In Memoriam: Remembering Dr. Elizabeth A. Thomas

Elizabeth A. Thomas, PhD, ANP-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN, an adjunct professor and cherished colleague in the UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing, passed away on September 17, 2026. 

Since joining UCLA Nursing in 2010, Dr. Thomas has played a critical role in advancing the school’s academic mission. She was a key contributor to the Master of Science – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) program and was instrumental in the development of the school’s new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Through her leadership and dedication, she helped educate and shape a generation of advanced practice providers. 

An occupational health nurse practitioner for more than 20 years, Dr. Thomas brought vast expertise to her teaching, research, and service. Her scholarly work focused on issues affecting the health and well-being of working adults, and she was a respected leader in her field. Among her many distinctions, she was a Fellow of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses. 

Dr. Thomas is equally remembered for her unwavering commitment to students and colleagues. Throughout her tenure, she served as a mentor to students, chaired dissertation and faculty committees, and contributed to initiatives that strengthened the larger school. Her efforts included significant work on grant proposals, including numerous successful applications to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), helping secure millions of dollars in support that benefited the broader school community.

Earlier this year, Dr. Thomas was promoted to the rank of Full Adjunct Professor, a recognition of her impact to nursing and UCLA. Her memory will live on in the students she guided, the programs she helped build, and the colleagues and friends whose lives she touched. 

The entire UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing community extends its deepest condolences to Dr. Thomas’s family, children, grandchildren, friends, and loved ones. 

This article will be updated once additional information regarding memorial arrangements become available.