Mary-Therese Dombeck, PhD, DMin., LMFT, LMHC

Mary-Therese Dombeck, PhD, DMin., LMFT, LMHC

  • Professor Emeritus of Nursing

Education

  • Ph.D. in Anthropology, 1989. University of Rochester. Rochester, NY
  • D.Min. in Pastoral Ministry to Families, 1986. Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Rochester, NY
  • M.S. in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing of Adults, 1978. University of Rochester School of Nursing. Rochester, NY
  • M.A. in Religious Studies, 1975. Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Rochester, NY
  • B.A. in Philosophy, 1962. The American University. Washington, DC

Bio

Mary-Therese B. Dombeck has more than 40 years of experience serving in clinical, educational, administrative, and leadership roles. Dombeck joined the School of Nursing faculty in 1979 as senior associate professor in nursing and served in various capacities throughout her career. Most notably, for the last 17 years, she has served as professor teaching a variety of courses on cultural diversity, religious and spiritual issues in health care, and group and family psychotherapy.

In 2014, Dombeck formed a spirituality subcommittee within the Council for Diversity and Inclusion focused on recognizing how spiritual, religious, and moral beliefs relate to perception of health, illness, healing, suffering, and dying. Additionally, Dombeck has served as associate counselor and nursing consultant at the Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center, and mental health counselor at the Pastoral Counseling and Family Therapy Group, and more recently, at Crossbridge Wellness Associates. She has presented both nationally and internationally on the study of dreams, gender identity in nursing, and religious and spiritual needs in health care.

Dombeck earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy from American University, a master of arts in religious studies and theology from Colgate Rochester Divinity School, and a master of science in psychiatric and adult mental health nursing from the UR School of Nursing. She received her doctorate of ministry in pastoral ministry to families from Colgate Rochester Divinity School and her PhD in anthropology from the University of Rochester. Her academic work has been featured in more than 30 publications.

Dombeck is a member of several professional organizations including the New York State Nurses Association, American Anthropological Association, Society for Psychological Anthropology, and Association for the Study of Dreams. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards including the Culture Diversity Advancement Award from SON and Mentor Award from Sigma Theta Tau Region 5.


Professor, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 2005 - Current

Mental Health Counselor, Pastoral Counseling and Family Therapy Group, Rochester, NY, US. 2004 - Current

Associate Counselor and Nursing Consultation, Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center, Rochester, NY, US. 1982 - Current

Associate Professor, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1995 - 2005

Assistant Professor, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1989 - 1995

Senior Associate in Nursing, University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1979 - 1989
Culture Diversity Advancement Award
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2006

Mentor Award
Sigma Theta Tau Region 5, 1998

Nominated candidate, program for senior scholars
Fetzer Institute, 1998

Outstanding Scholarly Practitioner Award
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 1996

Elected member
Board of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing, 1995

Elected as senior editor
Dreaming, 1994

Elected Fellow
American Anthropological Association, 1993

Elected member
Board of Association for the Study of Dreams, 1993

Junior Faculty Study Leave
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 1993

lauded paper, "The contexts of caring: Conscience and consciousness"
Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1991

Dean's Award for Excellence in Training
University of Rochester School of Nursing, 1990

member
Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon Xi Chapter, 1983

Trainee Appointment for Graduate Study
NIMH, 1978

Trainee Appointment for Graduate Study
NIMH, 1977

Trainee Appointment for Graduate Study
NIMH, 1976

Honors for thesis, "Water Symbolism..."
Colgate Rochester Divinity School, 1975

Philosophy Prize
American University, 1962
Exploring a bioethical construct for issues of spirituality and religion in health care practice and research
RIT Expression of Diversity Conference, 2007
Rochester, New York

Exploring a bioethical construct for issues of spirituality and religion in health care practice and research
RIT Expression of Diversity Conference, 2007
Rochester, New York

The Mentor Relationship
Gamma Rho Chapter Sigma Theta Tau, 2005

Care and Covenant Relationship.
Stephen Ministers Network, 2005
Rochester, New York

Care and Covenant Relationship.
Stephen Ministers Network, 2005
Rochester, New York

The Mentor Relationship
Gamma Rho Chapter Sigma Theta Tau, 2005

The Spirituality of the Enneagram
Mercy Prayer Center, 2005
Rochester, New York

The Spirituality of the Enneagram
Mercy Prayer Center, 2005
Rochester, New York

The power of narrative to define ICU patients' personhood
State of Science Congress in Nursing Research, 2004
Washington, District Of Columbia

Faith and Wellness : Caring for others, caring for self
(in preparation), URMC, 2004
Rochester, New York

Faith and Wellness : Caring for others, caring for self
(in preparation), URMC, 2004
Rochester, New York

The power of dreams and stories
Models of Healing Teaching Day, Univ. of Roch. - School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2004
Rochester, New York

The power of dreams and stories
Models of Healing Teaching Day, Univ. of Roch. - School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2004
Rochester, New York

The power of narrative to define ICU patients' personhood
State of Science Congress in Nursing Research, 2004
Washington, District Of Columbia

Spiritual Assessment Tools
the Parish nurses, URMC, 2003
Rochester, New York

Discerning the unique role of Spirituality in Parish Nursing
URMC, 2003
Rochester, New York

Spiritual Assessment Tools
the Parish nurses, URMC, 2003
Rochester, New York

Discerning the unique role of Spirituality in Parish Nursing
URMC, 2003
Rochester, New York

Bioethics in the First Person
Narratives of Professional Power...meeting, American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, 2003
Chicago, Illinois

Ethical dilemmas told and interpreted in the dreams of nurses
NY Chapter American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2002
New York

Stories of Trauma and Healing
American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2002
Seneca Falls, New York

Stories of Trauma and Healing
American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2002
Seneca Falls, New York

Ethical dilemmas told and interpreted in the dreams of nurses
NY Chapter American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2002
New York

Suffering Matters: Restoring and Sustaining Nurses
Parish Nurse Program, 2002
Rochester, New York

Suffering Matters: Restoring and Sustaining Nurses
Parish Nurse Program, 2002
Rochester, New York

Dreams: Nighttime Messengers
Community Nursing Center, 2002
Rochester, New York

Dreams: Nighttime Messengers
Community Nursing Center, 2002
Rochester, New York

Ethics in Everyday Practice
Psychiatric Nursing Grand Rounds, URMC, 2002
Rochester, New York

Ethics in Everyday Practice
Psychiatric Nursing Grand Rounds, URMC, 2002
Rochester, New York

Restoring Personhood in Health Care
Nurses Christian Fellowship, 2001
Guelph, Ontario, Central America

Restoring Personhood in Health Care
Nurses Christian Fellowship, 2001
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Creating health care access through congregations
Colgate Rochester Divinity School, 2001
Rochester, New York

Creating health care access through congregations
Colgate Rochester Divinity School, 2001
Rochester, New York

Perspectives on Human Suffering
Free Methodist Medical Fellowship and Parish Nurse, 2000
Niagara, New York

Experiences and dreams of women who undergo hysterectomy
Highland Women's Center, J.C.C., 2000
Rochester, New York

Perspectives on Human Suffering
Free Methodist Medical Fellowship and Parish Nurse, 2000