Patricia D Suplee

Dr. Patricia Suplee is the Director of the School of Nursing and Irwin Belk Distinguished Professor and is a nationally recognized nurse scholar, educator, researcher, and leader in nursing education. Previously she held key leadership roles at Rutgers University, Drexel University, and the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium, contributing significantly to academic and clinical advancements in maternal health.

Education

BSN, Nursing, Indiana University
MSN, Perinatal Nursing, University of Pennsylvania
PhD, Nursing, University of Pennsylvania

Specialization in Teaching

As an educator, she has taught across doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate levels, leading major curriculum reforms such as the integration of AACN Essentials into curricula and the development of innovative nursing programs.

Research Interests

Her research focuses on maternal morbidity and mortality, perinatal safety, postpartum care, and breast cancer decision-making. She has been funded by HRSA, Merck for Mothers, AWHONN, and the NJ Health Foundation, among others. She also serves as a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals, contributing to the advancement of scholarly research in the field. Dr. Suplee has authored over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, several invited articles, and book chapters and is a nationally known speaker.

Professional Service

She serves on the PCORI Maternal Health Advisory Board, the Editorial Board of JOGNN, and the DEI Editorial Advisory Board for Wolters Kluwer. As an expert contributor to two ACOG AIM Postpartum Safety Bundles, and a consultant to the American Heart Association and AWHONN, Dr. Suplee has played a pivotal role in shaping national standards for maternal care. She has spearheaded numerous health education initiatives in underserved communities, with a strong emphasis on maternal health awareness and improving health outcomes. A Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, Dr. Suplee has received numerous awards recognizing her excellence in teaching and research.

Honors & Awards

• Award of Excellence in Scholarly Education – AWHONN, 2024
• Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion – Rutgers University, School of Nursing- Camden, 2023
• Chancellor’s Award for Research and Creativity – Rutgers University-Camden, 2019
• Remarkable 31 – Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, 2019
• Outstanding Professional Nurse Award, Rutgers University School of Nursing, 2018
• Suzanne Feetham Nurse Scientist Family Research Award, Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2017
• Chancellor’s Award for Academic Civic Engagement, Rutgers University, 2015
• N.J. March of Dimes Nurse of the Year (Research category), 2014
• Excellence in Professional Nursing, Rutgers University School of Nursing-Camden, 2014
• Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence, Rutgers University, Camden, 2012
• The Journal of Nursing Education's Top Teaching Tool Award for co-authoring & editing the "Handbook of Clinical Teaching in Nursing and Health Sciences", 2010
• Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, Drexel University, 2005