Distinguished Nursing Professor
March 25, 2014
UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
UT Tyler Names Distinguished Nursing Professor Dr. Ellen Fineout-Overholt
March 25, 2014
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
March 25, 2014
Dr. Ellen Fineout-Overholt has been named the Mary Coulter Dowdy distinguished professor of nursing at The University of Texas at Tyler, Dr. Pam Martin, College of Nursing interim dean, announced.
As the UT Tyler Mary Coulter Dowdy distinguished professor, Fineout-Overholt will provide expertise to help The University of Texas at Tyler faculty develop evidence-based initiatives and teaching strategies. Her focus will be on inter-professional practices, which includes nursing, health and kinesiology and pharmacy. She also will be available to provide leadership and consultation in helping the area healthcare institutions develop evidence-based practice initiatives across disciplines.
She previously served Arizona State University as a clinical professor and Center for the Advancement of Evidence-based Practice director.
“We are delighted and honored to have Dr. Fineout-Overholt on faculty,” said Dr. Barbara Haas, UT Tyler professor and associate dean for graduate nursing programs. “Her expertise will help our East Texas Region become a national leader in evidence-based practice in both health care settings and educational institutions.”
Fineout-Overholt is a nationally recognized nursing leader, educator and promoter of evidence-based practice, innovation and leadership across the United States and globally.
A fellow in the prestigious American Academy of Nursing, she has worked with faculty and students across the nation and internationally to revise curriculum to meet national mandates for inclusion of EBP in health professions’ education. Fineout-Overholt also has consulted with practice leaders and care providers to advance best practices that achieve best outcomes for patients, providers and healthcare systems.
Her career has been dedicated to building a critical mass of young leaders in nursing who will advance evidence-based practice and thereby, transform healthcare.
In her work at Arizona State University, Fineout-Overholt led a team of EBP experts in the writing of the widely acclaimed “EBP Step by Step Series” in the American Journal of Nursing, along with her many other publications.
She has been instrumental in the ongoing development of the Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt’s Advancing Research & Clinical Practice through Close Collaboration (ARCC) Model and coauthored Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice, which is coming out in fall 2014 in its 3rd edition. Her latest book with Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, Implementing Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses: Real-Life Success Stories, offers real world stories about how, when, where, who and why EBP is so important to healthcare.
Throughout her career, Fineout-Overholt has intentionally focused on a grassroots approach to facilitating clinicians, faculty and others to improve their craft through education about and implementation of EBP.
She holds a bachelor of science in nursing from the UT Medical Branch at Galveston, a master of science in cardiovascular nursing from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. from the University of Rochester School of Nursing.
One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.