SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University's College of Nursing Appoints New Associate Dean for Research and Innovations
Sep 8, 2014
Dr. Shirley Girouard to Facilitate a Robust Program of Research and Scholarship, with Focus on Workforce Diversity and Reducing Health Disparities
Brooklyn, NY – The College of Nursing of SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University has appointed Shirley Girouard, PhD, RN, FAAN, as professor and associate dean for research and innovations. Dr. Girouard will facilitate the college's contributions to nursing education and practice, as well as to health and healthcare through faculty, student and staff scholarship and research.
"Dr. Girouard will serve as a catalyst for organizing and implementing a robust program of research and scholarship building upon the interests and expertise of the College," said Daisy Cruz-Richman, PhD, RN, professor and dean of Downstate's College of Nursing. "This will include exploring and testing innovations in patient care and nursing education, with particular emphasis on increasing workforce diversity and reducing health disparities."
Dr. Girouard's own research has encompassed diverse areas of investigation, including Health Information Technology/Nursing Informatics to improve health care and nursing education; interdisciplinary collaboration on patient indicator measures; graduate curricula; hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance in children's hospitals; and innovative care arrangements, among other topics. She has been funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration; the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and other private foundations; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions, as well as numerous state and local organizations.
Dr. Girouard holds a PhD in health and social policy from the Heller School, Brandeis University; an MS in nursing from Yale University; an MA in medical sociology from the University of Connecticut; a BA with a major in sociology from Eastern Connecticut State University; and a diploma in nursing from Hartford Hospital School of Nursing, Hartford, Connecticut.
Dr. Girouard's professional career has included clinical practice in a variety of settings, including work as an advanced practice nurse. She served as dean of the School of Nursing at Long Island University (2012-2013) and director of the School of Nursing at San Francisco State University (2007-2010). She has held positions in philanthropy, public service (elected and appointed), management and administration in professional organizations, healthcare, and education, and as faculty. Her scholarly work has focused on the nursing workforce, evaluation, public policy, and nursing education through publications, grantsmanship, service on editorial boards, and professional speaking.
Serving on national, state, and local committees, Dr. Girouard is committed to advancing nursing education, research, and practice.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.