Abbreviated Resume for Cynthia M. Dougherty ARNP, PhD, FAAN, FAHA
Professional Background
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
DEGREE
(if applicable)
YEAR(s)
BSN
MA
PhD
1979
1983
1990
FIELD OF STUDY
Nursing
Adult Health Nursing
Nursing
Nursing
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Post-PhD
1990-93
Psychiatric Clinical
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
ARNP
1993
Nurse Specialist
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
ARNP
1995
Adult Nurse Practitioner
I am a Professor in the School of Nursing and an Adjunct Professor in Cardiology in the School of Medicine at
the University of Washington, and an adult nurse practitioner in Cardiology at VA Puget Sound Health Care
System, Seattle, WA. I am a doctorally prepared advanced practice nurse with expertise in cardiovascular
disease, sudden cardiac death, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, exercise in cardiovascular populations,
and heart failure. I have extensive research funding in clinical trials in testing interventions for persons with an
ICD. Our research program has focused on describing the experience of cardiac arrest from the patients’ and
the family’s perspective, as well as designing behavioral, psychological and exercise programs after an ICD.
More recently, our research has encompassed palliative care interventions in advanced cardiovascular
disease. In addition to being a scientist and leader, I maintain a clinical practice as a nurse practitioner. This is
noteworthy because being “grounded” in both the science and practice of cardiovascular nursing in important
to bring about improved outcomes in our study population. I also teach a number of doctoral courses in the
PhD and DNP programs, and mentor doctoral nursing students. In my view, connections between academic
research and clinical practice are critical for staying abreast of outcomes that matter to patients and in
translating important evidence into practice.
Our team has published more than 80 papers and abstracts pertaining to her work. I have presented work at
local, regional, national, and international meetings. Our worked is published in nursing and medical journals
including Circulation, Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, Advances in Nursing Science, Applied Nursing
Research, and Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing.
Involvement in CANS
I have been a long time member the ANA, joining when I was a nursing student in 1979 and then later became
a member of the ANA Council of Nurse Researchers. Currently, I am a member of CANS and a willing
volunteer seeking more involvement in Council activities. I have attended several of the CANS State of the
Science national conferences. I have membership in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and
Western Institute of Nursing. Even though I am a new member to CANS, I will be an eager and energetic
participant in the work of the organization.
Experience as it related to position of Councilor at Large
If selected for this position, I would bring a number of strengths to enhance nursing science agendas for the
organization and the future. I have had extensive experience and success in receiving grant funding in my
research programs, most of which have been funded by the NIH through NINR or NHLBI. I have had
extensive experience serving on grant review panels both locally and nationally, for both governmental and
private funding sources. From my own research, I have grant management experience on large as well as
smaller pilot studies including finance and budgeting, reaching recruitment goals, implementing intervention
programs, monitoring patient safety and research integrity, and statistical analyses. Our current research
investigations are based on collaborative efforts of interdisciplinary teams consisting of nurses, physicians,
technicians, biostatisticians, and research staff. I am an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
and the American Heart Association. I have received a number of innovation and clinical practice awards from
the Department of Veterans Affairs. I have been a member on almost every national committee for the
American Heart Association’s Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, including being the CoChairperson for the Acute and Complex Cardiovascular Committee. I have reviewed research grants for the
NIH on emphasis panels and the AHA over several review cycles.