Expertise
Dr. Austin's major research interests focus on family adaptation to childhood epilepsy. She is currently funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) to study adaptation to childhood epilepsy. She has published in interdisciplinary journals including "Nursing Research," "Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing," "Epilepsia," "Journal of Pediatric Psychology," "Journal of Epilepsy," "Pediatrics," and the "Journal of School Psychology."

Interdisciplinary interest in her research has led to presentations at meetings of the American Psychological Association, the American Epilepsy Society, and the International Epilepsy Congress. Dr. Austin has been a member of the Governing Board of the Midwest Nursing Research Society, the Governing Board of the American Epilepsy Society, and the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of America. In 1990, she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and also received the ANA Council on Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing's Award for Current Impact in Research and Scholarship. In 1993, Dr. Austin received the Distinguished Contribution to Nursing Research in the Midwest award from the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS). Also in 1993, she was featured in Sigma Theta Tau's CAMEO video series of outstanding nurse researchers and was awarded the American Epilepsy Society/Milken Family Medical Foundation Category Two Clinical Research Award. In 1999, the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy presented her the Award for Social Accomplishment. In 2000, she was inducted into the Institute of Medicine and also received the Jacob Javits award for research in neurosciences from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. She is currently the president of the American Epilepsy Society; the first nurse to serve as president of that organization. Dr. Austin's major research interests focus on family adaptation to childhood epilepsy. She is currently funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) to study adaptation to childhood epilepsy. She has published in interdisciplinary journals including "Nursing Research," "Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing," "Epilepsia," "Journal of Pediatric Psychology," "Journal of Epilepsy," "Pediatrics," and the "Journal of School Psychology."

Interdisciplinary interest in her research has led to presentations at meetings of the American Psychological Association, the American Epilepsy Society, and the International Epilepsy Congress. Dr. Austin has been a member of the Governing Board of the Midwest Nursing Research Society, the Governing Board of the American Epilepsy Society, and the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation of America. In 1990, she was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and also received the ANA Council on Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing's Award for Current Impact in Research and Scholarship. In 1993, Dr. Austin received the Distinguished Contribution to Nursing Research in the Midwest award from the Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS). Also in 1993, she was featured in Sigma Theta Tau's CAMEO video series of outstanding nurse researchers and was awarded the American Epilepsy Society/Milken Family Medical Foundation Category Two Clinical Research Award. In 1999, the International Bureau for Epilepsy and the International League Against Epilepsy presented her the Award for Social Accomplishment. In 2000, she was inducted into the Institute of Medicine and also received the Jacob Javits award for research in neurosciences from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. She is currently the president of the American Epilepsy Society; the first nurse to serve as president of that organization.
Child Development, Child Psychology, Emotional/Mental Health
Past Affiliations

Distinguished Professor, School of Nursing, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Clinical Assistant, Nursing

Distinguished Professor, Environments for Health

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychology, School of Science, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Communities
Nursing
Degrees
DNS, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Nursing, 1981
MSN, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Nursing, 1978
BSN, Texas Woman's University, Nursing, 1975
RN
Keywords
child psychology adjustment psychology nervous system convulsive disorders mental health neurological disorders stroke & cerebrovascular disorders epilepsy emotional health mental health services nursing pediatrics neuroscience child development
Honors

Glen W. Irwin, Jr., MD Research Scholar Award, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 2005

Distinguished Contribution to Nursing Science Award, American Nurses Foundation, 2004

Clemens Award for Outstanding Contributions to Improving the Quality of Life of Persons with Epilepsy, Epilepsy Foundation of St. Louis, 2004

Emily Holmquist Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award, Indiana University School of Nursing, 2003

Outstanding Contributions to Psychiatric Mental Health Research, Midwest Nursing Research Society, 2001

Senator Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award, National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke, 2000

Member, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, 2000

Rank of Distinguished Professor, Indiana University, 1999

Award of Social Acomplishment, International Bureau for Epilepsy/International League Against Epilepsy, 1999

Member of Research Commission, International Bureau of Epilepsy, 1998-2001

Honored as Nursing Research Investigator, Science & Service to the Nation's Health, Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research, Washington, DC, 1998

Distinguished Speaker at Congressional Breakfast Briefing on Symptom Management for Chronic Neurological Conditions, Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research, Washington, DC, 1998

Teaching Excellence Recognition Award, Indiana University School of Nursing, 1997

Outstanding Teaching Award, Indiana University School of Nursing, Graduate Program, 1996

Invited Nursing Speaker, Rush University School of Nursing, 1996

Co-Editor, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: Integrating the Behavioral and Biological Sciences/Winner of Book of Year Award, American Journal of Nursing, 1996

Epilepsy Foundation of America Special Recognition Award, 1995

Exceptional Contribution to Epilepsy Services & Research Award, Epilepsy Foundation of Northeast Ohio, 1993

Distinguished Contribution to Research Award, Midwest Nursing Research Society, 1993

American Epilepsy Society/Milken Family Medical Foundation International Research Award for Clinical Investigator (Cash award of $50,000), 1993

Featured as Outstanding Nurse Researcher for CAMEO Video Series, Sigma Theta Tau International, 1992

Research Panel on Epilepsy Rehabilitation Research, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, 1991

Member, Mental Health Behavioral Research Review Committee, National Institute of Mental Health, 1990-1994

Invited Nursing Speaker, Brigham Young University School of Nursing, 1990

Elected Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 1990

Excellence in Education Award, Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Chapter, 1990

Distinguished Contribution to Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing Award/Current Impact on Research & Scholarship, American Nurses' Association's Council on Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, 1990