Nursing faculty step into new leadership roles

The University of Rochester School of Nursing & Health Sciences is proud to announce a series of recent nursing education leadership appointments among its faculty.

Susan Ciurzynski, PhD, RN-BC, PNP, VCE, FNAP, has been appointed assistant dean for graduate nursing education. She is also a professor of clinical nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing & Health Sciences and currently serves as director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. With more than three decades of experience as a pediatric nurse, educator, scholar, and academic leader, she has made significant contributions to graduate nursing education, evidence-based practice, and clinical scholarship. A Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, she is widely recognized for her scholarship, commitment to improving the care of hospitalized children, and dedication to mentoring faculty and graduate students in scholarship, professional writing, and dissemination. Her collaborative leadership style, commitment to academic excellence, and passion for developing future nurse leaders make her exceptionally well-suited to lead the school's graduate education programs.

Caitlin Dreisbach, PhD, RN, has been appointed assistant dean for undergraduate nursing education. She is also an assistant professor at the University of Rochester School of Nursing & Health Sciences with an affiliation in the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. She also maintains an active clinical practice as a registered nurse on the high-risk obstetrics unit at Strong Memorial Hospital. Her research focuses on applying quantitative methods and data science to improve clinical assessment during pregnancy and advance maternal health across the lifespan. Her work examines how conditions during the preconception and pregnancy periods influence both short- and long-term health outcomes for women. Through her combination of clinical expertise, innovative scholarship, and commitment to evidence-based education, she brings a forward-thinking perspective to undergraduate nursing education.

“In these roles, Ciurzynski and Dreisbach will work alongside myself to provide strategic leadership for the school’s academic nursing programs, working collaboratively with faculty, program directors, and staff to advance excellence in curriculum, student success, faculty support, and program innovation,” said Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Lisa Brophy, EdD, RN, MSBA, CNE. “In addition, they will lead accreditation and continuous quality improvement efforts while advancing strategic initiatives across the School’s nursing education mission.”

Other leadership changes include:

Joy Lent, EdD, BS, RN, CNEcl, has been named program director for the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and Leadership in Healthcare Systems (LHCS) programs. Lent is an accomplished nurse leader and educator with extensive experience in nursing education, leadership development, curriculum innovation, and mentoring students and faculty. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence, interprofessional collaboration, and the preparation of nurses to lead meaningful improvements in healthcare delivery.

In her role as director, she will provide strategic leadership for both the CNL and LHCS programs, overseeing curriculum development, program quality, accreditation activities, faculty collaboration, and student success initiatives. She will work closely with faculty, staff, students, and clinical partners to further strengthen these programs while advancing our mission of excellence in education, scholarship, clinical practice, and service.

Beth Palermo, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, ACNP-BC, has been named program director for the Nurse Practitioner (NP) program. Palermo has served as interim program director for the past 14 months, providing steady and collaborative leadership during a period of significant transition and growth. Most notably, she led the program's significant change to online learning across all tracks, working closely with faculty and School leadership to support a successful transition while maintaining the quality and rigor of the NP curriculum.  

She also led the faculty team through comprehensive curriculum revisions designed to strengthen the student experience and ensure the programs continue to meet evolving educational and professional practice expectations. Palermo brings extensive experience as an advanced practice nurse, educator, and academic leader, along with a strong commitment to student success, faculty collaboration, and excellence in graduate nursing education. Her leadership over the past 14 months has demonstrated her ability to bring faculty together, navigate complex change, and thoughtfully advance the NP programs.

Ann Leonhardt-Caprio, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, FAHA, has been appointed assistant director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. A 2020 graduate of the School’s DNP program, Leonhardt-Caprio brings extensive clinical, operational, and academic experience to this leadership role. She recently stepped down after 15 years as program coordinator for Strong Memorial Hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center to assume this new role. She will continue to contribute clinically to stroke care and serve as a mentor to stroke coordinators across the University of Rochester Medicine health system.

During her time as program coordinator, Leonhardt-Caprio led Strong Memorial Hospital’s successful 2013 effort to achieve Comprehensive Stroke Center certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association. Her professional interests include stroke care for older adults, care transitions, interprofessional education, and process improvement. Leonhardt-Caprio has been recognized by the American Heart Association with a Leadership Legacy Award and received the Stroke Article of the Year Award for scholarship stemming from her DNP project, which focused on improving the transition from hospital to home for people recovering from stroke.

Lauren Lee, EdD, RN, CNEcl, has been named program director of the Master’s in Nursing Education (MNE) program. A two-time graduate of the School, Lee completed our Accelerated Bachelor’s in Nursing program in 2011 and our Master’s in Nursing Education program in 2019. She recently earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership in Higher Education from the Warner School of Education.

Before transitioning more fully into academic nursing, Lee developed a diverse clinical background within University of Rochester Medicine, including experience in the Medical Intensive and Progressive Care Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital, Urgent Care, Interventional Psychiatry, and statewide COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts. Since joining the School of Nursing & Health Sciences faculty, Lauren has contributed to both the accelerated bachelor’s and MNE programs and has demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching, student success, and the development of future nurse educators. Of particular importance to the MNE program, Lee developed and implemented the role of Experiential Learning Coordinator, creating a more standardized and individualized approach to matching MNE students with preceptors and experiential learning opportunities. In this role, she has helped coordinate the 400-hour experiential learning requirement for approximately 100 students and has built partnerships across academic and clinical settings.

Lindsay DeLeo, DNP, MSN, MS, RN, CNL, WHNP-BC, IBCLC, will serve as specialty director for the School’s developing Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) track. As a women’s health nurse practitioner with University of Rochester Medicine, she practices with Gender Wellness, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lattimore Medical Center, providing care across the spectrum of women’s reproductive health. Her expertise includes women’s health, obstetric and gynecologic care, menopause care, lactation, and electronic fetal monitoring. She has also served as a clinical instructor within the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, sharing her expertise in obstetric and women’s health nursing with our students. Her ability to connect clinical practice with education will be particularly valuable as we build a new advanced practice specialty grounded in contemporary practice and the evolving healthcare needs of women across the lifespan.

In her role as specialty director, DeLeo will work closely with faculty, academic leadership, and our clinical partners to develop the Women’s Health NP curriculum, establish clinical learning opportunities, and ensure alignment with professional standards and national certification requirements. Her ongoing clinical practice at University of Rochester Medicine will provide an important connection between the School of Nursing & Health Sciences and the health system as the new specialty is developed.

“As the school continues to innovate and expand, these faculty members are stepping into leadership roles and represent an important investment in the future of our academic programs and reflect our commitment to providing strong leadership across both undergraduate and graduate education,” said Dean Lisa Kitko, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN.

“These leaders also bring complementary strengths, deep institutional knowledge, and commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence that will position us for an exciting and successful academic year ahead."