Training in Nurse-LEd models of care ADdressing the Systems of Care and Community Health
Nurse-LEADS aims to offer innovative training to nurse scientists focusing on population and community health.
Trainees develop skills in digital health, advanced analytics, engagement science, and multisector partnerships as methodological approaches. Nurse-LEADS builds upon a partnership with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Any questions, please contact: NurseLEADS@duke.edu.
Nurse-LEADS: Training in Nurse-Led models of care addressing the Systems of Care and Community Health
Funded by the US National Institute of Nursing Research (Grant T32NR021171).
Who We Train
Pre-doctoral PhD students (BSN/MSN entry) and postdoctoral fellows (PhD/DNS within 5 years) who are RNs or advanced practice nurses.
What's Funded
NIH NRSA stipend, tuition support, health insurance, conference travel, and pilot research funds. Up to 2 years of support per trainee.
Key Dates
Postdoctoral applications due in February and start in August. Predoctoral applications open on the PhD program cycle and are due in November to start in August.
| Predoctoral Track | Postdoctoral Track | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Admitted to the Duke PhD in Nursing program with a BSN or MSN. Applicants from groups underrepresented in nursing science are especially encouraged to apply. | RN or advanced practice nurse with a PhD or DNS completed within the past 5 years. Must meet NIH citizenship requirements (U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident). |
| Primary Aim | Build foundational research skills in nurse-led models of care, digital health, and health equity as part of PhD training. | Launch an independent program of research on nurse-led models of care addressing population health and systems of care. |
| Duration | Up to 2 years (Years 1–2 or 2-3 of the PhD program) | Up to 2 years |
| Effort | In residence at Duke. 8 hours/week on mentor's research project; remainder on coursework and own research development. | In residence at Duke. 25% effort on mentor's project; 75% on coursework, pilot research, and grant preparation. |
| Required Deliverables | Submit an F31, R36, or equivalent individual fellowship application during the training period. | Develop a K-level career development award (or equivalent). Complete a pilot research study. Mentor a predoctoral trainee. |
| How to Apply | Apply through the Duke Graduate School PhD in Nursing application. Indicate interest in Nurse-LEADS in your statement. See below. | Submit application via the Duke Careers portal. See below. In addition: Email CV, statement of research, transcripts, scholarly papers, and two letters of recommendation to NurseLEADS@duke.edu. |
Predoctoral Applications
The predoctoral track follows the Duke PhD in Nursing admissions cycle. To be considered for Nurse-LEADS support, apply to the PhD program and note your interest in Nurse-LEADS and your alignment with program aims in your statement of purpose. We will contact applicants directly about Nurse-LEADS funding consideration.
PREDOCTORAL: Applications Due: November 26, 2026 - Start Date: August 2027
The position will be an open application, with the timeline aligned with the PhD program registration calendar.
Postdoctoral Applications
After submitting your application through the appropriate Duke portal, email the following materials to NurseLEADS@duke.edu: CV, statement of research, official transcripts, one or two scholarly papers, and two letters of recommendation.
POSTDOCTORAL: Applications Due: February 6, 2027. - Start Date: August 2027.
Financial Support & Benefits
Nurse-LEADS trainees receive full financial support in line with NIH NRSA guidelines. This includes:
- Annual stipend at the current NRSA predoctoral or postdoctoral level (set by NIH and updated each federal fiscal year)
- Tuition and required fee support for predoctoral trainees • Health insurance
- Institutional allowance for training-related expenses, including conference travel
- Pilot research funding for postdoctoral trainees
- Access to Duke's full research infrastructure, including statistical consultation, grant-writing support, and core facilities
For specific current-year stipend amounts, contact NurseLEADS@duke.edu.
Nurse-led Models of Care
- Nurses are uniquely positioned to lead care models addressing health inequities.
- These models emphasize patient and family involvement, respect for values, and provide equitable, holistic, and coordinated care.
- Proven to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and increase satisfaction.
- Effective in managing chronic conditions and serving underserved populations, including rural and low-income communities..
Curriculum
All trainees complete three experiential learning courses (9 credits total)
- N990: Nurse-Led Models of Care Addressing Population Health
- N991: Engagement Science and Multisector Partnerships
- N992: Digital Solutions and Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Health
Coursework is complemented by monthly consortium-wide seminars with Duke, NCCU, and UTEP faculty and trainees.
Mentorship
Every trainee is matched with a primary mentor from Duke University School of Nursing and at least one co-mentor, drawn from a deep bench of Duke faculty and partner-institution collaborators across the program's four aims. Mentor teams are tailored to the trainee's research focus and career goals.
Career Development
Trainees develop and submit individual fellowship or career development awards during their Nurse-LEADS appointment (F31/R36 for predoctoral trainees; K-level awards for postdoctoral trainees). Structured training in responsible conduct of research is embedded throughout the program, alongside tailored learning experiences in grant writing, scholarly dissemination, and research team leadership.
Trainee Expectations
Trainees are expected to:
- Maintain in-residence status at Duke during the appointment period
- Meet effort commitments on mentor-led research (see track comparison above)
- Submit an individual fellowship or career development application during training
- Participate in monthly consortium seminars
- Present work at national scientific meetings
- Postdoctoral trainees additionally complete a pilot research study and mentor a predoctoral trainee.
Program Outcomes
In the short term, Nurse-LEADS aims to expand the pipeline of nurse scientists with advanced training in population and community health and strengthen competency in developing evidence-based nurse-led care models. Over the long term, the program aims to create a new generation of nurse scientists who reduce health disparities through nurse-led, technology-enabled, community-engaged models of care.
Research Fellows:
Kari Bail, MSN, MPH, RN
Kari is originally from western Massachusetts and began her career working with underserved populations, including homeless youth in Boston and patients in a women’s clinic on the Navajo Nation. Her research focuses on improving care for people who inject drugs, with an emphasis on nurse-led models.
Lisvel Matos, PhD
During Lisvel's time as a staff nurse, she became interested in becoming a nurse practitioner with the purpose to fill the growing need for diverse providers offering primary care to disadvantaged adolescent females. She has a passion for working in community-based settings and women's health.
Olivia Short, BSN, RN
Olivia joins DUSON after three years as a clinical research nurse on neurological and maternal-fetal medicine studies, two of those years with Duke School of Medicine. Her passion for research blossomed during her senior thesis, where she tested the impact of biofeedback videogaming on stress and anxiety in young adults.
Luke Velickoff, MSN, AGACNP-BC
Luke is a nurse practitioner and educator dedicated to advancing rural health through research, education, and advocacy, especially in rural populations. Their research aims to refine estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations.
Steering Committee
- Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda
Program Director - Ryan Shaw
Program Director - Michael Relf
- Sharron Docherty
- Devon Noonan
- Debra Brandon
Advisory Committee
- Lusine Poghosyan
Chair, Columbia School of Nursing - Yolanda VanRiel
NCCU Nursing Department Chair - Leslie Robbins
UTEP Dean of College of Nursing - Suzanne Barbour
Duke Graduate School - David Edelman
Duke School of Medicine - Margarita Alegria
Harvard Medical School
AIMS
Nurse-LEADS Aim 1: Recruit and retain pre- and postdoctoral trainees from underrepresented groups in nursing science, in research training on health equity, SDOH, and nurse-led models of care.
Recruit and retain pre- and postdoctoral trainees in advanced research training in population and community health and nurse-led models of care.
Primary DUSON Mentors
Debra Brandon, Donna Biederman, Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Michael V. Relf
NCCU/UTEP Mentors
Karen Fowler, Cherise Harrington, Seronda Robinson, Guillermina Solis
Nurse-LEADS Aim 2: Support trainees to contribute to emerging theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to develop and scale nurse-led models of care addressing the SDOH.
Support trainees to contribute to emerging theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches to develop and scale nurse-led models of care addressing population and community health.
Primary DUSON Mentors
Co-Mentors
Nurse-LEADS Aim 3: Develop methodological expertise to leverage digital health and advanced analytics to conduct cutting-edge research to evaluate nurse-led models of care addressing SDOH.
Develop trainee methodological expertise to leverage digital health and advanced analytics to conduct cutting-edge research to evaluate nurse-led models of care addressing community health.
Primary DUSON Mentors
Co-Mentors
Nurse-LEADS Aim 4: Apply engagement science and multisector partnerships.
Apply engagement science and multisector partnerships in the development of nurse-led models of care addressing population and community health.
Primary DUSON Mentors
Nurse-LEADS is a training consortium led by Duke University School of Nursing in partnership with North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). All funded trainees are appointed at Duke and are in residence at Duke during their appointment. NCCU and UTEP partner faculty contribute to the monthly consortium seminar series, and host visiting trainees for research collaborations in their home communities. The partnership is designed to connect trainees with diverse clinical populations, research networks, and mentorship experiences beyond any single institution.