For the past 30 years, Leann Patel has advanced the role of community health nursing to improve access to quality care for people within the Rochester, NY community. Throughout her career, Patel has worked tirelessly to establish partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, correctional facilities, and city schools to help nursing students develop critical multicultural competence and fulfill a core part of their clinical practice curriculum requirements.
As an assistant professor of clinical nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing, Patel teaches community health in the Accelerated Program for Non-Nurses and coordinates clinical experiences. Patel also leads health literacy initiatives for refugee, incarcerated, and city school student populations, including the See What You Can Bee Program. Established in 2012, the program gives students from the Rochester City School District a behind-the-scenes chance to learn about careers in physical therapy, nutrition, nursing, and medicine by pairing them with students from the University Medical Center.
In 2015, Patel was named Nurse of the Year by the March of Dimes. In 2011, she received the Mary Dombeck Diversity Enhancement Award. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Alfred University, and her master’s degree from St. John Fisher College.
Current Focus
I have been fortunate to have had the chance to develop and implement the Community Health clinical experience for APNN program. This has given me the opportunity to explore the resources within the Rochester Community and establish partnerships with many community agencies. With these connections, the APNN students have the chance to work side by side with our community partners to provide Health Literacy Education as well as fill in any gaps related to the participants health care needs.
Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, US. 5/2006 - Current
Adjunct Faculty, Nazareth College (Responsible for education of undergraduate nursing students in the clinical and lab settings.), Rochester, NY, US. 2/2008 - 2011
Nurse educator, Anthony Jordan Health Center (Prenatal Education), Rochester, NY, US. 1/2007 - 4/2009
Adjunct Faculty in Nursing and Health Education Departments., Monroe Community College (Fundamentals of Nursing. Responsible for education of students in the clinical and classroom setting. Death and Dying. Responsible for education of students in the classroom setting.), Rochester, NY, US. 9/2003 - 2006
Adjunct Faculty, St. John Fisher College (Responsible for clinical instruction and supervision to upper level nursing students in area hospitals and community settings. Developed and coordinated community clinical experience working with Rochester City School District @ the Family Learning Center by assessing needs and formulating appropriate health/wellness programs including annual health fairs and presentations on various topics. Created a clinical experience for students in HEALTH PROMOTION COURSE, working with Action for a Better Community Head Start Program where students provided health screening and health education to pre-schoolers. Initiated a volunteer opportunity for nursing students to participate in the care of hospice patients at Mt. Carmel House.), Rochester, NY, US. 9/1993 - 2003