Christine Miaskowski, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Professor Emeritus, Physiological Nursing, University of California San Francisco School of Nursing (UCSF).

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Dr. Miaskowski is an internationally renowned expert whose pioneering work in pain management and symptom science has profoundly shaped the field of oncology nursing and advanced the scientific understanding of patient experiences in chronic illness.

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As a Professor Emeritus at UCSF, Dr. Miaskowski continues to bridge research and practice. Her work has not only improved symptom control and quality of life for countless patients but also built a global infrastructure for the next generation of nurse scientists.

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Driven by a personal mission to improve cancer pain care, Dr. Miaskowski launched her research career by introducing the Brompton Cocktail, a then-revolutionary analgesic regimen, into clinical practice. Her early work in opioid pharmacology with Dr. Jon Levine established foundational evidence for analgesic synergy without synergistic side effects, especially in gender-specific responses. This groundbreaking work catalyzed national attention and helped launch the field of sex-based differences in pain research.

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With over 50 years of experience in the nursing profession and more than three decades of continuous National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding totaling over $75 million, her research portfolio expanded rapidly to study a broad range of symptoms, including fatigue, depression, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairment. She was among the first to define and explore “symptom clusters” in oncology, highlighting how multiple symptoms co-occur and interact. Her team advanced innovative methods including factor analysis and network modeling to identify core symptoms that, when treated, could disrupt entire symptom networks, improving patient outcomes significantly.

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Dr. Miaskowski’s influence extends far beyond the lab. She has authored over 750 peer-reviewed papers. As a mentor, she has guided more than 150 students and postdoctoral fellows from the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Her mentorship has launched global leaders in symptom science, many of whom now hold professorships and lead NIH-funded research programs.

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A tireless advocate for evidencebased care, Dr. Miaskowski has chaired national and international guideline committees, including for the American Pain Society, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), and the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research (now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality). She was the first nurse elected President of the American Pain Society and served on the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute.

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Among her many accolades are the Helen Nahm Research Award from UCSF, the Distinguished Researcher Award from ONS, and the Ada Sue Hinshaw Distinguished Researcher Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research. She was the first nurse to be awarded a Clinical Research Professorship from the American Cancer Society. In 2021, she was named a “Champion and Change Maker” by the National Cancer Institute in recognition of her role in cancer pain and symptom management.

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Dr. Miaskowski’s journey began with a bachelor’s in nursing from Molloy College, followed by master’s degrees in nursing and biology, and a PhD in Physiology from St. John’s University. She completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Nurse Scholars Program at the University of California San Francisco where she later served as a tenured professor, department chair, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. She was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 1992. Dr. Miaskowski’s legacy is one of transformational research, extraordinary mentorship, and unwavering advocacy for improving the lives of patients worldwide.