UAB Professor Received National Nursing Award
The Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association honored Cori O'Neal for her leadership in nursing education.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
Cori O'Neal, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, has been awarded the 2026 Excellence in Education Award. The recognition was presented by the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association.
Why it matters
The award highlights O'Neal's contributions to geriatrics and patient care in Birmingham. Her work includes developing initiatives for age-friendly care and serving uninsured populations.
O'Neal previously secured a four-year Geriatrics Academic Career Award from the Health Resources and Services Administration in 2023. This is the first time she has received this specific national education honor.
The players
Cori O'Neal
She is an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing and a practitioner in geriatrics.
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
This is a national organization dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for older adults through nursing leadership.
Hiboombe Haamankuli
This nurse received the 2026 Excellence in Community Service Award from the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association.
The details
O'Neal, who has taught at the school since 2014, leads projects centered on improving delivery of care for older adults at risk for dementia. She also maintains an active role providing medical support to uninsured patients with diabetes at the UAB PATH Clinic.
Timeline
Cori O'Neal began teaching at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2014.
O'Neal earned an Alabama State Nurses Association award in 2022.
She secured a Geriatrics Academic Career Award in 2023.
Award recipients were recognized during a conference in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This award reinforces the academic standing of Birmingham-based nursing faculty within the national geriatric specialty. It reflects a broader trend of regional institutions gaining recognition for specialized healthcare education and clinical innovation.
Local patients, particularly those managing chronic conditions like diabetes, benefit from the expertise of clinical educators recognized at the national level. These faculty accomplishments often correlate with improved educational standards and clinical resources available at community clinics.
The takeaway
O'Neal's career trajectory underscores the importance of integrating academic research directly into community-based clinical practice. This dual focus enhances the quality of care for vulnerable aging populations while advancing the standards of the nursing profession.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest professional developments in Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times-Journal.
