Nurse Scientist Rosemary Polomano Earns National Accolades for Pain Research

Rosemary Polomano, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, a nationally recognized leader in pain science and a nurse scientist in ChristianaCare’s Department of Research and Evidence-Based Practice, received the 2025 Excellence in Pain Research Award from the American Society for Pain Management Nursing (ASPMN).

The honor recognizes the influence of a pioneering research career and represents ASPMN’s highest scientific distinction.

Polomano’s work has shaped how clinicians understand, measure and treat pain across some of the most complex patient populations. Her research portfolio spans postsurgical pain, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and the unique experiences of military service members and veterans.

Polomano’s research has shaped how clinicians understand, measure and treat pain.

“Dr. Polomano’s work brings scientific rigor, deep compassion and a relentless commitment to improving the lives of people who battle pain,” said Chief Nurse Executive Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC. “We are fortunate to have her expertise and inspiration in our nursing research community at ChristianaCare.”

Polomano played a key role in the development and testing of patient-reported outcome measures and helped author more than a dozen national evidence-based practice guidelines, including ASPMN guidance on monitoring for opioid-induced sedation and respiratory depression.

“Through her research, Dr. Polomano has elevated the way we understand and treat pain,” said fellow nurse scientist Julie McCulloh Nair, Ph.D., RN, APHN-BC, CCRE, of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice. “Her work crosses many care environments and addresses patients’ pain that has been long misunderstood.”

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Her long-standing partnership with the Department of Defense informed pain-management strategies used throughout the military health system. That work included development of the Defense Pain Rating Scale, which has since been implemented across military treatment facilities. She also served as the only nurse scientist on an expert panel on acute low back pain sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“You’re only as successful as the teams you work with, and I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with great colleagues to do important work that makes a difference,” Polomano said. “I’ve been blessed to work with extraordinary nurses and health care professionals alongside military service members, veterans and persons with cancer to improve their lives and the lives of future generations.”

Polomano is an professor emeritus of Pain Practice at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, with a secondary appointment as professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. Her scholarship includes more than 140 peer-reviewed publications and 35 book chapters.

At ChristianaCare, Polomano mentors nurses engaged in research and evidence-based practice and collaborates on projects examining pain, symptom management and patient experience. Her contributions have strengthened the health system’s emphasis on nursing scholarship and translational research.

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