On October 17th in Washington, DC, Dr. Laura C. Hein will be inducted as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Hein is a leading scholar on LGBT health in South Carolina, and is nationally and internationally recognized. Dr. Hein's research focuses on health disparities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons. She investigates LGBT health disparities within a social justice and public policy paradigm. The goal of her research is to impact public policy thereby decreasing LGBT health disparities and victimization. Dr. Hein's most recent research investigated the acceptability of various aspects of a support-group intervention in the LGBT community in South Carolina. Dr. Hein was invited to the White House by HHS Secretary Sebelius, for a briefing of 150 LGBT leaders on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). She returned to the White House for a follow-up briefing on July 24th, 2014. Dr. Hein was the only attendee from South Carolina.

Dr. Hein is the fifth nurse to ever serve on the Board of Directors of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality in its 30+ year history. During her tenure, the board of GLMA submitted amicus briefs influencing appellate and U.S. Supreme Court decisions, regarding law and policy related to LGBT health. Dr. Hein co-led the effort that established the first Section within GLMA, as a home for LGBT nurses.