Mitchell named associate dean for research

Pam Mitchell

Dr. Pamela Mitchell has been appointed associate dean for research at the School of Nursing. A member of the faculty since 1969, Mitchell is also professor of biobehavioral nursing and health systems and the Elizabeth S. Soule Distinguished Professor of Health Promotion. She was named acting associate dean last year, when her predecessor, Dr. Nancy F. Woods, was appointed dean.

“I am delighted to announce this appointment,” said Woods. “Given the School’s goals of enhancing outcomes research, interdisciplinary collaboration with our colleagues in other health sciences, and the need to support a wide range of projects, Pam is particularly well qualified to facilitate research efforts across our three departments.”

Mitchell is principal investigator for a number of research studies, including a series of studies on nursing interventions in patients with acute brain injury, a national multi-site intervention study of depression and heart disease, and studies of the structure, processes and outcomes of critical care. Her doctoral studies focused on health services with an emphasis on outcomes research.

She has been involved in many collaborative efforts, including several years focusing on research related to stress management. She currently directs the program on Interdisciplinary Education and Clinical Practice, funded by the campus-wide University Initiatives Fund, and is collaborating with faculty in the Department of Health Services to develop a concurrent master’s of nursing/master’s of health administration program.

“I am honored to carry forward work begun by an illustrious group of predecessors,” said Mitchell. “Our faculty are unparalleled in their creativity and success in individual and collective research. I look forward to working with them and with colleagues in the health sciences and the larger University in sustaining current excellence and forging new areas of scientific progress.”

Mitchell has a bachelor of science in nursing degree from the UW, a master of science degree from the University of California, San Francisco, and a Ph.D. in nursing from the UW. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

Dr. Leona Eggert, professor of psychosocial and community health nursing, chaired the search committee, which conducted a nationwide search.

Laurie McHale