FNS Section Award Recipients

The AAFS Forensic Nursing Science Section Awards were presented at the AAFS Annual Scientific Conference in New Orleans, LA. Each award recognizes innovation, science, and service by a forensic nurse.

Virginia Lynch Nurse Innovator Award
Awarded to Janean M. Fossum, BSN
This innovation award is given to a forensic nurse actively engaged in forensic nursing leadership, practice, service, and/or education. Forensic nurses nominated for this award demonstrate significant achievement in advancing forensic nursing through endeavors that help improve health and legal outcomes in patients affected by trauma, violence, and maltreatment.

Ms. Fossum is a forensic nurse specialist who is actively engaged in advancing the science of forensic nursing through endeavors that improve systems response, and health outcomes in patients affected by trauma, violence, and maltreatment. Her focus throughout her professional career has involved the Role of the Forensic Nurse Examiner and Persons with Disabilities. Her involvement in the forensic field includes serving on several committees:  domestic violence council, research, membership, program, nominating and education. In 2024 she was voted as secretary for the FNSS and has continued in this capacity for a second term. Her dedication to the section has been widespread communication with the members liaising with several of the standing as well as ad hoc committees. She has updated the membership roster, recorded the details for each executive section meeting in the minutes as well as the annual business meeting. 

Forensic Nurse Scientist Award
Awarded to Michelle Patch, PhD 
This science award is given to a forensic nurse scholar who is actively engaged in advancing the science of forensic nursing. Forensic nurses nominated for this award demonstrate significant achievement in the areas of forensic nursing research development, implementation, translation, and/or dissemination.

Dr. Patch is board certified as an adult health clinical nurse specialist and an advanced forensic nurse. She has held progressive clinical, operational, and safety leadership positions in various acute care, ambulatory, emergency, and austere settings. Her internationally recognized scholarship and clinical practice address patient, staff, and public health safety, specifically during times of crisis, violence, disaster, and trauma. Dr. Patch's research focuses on health care responses to intimate partner violence and assault-related mechanisms including strangulation, head trauma, and firearm injuries. Her work has significantly contributed globally to the limited but growing science base informing post-strangulation injury and care. Dr. Patch is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), vice chair of the AAN's Trauma and Violence Expert Panel, voting member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board's Forensic Nursing Consensus Body, past-secretary for the Forensic Nursing Certification Board, past-chair of the Academy of Forensic Nursing's Research Committee. 

Forensic Nurse Distinguished Service Award
Awarded to Amy Y. Carney, PhD 
This service award is given to a Fellow who has demonstrated meritorious service in the areas of forensic nursing science. The award recognizes a person who has exhibited significant contributions to the development and/or dissemination of forensic nursing by advancing practice, mentoring, leadership, administration, or scholarship. 

Dr. Carney has been active in the forensic nursing community for 25 years, starting with SART at Palomar Medical Center in 2001, where she served clients both in clinic and in court. That same year she was accepted into the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. In the General Section of AAFS she served in several capacities, including Program Chair and Ad Hoc Regional Representation Committee, and became a Fellow in 2012.  She is a founding member of the Forensic Nursing Science Section of AAFS, where she currently serves as Chair. She is a member of the Geriatric Special Interest Group for the Academy of Forensic Nursing. She has represented Forensic Nursing as a speaker and author on elder maltreatment both nationally and internationally. She was a professor of Nursing for 15 years at California States University San Marcos. Dr. Carney has educated hundreds of students in her academic career, guiding them in gerontology and research in elder maltreatment. With members of the forensic community, she wrote and edited the book Elder Abuse: Forensic, Legal and Medical Aspects. This has been a game change in many communities that deal with elder abuse.

Special thanks to our Award Committee Chair, Diana Faugno, and Patricia Speck. Would you like to recognize a member for their contributions and work in Forensic Nursing? We need to hear from you! Please step forward and nominate someone or yourself as outlined in the criteria. The submission deadline is October 15, 2026.

Submission consists of an application stating the specific award and the person being nominated with their demographic information (email, cell phone, address), supported by two letters of recommendation, their current CV, and a headshot photograph.

Please submit your nominations to Diana Faugno at diana@dianafaugno.com.