Notable Alumni

We invite you to meet University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing Alumni who are leaders in their respective fields: 

Academic Deans

  • Susan Bakewell-Sachs, PhD, FAAN
    Oregon Health & Science University
  • Laura J. Fero, PhD, RN
    AdventHealth University
  • Valerie Howard, EdD, MSN, ANEF, FAAN
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Cynthia Hudson, DNS
    North Park University
  • Lisa Kitko, PhD, FAHA, FAAN
    University of Rochester
  • Kathy Mayle, MNED
    Community College of Allegheny County
  • Rosemary McCarthy, PhD
    LaRoche University
  • Ruth Ann Tarantine, DNP
    Colorado Technical University
  • Ratsiri Thato, PhD
    Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
  • Jing Wang, PhD, MPH, FAAN
    Florida State University

Academic Organizations and Research

  • Arkady Barber, BSN
    Director of Research at Mid Atlantic Epilepsy Center
  • Helen Burns, PhD, FAAN
    Rev. Owen Roth, O.S.B., Inaugural Chair of the Department of Nursing, Saint Vincent College
  • Annette DeVito Dabbs, PhD, FAAN 
    Professor, University of Pittsburgh; Director of the School’s T32 Technology: Research in Chronic and Critical Illness Training grant and the SON sponsored eHealth Research Hub
  • John O’Donnell, DRPH, CRNA, CHSE, FSSH, FAANA, FAAN
    Professor and Chair, Department of Nurse Anesthesia, Director, Nurse Anesthesia Program; University of Pittsburgh; Founder, LUMIS Corp.
  • Nico Osier, PhD
    Clinical Assistant Professor, Director of the Biobehavioral Core of St. David’s Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research, University of Texas at Austin
  • Cynthia Roth, MPM
    President and CEO, West Virginia University Foundation

Military, Governmental, and Multinational NGOs

  • Alan Bernstein, MSN
    Deputy Chief Nursing Office, Office of Nursing Services, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Holly Williams, PhD
    Program Analyst, Office of Evaluations & Inspections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Hospital, Health Care, and Community Leadership

  • Krista Bragg, DNP, MBA
    Senior Vice President Executive Operations, Allegheny Health Network
  • Helene Burns, DNP, NEA-BC, FAAN
    Senior Vice President and Regional Chief Nursing Officer, Jefferson Health
  • Keith Dawson,
    Principal Portfolio Leader, Global Health Equity and Population Science, Genentech USA
  • Brent Dunworth, DNP, CRNA
    Director, Advanced Practice Anesthesia, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  • Kathi Elliot, MSN
    Executive Director, Gwen’s Girls
  • Allen Jeffery Follis, MSN, CRNA
    Follis Anesthesiology LLC
  • Melanie Heuston, DNP, NEA.-BC
    Chief Nursing Executive, West Virginia University Health System
  • Patricia Horoho, MSN, FAAN
    Chief Executive Officer, Optum Serve and Optum Health Solutions
  • Diane Hupp, DNP, NEA.-BC FAAN
    President, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
  • Ashley Iannazzo, DNP, CNL
    Senior Director, Clinical Operations, UPMC Center for Nursing Excellence
  • Andrea Mazzoccoli, PhD, FAAN
    Chief Nurse & Quality Officer, Bon Secours Mercy Health
  • Tami Minnier, MSN, FACHE, FAAN
    Senior Vice President, UPMC Health Services Division; Chief Quality & Operational Excellence Officer, UPMC
  • Melanie Shatzer, DNP
    Vice President, HR Retail Services & Organizational Effectiveness, Health First
  • Melissa Tian, MSN
    Administrative Director Oncology Clinical Research, Allegheny Health Network
  • Deborah Trautman, PhD, FAAN President & Chief Executive Officer, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)