Show-Me State Times

Verna Hendricks-Ferguson, Ph.D., a professor at the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University, has been recognized with the 2024 Distinguished Researcher Award by the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). This accolade highlights her contributions to palliative care for children.

"We are very proud of Dr. Hendricks-Ferguson and her work's impact on families," said Kristine L'Ecuyer, Ph.D., interim dean of the School of Nursing. "It is wonderful to see her contributions recognized with this award."

Hendricks-Ferguson was invited to deliver a keynote lecture titled “My Journey in Developing a Program of Funded Research.” She is only the fourth pediatric oncologist to receive this award.

Her research career includes serving as principal investigator on multiple funded studies. Her pioneering work focuses on early palliative-care communication practices by pediatric oncologists and nurses for parents of children diagnosed with poor prognosis cancer types.

She has received funding from various sources, including the National Institute of Health and nursing organizations. Throughout her career, she has published numerous articles on pediatric oncology patients that have been frequently cited by other researchers.

Hendricks-Ferguson is also recognized for mentoring nurses in cancer-focused research and advancing quality cancer care provided by pediatric oncology nurses. She has served as an oncology expert on dissertation committees for Ph.D. nursing students both in the U.S. and internationally.

Her dedication to generating and disseminating research findings related to palliative and end-of-life care has earned her several honors, including the 2022 Distinguished Researcher Award from the National Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Nurses.

She actively participates in professional organizations where she demonstrates ongoing commitment to pediatric palliative care and end-of-life care for children with cancer and their parents.