generosity of The Beatrice Renfield Foundation. It is co-hosted by The Rockefeller University's Heilbrunn Family Center for Research Nursing and the Women & Science Initiative.
