Nurses Week is an opportunity to recognize the compassion, dedication, and expertise nurses bring to healthcare every day. While nursing is often most associated with bedside care, nurses also play a critical role in advancing research, innovation, education, leadership, and community engagement across the translational science spectrum.
At the University of Florida Clinical and Translational Science Institute (UF CTSI), nurses help bridge the gap between discovery and delivery. They lead clinical research teams, support participants in clinical trials, mentor the next generation of research professionals, strengthen research operations and compliance, connect communities to health resources, and help transform scientific discoveries into real-world improvements in patient care.
This Nurses Week, UF CTSI is proud to spotlight a group of outstanding nurses from across our institute and partner organizations whose work is helping shape the future of health and translational science. Their stories reflect the many pathways nursing can take and the many ways nurses contribute to improving health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.
Throughout the week, we will feature nurses working in leadership, clinical research, workforce development, oncology research, operational support, and community engagement. Together, they represent the collaborative spirit behind “Discovery, Together” and the people-centered work that drives translational science forward.
We invite you to explore their stories below and join us in celebrating the nurses advancing discovery, innovation, and compassionate care at UF and beyond.
Chief Operations officer, UF CTSI
E. Mendy Dunn, PhD, RN
Nurses Week is often associated with the incredible bedside nurses who care for patients every day, and rightly so. But nursing leadership, research, and innovation also play a critical role in improving the future of healthcare for entire communities. For Day 1 of Nurses Week, we are spotlighting Mendy Dunn, PhD, RN, Chief Operating Officer of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, whose career reflects the many ways nurses lead beyond the bedside to advance health and translational science.
Assistant Director of Workforce Development
Alexandria Carey, PhD, RN
As we continue celebrating Nurses Week, we’re highlighting the many ways nurses lead beyond the bedside to strengthen research, education, collaboration, and innovation in healthcare. Today, we are spotlighting Alex Carey, PhD, RN, Assistant Director of Workforce Development at the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
manager of Clinical Research, Center for Advanced Research Resources
Tet Pata, RN
As we continue celebrating Nurses Week, we are recognizing the many ways nurses contribute to advancing research, improving patient care, and strengthening the future of translational science. Today, we are spotlighting Tet Pata, RN, Clinical Research Manager for CTSI Advanced Research Resources (CARR) at the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
Story Coming Soon!
Manager of Clinical research, clinical research center
Matt Rock, MS, BSN, RN
As we continue celebrating Nurses Week, we are highlighting the many ways nurses help advance translational science, support innovation, and improve health outcomes for patients and communities.
Today, we are spotlighting Matt Rock, MS, BSN, RN, Manager of Clinical Research for the UF CTSI Clinical Research Center.
Story Coming Soon!
Assistant Director for Experimental Therapeutics
Anna Kulkulka, RN, BSN, CCRC
As we continue celebrating Nurses Week, we are proud to spotlight nurses across our research and healthcare community who are helping advance translational science and improve lives through discovery, collaboration, and compassionate care.
Today, we are featuring Anna Kukulka, RN, BSN, CCRC, Assistant Director for Experimental Therapeutics with the UF Health Cancer Institute, a valued partner of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
