Kathleen Potempa PhD, RN, FAAN

Dr. Kathleen Potempa is an internationally recognized contributor to science, nursing education, and the integration of education, practice and research in health system settings. Former positions include progressive leadership in health systems as unit manager, supervisor, and Director of Nursing. She is currently the Dean and Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Nursing, and has held this position since 2006. Her research program has focused on fatigue, exercise, and cardiovascular fitness in physically impaired populations. One of her most notable areas of work was defining the exercise capacity of post stroke hemiplegic patients and demonstrating that aerobic exercise can be sustained at a level sufficient to significantly improve fitness, blood pressure control, and other health parameters. Recently, her work has focused on community-based approaches to improving health behavior. Dr. Potempa has served on local and national expert panels and committees on research, including NIH review panels, and recently completed service as a member of the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research at the NIH, an appointment made by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. Dr. Potempa is a nursing leader who has served on numerous local, regional and national organizational committees, advisory councils and boards. She served on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) since 2001 and in 2008 was elected as the president-elect forth American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and assumed the presidency in March 2010, completing her service as President in 2012. While serving as President of AACN, Dr. Potempa was a member of the Nursing Advisory Council of the Joint Commission in 2010-2011.