Patricia Burns,PhD, RN, FAAN
Sr. Associate Vice President, USF Health
Dean, USF College of Nursing

In her role as Dean of USF’s College of Nursing, Patricia Burns, PhD, RN, FAAN, has led a successful campaign to increase the number and quality of the College’s graduating students, academic programs and research. Through a close alliance with clinical leaders in the Tampa Bay Area via our Advisory Board and Alumni Council, Dr. Burns has developed new educational programs for nursing students, including the Doctor of Nursing Practice, and the Nurse Anesthesia Master’s program. Under her leadership, the College of Nursing has risen in National Recognition because of the quality of its educational programs, student achievement, faculty scholarship and research. In the area of research alone, the College has set the ambitious goal of becoming one of the top 20 nursing schools in federal research funding by the year 2020.

Dr. Burns has been the dean of the College of Nursing since 1997 and has overseen the expansion of the College of Nursing in recent years, including the new College facility dedicated in May 2006. With her leadership, this new space has expanded not only the square footage of the College, but also enhanced the nursing educational experiences of students with the use of advanced teaching methodology and research based Centers of Excellence.

Prior to her move to Tampa in 1997, Dr. Burns was with the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Nursing, and held a joint appointment in the Department of Family Medicine. Dean Burns is a nationally recognized researcher in female urinary incontinence, and holds dual appointments in both the Department of Family Medicine, and the Department of Urology at the USF College of Medicine. A leading force in today’s national nursing forum, Dr. Burns is actively involved in leadership roles within national nursing organizations such as the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty, Southern Regional Education Board Nursing Council, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Among her awards and recognitions, the dean has been honored with the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition; the Outstanding Leadership Award presented by Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Beta Chapter and Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing. More...