National Award Recognizes Nursing Professor’s Pioneering Therapy Dog Research

Congratulations to Nursing Professor Dr. Valerie Esposito Kubanick who was recently named the recipient of the 2026 American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Award for Innovation, Individual. The honor is presented annually to members “who demonstrate excellence in psychiatric-mental health nursing practice, education, research, leadership, and community engagement.” Dr. Esposito Kubanick will be featured and celebrated throughout the year and will receive the award as a guest at the APNA Conference in October.

According to the APNA, the Award for Innovation – Individual recognizes a member who has developed or demonstrated a new, forward-thinking approach to care in psychiatric-mental health nursing practice.

Dr. Esposito Kubanick, who has more than 30 years of nursing experience, said she is the only faculty member at York College to receive this award and, notably, the only nurse in the country selected for this distinction in 2026.

“I was pleasantly surprised when I learned about this amazing recognition of my achievements,” she said, as noting that the award holds particular significance for her work as a research scientist.

“It is an honor and a blessing to be appreciated nationally for my passion in nursing,” she added. “A large portion of my research focuses on mitigating nurse stress and burnout through the use of therapy dogs. This work has been published, presented nationally, and is ongoing.”

For many years, Dr. Esposito Kubanick has trained dogs and developed therapy sessions for patients and hospital staff.

“This was the catalyst for my research with nurses -- being in the hospital and seeing how nurses sought out the therapy dog for themselves, even when the dog was there for patients,” she said. “My current study includes nine dogs and seven volunteer handlers who visit hospitals specifically for nurses.”

A board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse for decades, Dr. Esposito Kubanick said the award validates her longstanding commitment to patients, nurses, and students.

“I am proud to be part of the York College community and strive to live out its core values,” she added. “To be recognized nationally affirms that this work extends beyond campus and hospitals. It is deeply gratifying and motivates me to continue advancing my research and patient care through innovative approaches like dog therapy.”