Christopher S. Lee, an award-winning and highly respected cardiovascular nurse scientist, has been named to the Barry Family/Goldman Sachs Endowed Chair in Nursing in the Connell School of Nursing at Boston College, CSON Dean and Professor Katherine Gregory has announced. He succeeds nurse researcher Mei Fu, who served as the inaugural chairholder.
The Barry Family/Goldman Sachs Endowed Chair in Nursing was established through a gift from Boston College Trustee Associate Steven M. Barry '85 and his wife Tammy J. Barry '85, M.Ed. '87. The parents of two Boston College graduates—Courtney, a Connell School alumna, and Matt, a Carroll School alumnus—the Barrys are longtime BC benefactors who have supported the Connell School, financial aid, athletics, the Wall Street Council Tribute Dinner, and Pops on the Heights, among other University priorities.
Lee joined the Connell School of Nursing in January 2018 as associate dean for research and director of the Office of Nursing Research. Under his leadership, the Connell School has seen a five-fold increase in the amount of external research funding and marked increases in the number and quality of grants submitted, as well as in the number of faculty publications.
For the time being, Lee will continue in his dual roles. The University will begin a national search in the coming months for a new associate dean for research.
"We are thrilled to have an internationally recognized leader of Dr. Christopher Lee's caliber named to this prestigious endowed chair," said Gregory. "As an accomplished researcher, teacher, and mentor, Dr. Lee is the ideal person to help advance the work of the Connell School, influencing the future of nursing science and education."
A fellow of the American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America, and the American Academy of Nursing, Lee has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for patients with heart disease. His research focuses on heart failure self-care and symptom science, and patient and care-partner dyadic relationships in chronic conditions.
Lee has had a leadership role on five R-level grants and served as a mentor on six federally funded training grants. In that same time, he has published more than 150 papers and garnered an additional 3000+ citations of his work.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be named the new Barry Family/Goldman Sachs Endowed Chair. I look forward honoring the Barry Family’s generosity by raising the national and global visibility of CSON to new heights,” said Lee. As an endowed chair, Lee will focus on advancing his program of research, scientific mentoring, and further developing the school’s global partnerships.
Lee is an appointed member of the National Advisory Council on Nursing Research and chairs the working group on diversity in the National Institute of Nursing Research-supported scientific workforce. He also is a professorial fellow at the Australian Catholic University Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research.
Lee has been the recipient of several honors, including the Kathleen A. Dracup Distinguish Lecture and Exemplary Career in Mentoring Award, Mathy Mezey Excellence in Aging Award, Martha N. Hill Early Career Investigator Award, and Marie Cowan Promising Early Career Investigator Award, all from the American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. He also received the Heart Failure Society of America’s Nursing Leadership Award.
University Communications | July 2022