UB nurses Kimberly Brunton and Tammy Austin-Ketch were among the nominees for the 2015 Nurses of Distinction Award from the Professional Nurses Association of Western New York.

Brunton, clinical nurse specialist and associate director of operations in the Clinical Research Office at UB's Clinical and Translational Research Center, works with researchers in planning, protocol development, recruitment and study development.

Austin-Ketch is clinical professor and assistant dean for the MS/DNP programs in the School of Nursing. A fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, she is a recipient of the New York State Nurse Practitioner of the Year award from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the Mecca S. Cranley Award for Excellence in Teaching from the UB School of Nursing.

Her research areas include health issues of vulnerable populations, cancer survivorship, metabolic syndrome, and stress disorders and the impact they exert on overall health.