Simms Mann Family Foundation Establishes Chair at Cedars-Sinai Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 29 May 2020 07:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Simms Mann Family Foundation Establishes Chair at Cedars-Sinai Margo B Minissian PhD named Simms Mann Endowed Chair in Nurse Education Innovation and Research Margo B. Minissian, PhD, is the inaugural holder of the Simms/Mann Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Nurse Education, Innovation and Research. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. Cedars-Sinai's Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive David Marshall, JD, DNP, RN, announced the appointment of faculty member Margo B. Minissian, PhD, as the inaugural holder of the Simms/Mann Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Nurse Education, Innovation and Research. The gift from the Simms/Mann Family Foundation, led by Victoria Simms, PhD, and Ronald Simms, will support the development of critical nursing leadership programs and initiatives. The goal is to develop a pipeline of nurse leaders to face today's greatest healthcare challenges, lead change and improve the health of our community around the globe. "Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Simms/Mann Family Foundation, we have the opportunity to place nurse leaders at the forefront -- harnessing their collective compassion and problem-solving skills to address the ever-growing challenges in healthcare," said Marshall. "Dr. Minissian is an ideal role model to lead this initiative." Minissian is the executive director of the Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute and oversees education, research and performance improvement. She is assistant professor of Cardiology in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. She completed a biological research doctorate at the UCLA School of Nursing and was the UCLA Dean's Scholar Fellow and Regents Scholar. Her research focuses on cardiovascular prevention with an emphasis on young women who experience severe preterm delivery and preeclampsia. Her work has earned numerous awards and funding from the National Institutes of Health. As a researcher who examines ways to prevent disease, Minissian has a strong interest in protecting healthcare workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Her team of co-investigators enrolled registered nurses in a study that seeks to measure and quantify inflammatory proteins that can be seen prior to a healthy person becoming sick. "By evaluating these proteins immediately before shift work, we might be able to reduce the risk nurses face when caring for COVID-19 patients," said Minissian. "The ultimate goal is to develop a point-of-care screening test to help healthcare workers stay healthy while caring for our critically ill on the front lines." "I am humbled and grateful to be the inaugural Simms/Mann Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Nurse Education, Innovation and Research at Cedars-Sinai," said Minissian. "The Simms/Mann Family Foundation supports and encourages the exploration, cross-fertilization and dissemination of cutting-edge research and best practices in the fields of education and scientific discovery. It's a mission that aligns perfectly with Cedars-Sinai's nursing goals." As the endowed chair, Minissian will drive the profession of nursing to new heights by advancing the discovery, organization and transmission of knowledge to focus on leadership development for all nurses. As a thought leader, Minissian will facilitate intellectual curiosity, foster ingenuity and increase visibility of nurses' achievements. The Simms/Mann Family Foundation has been at the forefront of innovative funding in the areas of medicine and education since its founding in 1984. Victoria Simms, PhD, is a nationally recognized child development specialist, and Ronald Simms is involved in all aspects of real estate development, acquisition and ownership of commercial properties. Both are longtime supporters of Cedars-Sinai and are members of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors. Their children also are officers and directors of the foundation. "We believe that nurses are uniquely situated to transform patient care by bringing cutting-edge research and best practices to the bedside," said Victoria Simms. "By supporting Dr. Minissian in her role to develop nurse leaders and facilitate their innovative work, we hope to amplify the impact and visibility of nurses at Cedars-Sinai in a way that can be replicated by other healthcare systems." "Dr. Minissian's creativity and motivation will continue to serve as a catalyst for transformation and help us push the frontiers of our scientific knowledge and nursing practice, while benefiting some of our most vulnerable populations," Marshall said. Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Cedars-Sinai Nurses Find a Way to Share Their Smiles Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories Orthopaedic Nurse by Day DJ by Night May 24, 2022 06:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Behind orthopaedic nurse Paulina Andujo' s contagious smile lies not only a compassionate caregiver but also a unique talent."I DJ on the side; it's my creative outlet," Andujo said. "It's my … Read more Nurses Week Cancer Survivor Karla Lopez RN Goes Above and Beyond May 11, 2022 06:01 AM America/Los_Angeles Before Karla Lopez earned her RN degree, she was a unit secretary at Cedars-Sinai who was so impressed with the nurses on her team that she decided to become one herself."I was able to see the nurses … Read more Nurse-Led Cedars-Sinai Study Leads to Creating Serenity Lounges May 10, 2022 07:15 AM America/Los_Angeles A new Cedars-Sinai study shows that “Serenity Lounges”–break rooms equipped with massage chairs and other relaxation tools–reduced feelings of stress, anxiety and burnout among nurses.The study, … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release Simms Mann Family Foundation Establishes Chair at Cedars-Sinai Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home