Caroline Nestro, PhD, MS, RN

(Pronouns: she/her/hers)

Interim Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing

Education

PhD in Human Development, 2018. University of Rochester, Warner School. Rochester, NY
Masters in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 1991. University of Rochester, School of Nursing. Rochester, NY
BS, Cum Laude in Nursing, 1980. Adelphi University. Garden City, NY

Bio

Caroline S. Nestro, PhD, CNS, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing where she focuses on the wellness of students, staff, and faculty. She received her Bachelors degree, cum laude, in Nursing at Adelphi University in 1980, her Masters of Science in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from the University of Rochester in 1991, and her doctorate in Human Development from the University of Rochester in 2018. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the Institute for Patient & Family Centered Care National Advisory Committee, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester Medical Board, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Rochester.

Dr. Nestro began her nursing career in medical, surgical and intensive care nursing but discovered her passion to be in psychiatric nursing where she has worked since 1984. She has worked across the continuum of mental health care using strengths-based approaches toward recovery. She incorporates the humanities into her work to foster self-confidence and connections to meaning, purpose, and to one another. She has received several awards for her clinical work including a Distinguished Community Service Award from East House, the Excellence in Psychiatric Nursing Award at Strong Memorial Hospital, and the URMC Department of Psychiatry Excellence in Clinical Care Award.

Dr. Nestro has worked in leadership roles since 1998 with large interdisciplinary teams. She was instrumental in facilitating the creation of the Department of Psychiatry Advisory Council of Consumers (DPACC) in 2006. She has received the Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award and the University of Rochester Presidential Diversity Award for her work aimed at facilitating learning and dialogue regarding inequities that are related to difference. Her scholarship focuses on the aspirations and inclusion of minoritized service employees.

Awards

Presidential Diversity Award: University of Rochester, 2020
Inclusive Climate Leadership Fellowship: University of Rochester, 2018
Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Award: University of Rochester, 2014
Excellence in Clinical Care Award: Department of Psychiatry, URMC, 2002
Excellence in Psychiatric Nursing Award: Department of Psychiatry, URMC, 1995
Distinguished Community Service Award: East House Corporation, 1990

Presentations

Addressing the Mental Health Workforce Shortage: Patrick P. Lee Foundation Board Meeting, Patrick P. Lee Foundation, 2022; Buffalo, New York
“Applied Theatre for Teamwork & Inclusion”: Orientation Sessions for UR Dining Services Employees, 2022
“Bridging Medical and Nursing Students Together: An Interprofessional Approach to Evaluating Expectations and Outcomes of the Photo/Tiny Story Reflection Tool”: Family Roundtable of the University Committee for Interdisciplinary Studies, 2022
“Building Trust: Environmental Services Employees and Patient Care”: Environmental Services Co-Workers; URMC Medical Humanities Noon Conference, University of Rochester, 2021; Rochester, New York
Stress: Why do some people seem to cope better and how can I become one of those people?: "Got Health" Series, Co-sponsored by the URMC Center for Community Health & Prevention and the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County, 2021; Rochester, New York
Addressing Behavioral Health Needs in the Time of Covid - Building Partnerships and Resiliency: Institute for Patient & Family Centered Care virtual series, Institute for Patient & Family- Centered Care, 2021; Virginia
Every Patient Deserves a Voice: Deaf, Transgender and Behavioral Health PFACs: Jackie Beckerman; Press Ganey Virtual National Client Conference, Press Ganey, 2020
Understanding and Changing Hostile Work Environment Encounters Using Theatre of the Oppressed: 5th Annual Institute for Innovative Education Team Based Care Symposium: Integrating Quality in our Unit and Healthcare Teams, 2019
Courageous Leadership: Valuing Diverse Perspectives and Taking Meaningful Action: 10th Annual University of Rochester Diversity Conference, 2019
Advancing and Supporting the Practice of Patient- and Family-Centered Care for Clinical Leaders”: Consultation to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Institute for Patient and Family-Centered Care, 2019
Advancing the Practice of Patient- and Family-Centered Care: The Roles of Executive Leaders: Consultation to the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Institute for Patient & Family-Centered Care, 2019; Toronto, Canada
Leveraging Patient and Family Advisory Councils to Improve Care: NYS Partnership for Patients, a partnership of the Healthcare Association of New York State and the Greater NY Hospital Association, 2018
Don’t touch me, you #@*#!” Using Forum Theatre to Understand Antidiscrimination Policies and Address Patient Biases: URMC HMD-GMD Faculty Development: Inpatient Discrimination, 2018

Publications

Nestro, Caroline S. (2018). “Inclusion, an Essential Condition for Flourishing in an Academic Institution: A Grounded Theory of Service Employee Perspectives and Experiences”. Dissertation.