Brief Bio

Dr. Sullivan is the associate dean for academic affairs at the Duke University School of Nursing. She has held leadership positions in nursing education and healthcare over the last 30 years including roles as a national healthcare consultant, clinical and research director, clinical specialist, faculty, and academic administrator – including assistant vice chancellor for quality and performance improvement in an academic medical center. Immediately prior to joining DUSON, Dr. Sullivan led the Department of Nursing at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut for eight years and also served as Chair of the Council of Deans and Directors of Nursing. Dr. Sullivan has participated in several national initiatives related to nursing education, patient care quality and safety, and leadership development, most of which involved instrument development and program evaluation. She is currently serving as core faculty for evidence-based practice on a Robert Wood Johnson grant, Quality and Safety Education in Nursing (QSEN) and co-authored a monograph on leadership competencies in healthcare with a focus on complexity science and transformational leadership. Dr. Sullivan received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in nursing and a Doctor of Philosophy in educational psychology, focusing on evaluation research and measurement, all from the University of Connecticut. She has an advanced healthcare leadership certificate from Yale University and numerous professional certifications in the areas of nursing administration, healthcare quality, and as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL).

Academic Program Affiliations

PhD in Nursing Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program

Education

PhD	University of Connecticut
MS	University of Connecticut
BS	University of Connecticut

Professional Certifications

CNL	Clinical Nurse Leader
CPHQ	Certified Professional in Health Care Quality
NE-BC	Nurse Executive – Board Certified
TeamSTEPPS	Trainer, TeamSTEPPS National Implementation Project

Research Interests

Research interests include:
● Leadership models, roles and practice
● Program evaluation and evaluation research
● Nursing education
● Evidence-based practice and quality improvement

Awards and Honors

• 2010 Fellow, American Academy of Nursing

• 2006 Nightingale Award, Connecticut League for Nursing

• 2005 Diamond Jubilee Award ~ Josephine A. Dolan Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Education, Connecticut Nurses Association

• 2005 President’s Award, Connecticut League for Nursing

• 2004 Carolyn Ladd Widmer Alumni Leadership in Nursing Award, University of Connecticut School of Nursing

• 2003 Connecticut Secretary of State’s Public Service Award, Connecticut Secretary of State

• 2003 Fuld Foundation Leadership Fellow, American Association of Colleges of Nursing-Fuld Foundation Leadership Fellow Program

• 2002 Faculty Scholarship, Sacred Heart University Hersher Ethics Institute

• 1993 vited to NIH/NLM Invitational Meeting for Nurse Leaders on Diffusion of Use of Interactive Computer Education

• 1991 John Dempsey Hospital Director’s Award, University of Connecticut Health Center

• 1986 Inducted, Phi Kappa Phi

• 1986 Who’s Who in American Nursing

• 1984 Mary Lawrence Research Award, University of Connecticut School of Nursing

• 1975 Inducted, Sigma Theta Tau International

Areas of Expertise

• Nursing and Health Care Leadership
• Nursing Education
• Quality of Care / Patient Safety
• Translational Research

Representative Publications

• 2012 -- Sherrod, B. C., Brown, R., Vroom, J., Sullivan, D. T. Round with purpose. Journal of Nursing Management. January, 2012; 43(1); 32-38

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21396486 Taylor, H. A., Sullivan, D., Mullen, C., Johnson, C. M. Implementation of a user-centered framework in the development of a web-based health information database and call center. J Biomed Inform. March, 2011; 44(5); 897-908

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20333924 Sullivan, D. T. Connecting nursing education and practice: a focus on shared goals for quality and safety. Creat Nurs. 2010; 16(1); 37-43

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20879622 Phillips, B., Shaw, R. J., Sullivan, D. T., Johnson, C. Using virtual environments to enhance nursing distance education. Creat Nurs. December 1, 2010; 16(3); 132-5

• 2009 -- Pubmed # 19942033 Sullivan, D. T., Hirst, D., Cronenwett, L. Assessing quality and safety competencies of graduating prelicensure nursing students. Nurs Outlook. Nov-Dec, 2009; 57(6); 323-31

• 2009 -- Pubmed # 19942035 Cronenwett, L., Sherwood, G., Pohl, J., Barnsteiner, J., Moore, S., Sullivan, D. T., Ward, D., Warren, J. Quality and safety education for advanced nursing practice. Nurs Outlook. Nov-Dec, 2009; 57(6); 338-48

• 2009 -- Sullivan, D. T. Mary Ann Fuchs: Perspectives on resources from a chief nurse officer. (Interview). Creative Nursing. 2009; 15(2); 104-106

• 2009 -- Sullivan, D. T. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses: A national initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Creative Nursing. 2009; 15(2); 111

• 2009 -- Pubmed # 19507764 Sullivan, D. T. The interaction of resources in time. Creat Nurs. 2009; 15(2); 59-60

• 2008 -- Barker, A. M., Sullivan, D. T., Emery, M. J. (Eds.) Leadership Competencies for Clinical Managers: The Renaissance of Transformational Leadership. 2008; Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

• 2008 -- Sullivan, D. T., Roy, J., Hagstrom, A., Rogucki, N. Creating CNL role immersion experiences using formal clinical partner and student employment settings: The best of both worlds. In Proceedings, AACN Clinical Nurse Leader Partnership Conference. January, 2008;

• 2008 -- Sullivan, D. T. Health care quality (Chapter 15). In Advanced Nursing Practice: Essential Knowledge for the Profession, edited by Barker, A. M. 2008; pp. 323-346. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

• 2008 -- Sullivan, D. T. Managing financial resources (Chapter 10). In Advanced Nursing Practice: Essential Knowledge for the Profession, edited by Barker, A. M. 2008; pp. 203-218. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

• 2008 -- Sullivan, D. T. The leader as coach: How to coach a winning team, 2nd Ed. (Book review). Creative Nursing. 2008; 14(3); 140-141

• 2007 -- Pubmed # 17524799 Cronenwett, L., Sherwood, G., Barnsteiner, J., Disch, J., Johnson, J., Mitchell, P., Sullivan, D. T., Warren, J. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses. Nurs Outlook. August 10, 2007; 55(3); 122-31

• 2007 -- Strong, L., Sullivan, D. T. Interdisciplinary education in emergency preparedness: Assuring the safety of aging populations. Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table. Summer, 2007;

• 2005 -- Sullivan, D. T., Proto, M. for the Council of Deans, Directors of Nursing Programs. Enhancing the education and supply of nurses in Connecticut: Report and recommendations. October, 2005;

• 2004 -- Sullivan, D. T., Barker, A. M. An insider’s perspective of online learning options: Are they for you? Hospital News. March, 2004; 28

• 2002 -- Sullivan, D. T. A new chair’s perspective on jump-starting the strategic planning process. Proceedings, Nineteenth Annual Conference of Academic Chairpersons: The Changing Roles of Department Chairs. 2002; 52

• 2001 -- Pubmed # 18193602 Sullivan, D. T. Charting a career in health care management: boxing the compass. Nurs Adm Q. 2001; 25(4); 64-73

• 2000 -- Sullivan, D. T., Rosenstein, A., Davis, R. CARE Instrument Report. 2000;

• 1999 -- Gelinas, L., Sullivan, D. T., Newton, G., Manthey, M., Seidel, B. The Impact of Organizational Redesign on Nurse Executive Leadership, Part III. 1999;

• 1998 -- Shah, H. S., Sullivan, D. T. Evaluation of the acute care nurse practitioner’s role. In Practice Issues for the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, edited by Kleinpell, R. 1998; pp. 111-143. : .

• 1997 -- Pubmed # 9086928 Shah, H. S., Bruttomesso, K. A., Sullivan, D. T., Lattanzio, J. An evaluation of the role and practices of the acute-care nurse practitioner. AACN Clin Issues. February, 1997; 8(1); 147-55

• 1996 -- Pubmed # 8965216 Cracolici, F. J., Gianella, A., Sullivan, D. T., Frazier, J. Nursing staff development goes hospital-wide. J Nurs Adm. November, 1996; 26(11); 6-9

• 1996 -- Pubmed # 8715706 Sullivan, D. T. Strategic planning: outmoded concept or current imperative? Nurs Staff Dev Insid. Mar-Apr, 1996; 5(2); 9, 14-5

• 1996 -- Sullivan, D. T. Developing and using preceptors. In Manual of Staff Development, edited by Rodriguez, L., Patton, C., Stiesmeyer, J., & Teikmanis, M. 1996; St. Louis, MO: Mosby.

• 1995 -- Pubmed # 7627103 Sullivan, D. T. Keeping adult learning principles alive. Nurs Staff Dev Insid. May-Jun, 1995; 3(3); 1, 8

• 1995 -- Pubmed # 7620442 Sullivan, D. T. Quality corner. Answers to redesign and multifunction worker questions. Nurs Staff Dev Insid. Jan-Feb, 1995; 4(1); 1, 4-5

• 1995 -- Sullivan, D. Taylor, Smith, A. E. Effective team building in the emergency department. Critical Decisions in Emergency Medicine. 1995; 9 153-162

• 1994 -- Pubmed # 8003995 Sullivan, D. T. Staying focused on staff development outcomes. Nurs Staff Dev Insid. Jan-Feb, 1994; 3(1); 4

• 1993 -- Pubmed # 8123370 Shah, H. S., Sullivan, D. T., Lattanzio, J., Bruttomesso, K. M. Preparing acute care nurse practitioners at the University of Connecticut. AACN Clin Issues Crit Care Nurs. November, 1993; 4(4); 625-9

• 1993 -- Pubmed # 8220633 Hooper, J. A., Bronzino, J. D., Noyes, N. T., Taylor, D. EquipTeach: A computer-aided instruction to teach users how to operate specific medical equipment. Biomed Instrum Technol. Sep-Oct, 1993; 27(5); 394-399

• 1993 -- Pubmed # 8364385 Sullivan, D. T. Organizational development: the educator's role. Nurs Staff Dev Insid. Jul-Aug, 1993; 2(4); 6

• 1993 -- Sullivan, D. T. How to select a quality educational offering. Nurs Staff Dev Insid. May-Jun 1993; 2(3); 6

• 1992 -- Sullivan, D. T. The what and why of CQI: Getting staff into it. Nurs Staff Dev Insid. Jan-Feb, 1992; 2(1); 7

• 1992 -- Sullivan, D. T. Using educator expertise to enhance performance appraisal. Nurs Staff Dev Insid. Sep-Oct, 1992; 1(5); 5

• 1991 -- Taylor, D. Orthopedic care. In Nursing Procedures, edited by 1991; Springhouse, PA: Springhouse.

• 1985 -- Taylor, D., Kramer, M. The head nurse: Manager? clinician? or both? In Current Issues in Nursing (2nd Edition), edited by McCloskey, J. C. and Grace, H. K. 1985; Boston, MA: Blackwell Scientific Publications.

Grant Funding (selected)

• ARRA - Nurse Faculty Loan Program  
  Health Resources and Service Administration ARRA Award
  6E0-AHP18879-01
  07/2010-06/2011
  Role: Project Director
  

• Quality and Safety Education in Nursing Phase III AACN/QSEN  
  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to AACN and UNC
  07/2009-06/2011
  Role: Faculty Consultant
  Project Goal: In Phase III, the UNC School of Nursing and AACN will work to develop the faculty expertise necessary for the nation’s nursing schools to teach the competencies; focus on instilling the competencies in textbooks and licensing, accreditation and certification standards; and promote continued innovation in teaching the competencies in order to transform nursing education through use of Institute of Medicine-derived quality and safety competencies as the curricular framework and to foster innovative teaching learning methods to promote student and faculty competency attainment in the areas of quality and safety. The six competencies are patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety and informatics. Annual Direct Costs: AACN: approx. $816,000/yr X 3 yr = $2,450,000 UNC-CH: $600,000/yr X 3 yrs = $1,800,000

• HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program  
  Health Resources and Service Administration
  2E01-HP12959-02-00
  07/2009-06/2011
  Role: Project Director
  

• Quality and Safety Education in Nursing – Phase I and II  
  Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  09/2005-08/2008
  Role: Core Faculty
  Project Goal: To transform nursing education through use of Institute of Medicine-derived quality and safety competencies as the curricular framework and to foster innovative teaching learning methods to promote student and faculty competency attainment in the areas of quality and safety. (Phase I=$590,552; Phase II=$1,094,477).

• ILE@D – Immersive Learning Environment at Duke  
  The Duke Endowment
  07/2009-06/2013
  Role: Academic Administrator
  Project Goal: To maximize face-to-face interactions between teachers and students through self-directed, team-based, and facilitator lead preparatory activities in the virtual environment.

• Innovative Nursing Education Technologies  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  1D80-HP-11272
  01/2009-12/2011
  Role: Faculty Consultant
  Project Goal: The major goals are to infuse innovative education technologies in 3 nursing education programs in three universities in North Carolina.

• Simulations and Partners across Communities for Registered Nurse Education (SIM-PAC-RN)  
  HRSA/BHP/Division of Nursing
  1D11-HP-08367-02-00
  07/2007-06/2010
  Role: Faculty Consultant
  Project Goal: The purpose of this project is to expand and strengthen the current Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program by 1) increasing and expanding the number of clinical sites for entry-level training, 2) expanding the pool of clinical instructors, 3) expanding enrollment in the ABSN program, and 4) enhancing the breadth, depth, and integration of simulation technology into the ABSN curriculum.

• Advanced Education in Nursing Traineeship Grant  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  2A10-HP00229-08
  07/2007-07/2008
  Role: Co-Project Director
  Project Goal: Support for qualified graduate nursing students

• Enhancing Development and Supply of Nurse Faculty  
  Connecticut Healthcare and Education Facilities Authority
  09/2006-09/2008
  Role: Project Director
  Project Goal: Develop a Nursing Education Certificate program for aspiring and practicing nurse faculty and to support current faculty doctoral studies targeting historically underrepresented (minority) groups in nursing.

• Advanced Education in Nursing Traineeship Grant  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  2A10-HP00229-07
  07/2006-06/2007
  Role: Project Director
  

• Bioterrorism and Emergency Preparedness Curriculum Development Grant  
  Connecticut Department of Public Health
  07/2006-06/2007
  Role: Contractor
  Project Goal: To continue work from the HRSA funded project in 2005-2006 to expand emergency preparedness competency development to RN to BSN and Nursing Masters degree programs (selected) as well as to Physical Therapy as a model allied health discipline; and to evaluate generic students competency in emergency preparedness at the time of graduation

• Bioterrorism Curriculum Development Grant (BTCD)  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  TO1 HP06398-01-00
  09/2005-08/2006
  Role: PI
  Project Goal: Develop and implement core curricula in bioterrorism and emergency preparedness (developed in prior grants) within nursing and across selected health disciplines based on consensus-approved competencies, provide faculty development in related areas using distance learning models, develop and test standardized evaluation measures for student and faculty competency achievement, and design and implement a flexible model for sustainable curricular change within academic health programs in Connecticut.

• Advanced Education in Nursing Traineeship Grant  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  2A10-HP00229-06
  07/2005-06/2006
  Role: Project Director
  Project Goal: Support for qualified graduate nursing students

• Advanced Education in Nursing Traineeship Grant  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  2A10-HP00229-05
  07/2004-06/2005
  Role: Project Director
  Project Goal: Support for qualified graduate nursing students

• Advanced Education in Nursing Traineeship Grant  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  2A10-HP00229-04
  07/2003-06/2004
  Role: Project Dirctor
  Project Goal: Support for qualified graduate nursing students

• Bioterrorism and Emergency Preparedness in Nursing Education: Current State, Creation of Competencies, and Faculty Development  
  State of Connecticut Cooperative Agreement on Public Health Preparedness & Response for Bioterrorism Program
  2004-1024
  07/2003-06/2004
  Role: Contractor
  Project Goal: To assess the extent to which nursing education programs in Connecticut preparing registered nurses incorporated designated emergency preparedness/bioterrorism content in current curricula and to use a consensus based approach with nursing education administrators and faculty leaders to create a uniform set of emergency preparedness competencies for nursing graduates. Last, the project sought to develop and offer faculty development seminars and workshops in related content areas and recommended teaching/learning strategies.

• Advanced Education in Nursing Traineeship Grant  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  2A10-HP00229-03
  07/2002-06/2003
  Role: Project Director
  Project Goal: Support for qualified graduate nursing students.

• Leadership Development: A Proposal for Developing an MSN Program on the World Wide Web  
  Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium
  07/2001-06/2003
  Role: Co-Project Director
  Project Goal: To support curricular development and faculty development to offer a Master of Science in Nursing graduate education track in Patient Care Services Administration ONLINE (including core graduate courses) to promote access to graduate nursing education and enhance the supply of nurse leaders.

• Advanced Education in Nursing Traineeship Grant  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  2A10-HP00229-02
  07/2001-06/2002
  Role: Project Director
  Project Goal: Support for qualified graduate nursing students

• Effectiveness of First Line Managers  
  T. Stewart Hamilton Fellowship in Health Care Management of the Capital Area Health Consortium, Hartford, CT
  07/1987-06/1990
  Role: PI
  Project Goal: This doctoral dissertation study tested the hypothesis that interpersonal skills of first line nurse managers directly influence managerial effectiveness using a structural equation model.

• Effects of Special Care Units in Long Term Care on Demented Residents, Staff and Family  
  Sigma Theta Tau, MU Chapter
  07/1987-06/1988
  Role: Co-PI
  Project Goal: This field study compared the use of pharmacologic and physical restraints, as well as patient, staff and family satisfaction between residents of segregated units for patients diagnosed with dementia versus regular, integrated long term care units. Four long term care facilities in CT, two with segregated units and two without, comprised the study sample.

• Reality Shock Management and Patient Perception of Nursing Caring  
  PHS Division of Nursing Public Health
  RO1 H 00801
  07/1981-07/1984
  Role: Project Director
  Project Goal: This multi-center quasi-experimental study, conducted in two states in the northeast, sought to describe the construct of reality shock in experienced nurses (those with work experience from 1 to 10 years as a staff nurse). These qualitative findings were then used to design, deliver and evaluate an intervention to enhance nurse job satisfaction (a recognized precursor to staff turnover). Additionally, a new instrument (Patient Perception of Nursing Caring) was developed and tested as one of the study outcome variables.