Dr. Candy Wilson

From the Air Force Nurse Corp to Academia: Dr. Candy Wilson’s Impact on Nursing

Dr. Candy Wilson, interim associate Dean of research and scholarship at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, realized that nursing and caring for others was her calling when she was a teenager.

“While babysitting my younger siblings, I found myself confronted with a scary situation when my baby sister sustained a serious injury,” Dr. Wilson said. Despite the intensity of the moment, she remained composed, attended to her sister’s wounds and offered reassurance.

However, when she told her mother about the incident, Dr. Wilson found herself overwhelmed with emotion, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the need for professional medical intervention. “It was then that I resolved to pursue higher education to not be put in a situation that I didn’t know how to handle, a decision that marked a significant milestone for me as a first-generation college student,” she shared.

After graduating high school, Dr. Wilson started nursing school but soon found herself sidetracked by outside activities over the rigors of academic studies. “I made the difficult decision to withdraw from the program,” she said.

Life's experiences and responsibilities soon offered Dr. Wilson a newfound sense of purpose and maturity when she became a wife and a mother.

“It was during the difficult birth of my son that the realization of my true calling as a nurse crystallized once more,” she noted. With renewed determination, she reentered nursing school, this time culminating in academic success and graduating with near-perfect grades.

After graduation, she joined the ranks of the Air Force Nurse Corps. Assigned to the maternal-child track for her internship, Dr. Wilson immersed herself in the specialized care of women and infants. Six years later, the Air Force offered her an opportunity to further her education, leading to her specialization as a women's health nurse practitioner.

“In the wake of the events of 9/11, my professional trajectory took on a new dimension of significance,” Dr. Wilson said.

Witnessing the unique health care challenges faced by women deployed in austere environments, she became deeply invested in addressing the intersection of gender-specific health needs and military service. This dedication culminated in applying for another Air Force scholarship to pursue a PhD in Nursing Science, during which her research shed light on critical issues impacting women's health in the military.

For the next 16 years, Dr. Wilson served as a nurse scientist in the Air Force, leveraging her expertise to drive impactful research initiatives that informed policy and promoted the well-being of women in uniform.

“My contributions have not only shaped deployment policies but have also garnered recognition from the highest levels of government, including contributing research evidence to a report to the U.S. Congress on the health of female service members,” she added.

At Florida Atlantic, Dr. Wilson’s research is intricately woven around the interplay of sex and gender dynamics in health and illness, focusing on the differences in how individuals of different genders respond to alternative treatments for chronic pain. She also actively fosters connections beyond Florida Atlantic, collaborating with multiple universities across the U.S. to broaden the scope and impact of research endeavors.

“I have always found great benefit in developing and sustaining collaborations and partnerships, particularly in the realm of team science, where an interdisciplinary approach is often the most effective strategy for tackling complex issues,” she shared.

Still, teaching holds a special place in her heart.

“During my tenure in the military, I dedicated myself to conducting numerous training courses and serving as a mentor to aspiring nurses embarking on their research journeys,” she remarked. This passion for education led the Air Force leaders to select her for the one coveted slot to teach at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland in PhD nursing science program, where she taught students in the PhD and DNP graduate programs.

“What truly ignites my enthusiasm for teaching is the profound impact it has on my students, evident when they reach back to share their own patient encounter or research experiences and insights,” she said.