Dean Abbott introduced; White wins Watts Award; promotions, laughs, and optimism also featured

The MGH Institute of Health Professions’ 2025-2026 academic year received its symbolic kick-off Tuesday with a convocation that celebrated colleagues and accomplishments and called attention to the Institute’s growth. With a sparkling, sun-drenched harbor in view, faculty and staff enjoyed an hour-long event in 1 CW that featured recognition, some laughs, and plenty of optimism for the future. 

With 1,909 students — the MGH Institute’s largest enrollment ever — more programs, flourishing research portfolio, and a healthy financial bottom line, the unspoken yet apparent theme was growth. 

“It's really the moment when we come together as a faculty and staff, and we take a minute to pause in our busy lives,” said Reamer Bushardt, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We welcome new colleagues, we honor all of the contributions that members of our community have made, and we have this moment where we commit ourselves to the mission and the values that we share.”

The names of 23 new faculty and staff were shared, including that of Maura Abbott, the new dean of nursing, who was introduced by the very person who crossed paths with her at Yale University. 

“Maura was my student at Yale School of Nursing — a lot of years ago,” said MGH Institute President Paula Milone-Nuzzo to laughs. “So, these wonderful things just keep happening to those of us who contribute to the education of great, great individuals. That's all of us here in this room.” 

When Abbott took the lectern, she quickly dispelled any doubts about where her baseball loyalty lays. 

“The students asked me on their second day on campus to dispel any rumors about whether or not I'm a Yankees fan, and it's true — I am,” said Abbott, to laughs. “Yeah, I like the boos.” 

Abbott spoke of how she entered the nursing profession, how her parents influenced her to pursue healthcare, and of the many leadership roles she took on at Columbia University School of Nursing, where she was associate dean for Clinical Affairs and an associate professor, and why the position of nursing dean at the MGH Institute was her dream job. 

“What a position. It's at an elite school, part of a world class healthcare system, a school's mission that not only preaches but practices interprofessional education and practice to improve the outcomes of our patients, and it’s an institution that focuses and promotes equally the importance of clinical practice and research,” noted Abbot. “In my academic experience, it’s somewhat rare that there's an equal emphasis on both. 

“As the new dean of the School of Nursing, I recognize the great responsibility that I have in this role, and I carry it with deep humility, with pride and an unwavering sense of purpose, which for me, the why is always our patients.” 

Laura Plummer, dean of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, presented on the school’s growth — from five departments and 10 programs in August of 2023 to seven departments and 18 programs, nearly doubling its academic offerings. The Department of Health Professions Education joined SHRS, as did the Masters of Health Administration and the Masters of Science in Healthcare Data Analytics programs. Additionally, the School created the Department of Health Sciences and added Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Doctor of Health Sciences programs. 

“The growth represents not only expansion, but also opportunity,” noted Plummer, “the opportunity to meet workforce needs, respond to complex health challenges and prepare the next generation of health professionals.”

Plummer also touched on the SHRS faculty’s many accomplishments — publishing 165 manuscripts, presenting at numerous regional, national, and international conferences, submitting 78 grants, and securing more than $5 million in new grant funding. 

“As we look to the future,” said Plummer, “we will build on the momentum we've created together, our work matters deeply to our students, to the patients and families we and they will serve, and to the communities that depend on us.”

Nara Gavini, associate provost for research, proudly boasted how five years ago, the MGH Institute wasn’t considered a peer research institution but today, it’s leading 59 peer schools with 289 publications over the past five years (compared to an average of 91 from the peer institutions) and a grant portfolio of $51.5 million. 

“Research is not just an academic exercise,” Gavini told the audience. “It is the impact for research, what we do, and it defines who we are. In the past five years, remarkable growth happened at the IHP.”