Sally S Cohen

Sally S. Cohen, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a Clinical Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, where she integrates health policy into nursing education, practice, and research. She is a nationally recognized leader in advancing nursing and health policy at both state and national levels. Her interdisciplinary scholarship spans public health, children’s rights, bullying prevention, and the politics of policymaking for children’s issues.

Her educational background includes a PhD from Columbia University, an MSN from Yale University, and a BA from Cornell University. She has held key leadership roles, including directing the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative at the University of New Mexico and developing the Nursing Management, Policy, and Leadership specialty at Yale School of Nursing.

Dr. Cohen’s research focuses on health disparities, child and adolescent mental health, bullying, care transitions, and policy advocacy. Her recent publications analyze racial and gender disparities in mental health, school-based services, and the integration of health and education systems. She also emphasizes the role of nurses in shaping public policy, particularly through tax and Medicare reforms.

Her influential work as editor-in-chief of Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice (2014–2019) helped create a global forum for policy dialogue. Her publications reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary, policy-relevant research with direct implications for nursing practice and public health.

Notable honors include:

• Lois Capps Policy Luminary Award (2019)
• 90 Outstanding Yale Nurses (2013)
• Kaplan-Landy Award for Vision, Innovation, and Leadership (2008)
• Election to the American Academy of Nursing (1988) and New York Academy of Medicine (2006)

Dr. Cohen has advised national policy efforts, including advocacy that led to the establishment of the National Institute of Nursing Research in 1985. She has not received explicit mentions of grants, but her leadership in federally and foundation-funded initiatives (e.g., Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) suggests significant grant involvement. She is currently accepting PhD students, indicating active mentorship.

She is affiliated with multiple professional organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, American Public Health Association, and Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, reflecting her interdisciplinary engagement.