This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on Oct. 29 for UNMC’s 2026 Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator recipients.
Mary Isaacson, PhD, will receive a Distinguished Scientist Award. Distinguished Scientist Awards, which are sponsored by the chancellor, recognize researchers who have been among the most productive scientists at UNMC during the past five years.
- Name: Mary Isaacson, PhD
- Title: Associate professor, Christine Heide-Sorensen Professor in Nursing, UNMC College of Nursing, Omaha Division
- Joined UNMC: October 2025
- Hometown: Cushing, Iowa (Resided in South Dakota from 1982-2024 and currently live in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska)
Please describe your research focus in three words or less:
- Indigenous palliative care
Why is research important in the world today?
Research transforms questions into knowledge and knowledge into action. In a rapidly changing world, research helps us understand complex health challenges, reduce disparities and improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities. It provides the evidence needed to guide practice, shape policy and ensure that care is effective, equitable and responsive to the needs of those we serve.
My research will make a difference because:
My research focuses on improving access to culturally responsive palliative and end-of-life care for Indigenous communities. By partnering with Tribal communities and listening to their priorities, I seek to develop evidence-based approaches that honor cultural values, reduce barriers to care and support patients and families during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. The goal is not only to improve quality of life and symptom management but also to advance health equity and ensure that every person receives compassionate care that reflects who they are and what matters most to them.
The best advice I’ve ever received is:
When working with populations that differ from my cultural background, I was taught not to “see with my White eyes” or solely through my own perspective. I must listen first to understand, not to respond. The most meaningful solutions come from humility, curiosity and genuine partnership.
Three things you may not know about me are:
- The majority of my career has been spent working in rural South Dakota and with Tribal communities. I remain deeply connected to these communities.
- My passion for palliative and end-of-life care began as a rural hospice nurse, where I cared for patients and families during some of life’s most challenging moments.
- I have a “Hunka” sister who lives in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and that relationship has deepened my appreciation for the strength, traditions and values of Indigenous communities.