Dr. John Lowe stands as a towering figure in the field of nursing, particularly renowned for his groundbreaking work in Indigenous nursing research and his unwavering commitment to health equity. Currently holding the esteemed position of Joseph Blades Centennial Memorial Professor at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, he also directs the impactful Indigenous Nursing Research Enhancement (INRE) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program. His career is marked by pioneering initiatives, significant contributions to academic discourse, and the development of culturally grounded interventions that address critical health challenges within Indigenous communities.
Dr. Lowe’s influence extends to national health policy. His recent service on the Advisory Council to the National Institutes of Nursing Research (NINR) underscores his recognized expertise and leadership in shaping research priorities. Furthermore, his collaboration with Dr. Roxanne Struthers (Ojibwe) in co-authoring the “Conceptual Framework for Nursing in Native American Culture” demonstrates his commitment to grounding nursing practice in Indigenous cultural values and perspectives. As a proud member of the Cherokee Nation, with Lenape heritage, Dr. Lowe brings a deeply personal and culturally informed lens to his work.
A testament to his professional achievements, Dr. Lowe holds the distinction of being the first Native American man inducted as a fellow into the American Academy of Nursing. His peers further elected him to the Board of Directors, highlighting his respected voice and leadership within the academy. His journey includes being an alumnus of the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) at the American Nurses Association, where he later served as Chair of the National Advisory Council, further demonstrating his dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion within nursing.
Dr. Lowe’s research is focused on addressing the urgent issues of substance use and mental health disorders among Native American and Indigenous youth and young adults worldwide. He has developed and rigorously studied interventions aimed at prevention and reduction in these critical areas. His work is uniquely guided by theoretical frameworks and models he created, including the Cherokee Self-Reliance, Native Self-Reliance, and Native-Reliance models, which emphasize cultural strengths and resilience in promoting well-being.
One of Dr. Lowe’s most significant contributions is the development of the first manualized Talking Circle intervention. This innovative approach is designed to mitigate substance use and mental, emotional, and behavioral health risks among Native American/Indigenous youth, not only in the United States but also extending to global Indigenous populations in Canada and Australia. His impactful research projects have garnered funding from prominent institutions such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and esteemed foundations like the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Talking Circle intervention has received national recognition, being lauded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs as a “Promising Evidence-Based Program.” It was also featured as one of the American Academy of Nursing’s “Edge Runners” and highlighted in the National Academy of Medicine report, “The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity,” solidifying its place as a leading intervention model.
Demonstrating his commitment to advancing Indigenous nursing research infrastructure, Dr. Lowe established the first Center for Indigenous Nursing Research. He further convened the first and third International Indigenous Nursing Research Summits in 2017 and 2022, fostering global collaboration and knowledge sharing within the field.
Dr. Lowe’s exceptional career has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the American Nurses Association Luther Christman Award, the Florida Nurses Association Cultural Diversity Award, the Great 100 Centennial Research Award, the Nursing Educator of the Year Award, the Nurse of the Year Award, the Lifetime Achievement In Education & Research Award, and the Researcher of the Year at the Professor Rank Award. Most recently, he achieved induction into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame, the highest honor for nurse researchers globally. Through extensive national and international presentations, and a substantial body of published articles and books, Dr. John Lowe continues to shape the landscape of nursing and Indigenous health, leaving an enduring legacy of impact and inspiration.
