Dr. Brenda Douglass is a distinguished Family Nurse Practitioner, Assistant Professor, and Associate Director of the DNP-AP Program – Project Focus at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Recognized for her contributions to nursing education, practice, and leadership, she merges her passion for education with clinical expertise.
Currently serving as the inaugural Associate Director of the DNP-AP Program – Project Focus, Dr. Douglass provides program leadership, oversight of DNP projects, project core courses, and practicum experiences, ensuring alignment with accreditation standards and high-impact student learning. She collaborates with institutional leaders, faculty, students, and external partners to enhance program operations, strengthen project implementation, integrate competency-based learning, and contribute to curriculum development, program evaluation, and faculty mentorship.
Previously, she held inaugural leadership roles as DNP Program Director, Coordinator of Graduate Nursing Adjunct Faculty, and Coordinator of Clinical Faculty, advancing program development, policy, and faculty mentorship.
As part of her Associate Director role, Dr. Douglass is leading an innovative initiative to redesign the DNP-AP Project and Practicum through a competency-based education (CBE) framework. This transformation aligns the DNP curriculum with national standards for advanced nursing education and evolving healthcare needs. As Co-Chair (Lead) of the DNP-AP Task Force, she is spearheading efforts to standardize project expectations, integrate structured competency assessments, and strengthen academic-practice partnerships. This initiative ensures that DNP students develop the scholarship, leadership, and systems-thinking skills necessary to drive healthcare transformation.
Dr. Douglass has extensive clinical experience in endocrinology & metabolism, primary care, and various specialty practices. Her background in direct patient care informs her teaching and mentoring, creating a synergistic approach that bridges evidence-based practice with real-world application. Drawing from her clinical expertise, she educates future clinicians on evidence-based care, safety, quality improvement, and health outcome optimization.
A recognized leader in nursing education, Dr. Douglass has received prestigious awards for excellence in teaching and leadership, including the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Academic Nurse Educator Certification Award. Her extensive clinical experience informs her teaching and mentoring, creating a synergistic approach that bridges evidence-based practice with real-world application. A published author and editor, she has contributed to peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and national conference presentations, focusing on DNP education, advanced practice, and nursing policy. She also serves as a manuscript and abstract reviewer for leading nursing organizations
Dr. Douglass serves on national and university committees addressing advanced nursing education, practice, leadership, and policy and is a dedicated mentor, preceptor, and advisor. Committed to developing future nurse leaders and educators, she equips them with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to navigate complex healthcare environments, advance nursing education, and deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.