NAINA RESEARCH
The Research and Grants Committee advances the organization’s mission by supporting research and grant funding. The committee updates and publishes research and grant criteria and selects local and national recipients based on established merit standards. It leads and coordinates research activities, prepares required reports for donors and grantees, and contributes to scholarly publications. The committee actively seeks new grant opportunities to strengthen research initiatives across the organization.
Responsibilities
Dr. Vinciya Pandian serves as the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Professor of Nursing at the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and holds a joint appointment with the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the Penn State College of Medicine. Internationally renowned for her research and leadership in critical care, focusing on patient safety and tracheostomy care, her work aims to enhance the quality of life for mechanically ventilated patients. Recently, she completed an R01 study investigating laryngeal injury post-extubation. Currently funded by AHRQ, she leads the Center for Immersive Learning and Digital Innovation: A Patient Safety Learning Lab. This initiative leverages innovative technology to mitigate central line-associated bloodstream infections.
Dr. Pandian’s research extends globally, with collaborative projects in Nigeria, India, and Portugal. Passionate about mentorship, she guides students and faculty in nursing, medicine, respiratory therapy, and speech-language pathology to conduct impactful research and disseminate their findings. She holds leadership positions including President of the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative, Immediate Past President of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Nurses, Vice-President of the Baltimore Chapter Society of Critical Care Medicine, Research Committee Chair of the National Association of Indian Nurses of America, and a Member of the American Nurses Association Nominations and Elections Committee.
