Marilyn Prasun, RN, PhD, CCNS, CNL, CHFN was named the 2022 HFSA Nursing Research Leadership Award winner.
Dr. Marilyn Prasun began her nursing career as an Associate Degree Nurse and then continued her education at Illinois State University in Springfield where she completed her BSN. She attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville for her master’s degree and then completed her PhD at the University of Illinois Chicago. She is the Carle BroMenn Medical Center Endowed Professor, Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University. She has worked with patients diagnosed with heart failure in both the hospital and ambulatory care setting for the past 25+ years as an advanced practice nurse and researcher. She works closely with graduate nursing students completing their terminal degree and teaches research.
Dr. Prasun has served as primary investigator and co-investigator on several research studies regarding heart failure and has published in multiple journals. Areas of research interest include heart failure, atrial fibrillation, biomarkers, symptom management, quality of life, medication adherence and patient education. She was the 2002 recipient of the American Heart Association Martha N. Hill New Investigator of the Year Award, sponsored by the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing for her research regarding diuretic titration in patients with heart failure. She continued her research in heart failure where she has examined perceived symptoms and patient education. More recently she has completed studies examining, nurses’ decision making in heart failure management and the impact of COVID-19 on practice patterns and patient care among heart failure nurses. In addition, she has completed a funded study examining provider’s accuracy in assigning New York Heart Association Class (NYHA). The results of this study was presented at the American Heart Association Scientific sessions and published in the Journal of Heart and Lung.
Marilyn remains active in many professional organizations. She is a fellow in the American Heart Association. She is a charter member of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) where she served in several leadership roles and then as president in 2015. She now serves as the chair of the Heart Failure Patient Foundation and the Nursing Research Consortium. In 2019 she was awarded the AAHFN Distinguished Member Award for her service and contributions to Heart Failure Nursing. Last year she was named Researcher to Know Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC).