TIME100 Health 2026 List Honors Nurse and ANA President Dr. Kennedy

TIME Magazine has released its annual list of the world's most influential healthcare leaders, dubbed the TIME100 Health list. The 2026 list includes a nurse, a notable change from last year's list that excluded the world's most trusted profession. The list was revealed on February 11, 2026. 

This year's nurse leader is Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of the American Nurses Association (ANA). Dr. Kennedy leads the ANA, which represents over five million nurses across the country.

What is the TIME100 Health List?

The TIME100 Health list—in its third annual year—recognizes 100 influential individuals who are shaping the future of healthcare. This prestigious list highlights leaders across diverse sectors who are driving innovation, advancing clinical care, and addressing critical health challenges that directly impact nursing practice and patient care.

TIME editors collaborated with global health experts to identify leaders behind major 2026 health stories. The honorees represent a diverse group of scientists, physicians, advocates, educators, policymakers, and innovators who are transforming global health through their groundbreaking work.

Here's a closer look at some of this year's honorees:

• Healthcare Technology and Research Leaders:
  • Karan Singhal (OpenAI Head of Health AI): advancing artificial intelligence applications in healthcare
  • Catherine Wu (Dana-Farber): pioneering stem cell therapies
  • Max Hodak (Science Corp.): developing brain-computer interfaces for vision restoration in AMD patients
  • Priti Bandi (American Cancer Society): enhancing cancer risk screening protocols
• Government and Policy Influencers:
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services)
  • Susan Kressley (American Academy of Pediatrics President)
  • Mehmet Oz (CMS Administrator)
  • State governors Michelle Lujan Grisham (New Mexico) and Patrick Morrisey (West Virginia)
• Pharmaceutical and Biotech Executives:
  • Cindy Eckert (Sprout Pharmaceuticals Founder/CEO)
  • Rob Davis (Merck CEO)
  • David Ricks (Eli Lilly CEO)
  • Victor Bultó and Thierry Diagana (Novartis US)

Nursing as a 'Driving Force' in Healthcare

Dr. Kennedy is listed in the TIME100 Health List under the "Titan" category, which highlights leaders shaping the future of healthcare. 

Angela Beddoe, CEO of the American Nurses Enterprise, described Dr. Kennedy's inclusion on the list as representative of the changing landscape of the nursing profession, not just the clinical level, but beyond, affecting policy, legislation, and leadership. 

“Jennifer’s inclusion on the TIME100 Health list is both well-earned and deeply meaningful,” Beddoe said in an ANA press release. “Her leadership has helped reframe how the world sees nursing, not as a supporting role, but as a driving force in health policy, innovation, and care delivery. This recognition affirms The Power of Nurses™ and the impact of the work they do every day.”

The ANA added that Dr. Kennedy was recognized for her leadership on both the national and global scales. Some of the accomplishments the ANA has seen under Dr. Kennedy's leadership include: 

• Creating a coalition of more than 90 organizations to help reintroduce the ICAN Act of 2025, which hopes to expand health care services in underserved areas. The legislation seeks to expand access to care, particularly in areas facing provider shortages, by removing federal barriers that prevent advanced practice registered nurses from practicing to the full extent of their training. 
• Opposing federal policies that would have excluded nursing from the definition of professional degrees, which could restrict access to nursing education for RNs.  
• Launching a national petition urging Congress to include nursing in the federal definition of professional degrees.  

“This recognition reflects something nurses have always known to be true,” said Dr. Kennedy. “Nurses are the connective tissue of healthcare systems, showing up every day to meet patients where they are and close gaps in care. Being included on this list is not about one individual. It is about the power, leadership, and impact of nurses everywhere who are shaping the future of health.”

What the List Means for Nurses

Outside of recognizing the direct impact of nurses and nurse leaders on the shifting landscape of healthcare, the TIME100 Health List also provides an opportunity for nurses to gain valuable insight into what may lie ahead in their practices.

For instance, several honorees represent breakthroughs particularly relevant to nursing practice. Catherine Wu, chief of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is advancing stem cell therapies, while  Priti Bandi, scientific director of Risk Factoring and Screening Research at the American Cancer Society, is improving cancer screening protocols.

Technology integration in healthcare is prominently featured through honorees like Karan Singhal, head of health AI at OpenAI, suggesting nurses should prepare for increased AI applications in clinical decision support and patient care. Max Hodak of Science Corp. received recognition for developing brain-computer interfaces that restore vision in AMD patients through retinal implants, technology that could create new specialized nursing roles in neuro-rehabilitation.

The list also acknowledges pharmaceutical leadership driving medication innovations, including executives from Novartis, Merck, Eli Lilly, and Sprout Pharmaceuticals. Their work on GLP-1 medications, immunotherapies, and cancer vaccines will directly impact nursing medication administration, patient education, and side effect management protocols.

Policy figures featured on the list signal important regulatory shifts that will affect nursing practice. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, and American Academy of Pediatrics President Susan Kressley all hold positions with direct influence over healthcare delivery standards, reimbursement models, and clinical practice guidelines that govern nursing care.

Dr. Kennedy's recognition comes amid significant healthcare system challenges, including what TIME describes as "critical gaps following reductions in international aid and medical research funding under the Trump Administration." These funding shifts may affect resource availability in clinical settings where nurses practice, potentially requiring greater efficiency and creative problem-solving.

For nurse educators and clinical leaders, the TIME100 Health list serves as a roadmap for professional development priorities. As immunotherapies, stem cell treatments, and AI-assisted care become more prevalent, nursing curricula and continuing education must evolve accordingly.

🤔Nurses, what do you think about this year's honorees? Share your thoughts below.