Rutgers School of Nursing Magazine - Summer 2026

NURSING.RUTGERS.EDU 7 S T U D E N T P RO F I L E Nurse Scientist “Shows Up” for Community Health W hen Kenneth Gyan, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, was named a Show Up Initiative honoree at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the recognition came as a surprise. “It took me a minute to process the fact that I had been chosen,” he says. “I didn’t think anyone was watching me.” Yet, Gyan is certainly a nurse to watch. In 2024, while serving as clinical lead for the Cancer Institute’s ScreenNJ Mobile Health Unit, he received the honor for “continually showing up for patients, peers, and the community.” He’s no longer at the Cancer Insti- tute, but that same commitment con- tinues to guide his clinical practice and his work as a PhD candidate at Rutgers School of Nursing. The doctorate will be his third degree from the school. As an emerging nurse scientist, he’s advancing research to develop inter- ventions that help stem rising rates of sexually transmitted infections, partic- ularly in Newark. “Kenneth brings together rigorous research and real-world clinical insight,” says School of Nursing dean Angela Starkweather. “His work is helping to create more effective approaches to prevention and care.” Gyan’s research examines factors contributing to limited HPV educa- tion and low vaccination rates among young African American males, a pop- ulation disproportionately affected by preventable disease. “I’m identifying vaccination barri- ers related to knowledge and beliefs, social influences, provider recom- mendations, access, and demographic factors,” he says. His clinical practice in community settings has given Gyan firsthand experience of the structural and informational barriers that influence health behaviors, helping to shape his research questions and drive his search for evidence-based, practical interventions. Raised in Newark, New Jersey, by Ghanaian parents, Gyan has built his career around giving back to the communities that shaped him. And service to others is a common thread in this family. His brother, Elvis, who earned his PhD in 2024, directs the social determinants of mental health program at the American Psychiatric Association. Gyan’s path to nursing began with a biology degree from Montclair State University. He earned a bachelor of science in nursing through the sec- ond-degree program at Rutgers School of Nursing, where he later returned for his master’s degree. “I was drawn to nursing because it allows me to advocate for patients in a way that promotes autonomy,” he says. That dedication has led Gyan to show up for patients throughout his career. “Currently, I practice telehealth, con- duct preventive screenings, and man- age patients with acute and chronic conditions,” he says. Throughout his career, Gyan has cared for patients in a variety of set- tings, including the Cancer Institute, two community health centers in Newark, the Morristown Medical Cen- ter, and the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He’s worked as a developmental specialist with Rutgers School of Nurs- ing’s Educational Opportunity Fund program and served as a fellow in the school’s Multicultural Nurse Leader- ship Institute. In addition to the Cancer Institute’s Show Up honor, Gyan has received the Healthcare Heroes Award from the New Jersey Primary Care Association, and the Nurse Practitioner Excellence Award from the City of Newark. With his drive to integrate research, education, and clinical practice to advance more equitable models of care, Gyan is truly a nurse to watch. RN