Keynote Speaker
Kathleen Dracup, PhD, FNP, RN, FAAN
School of Nursing, Unviersity of California, San Francisco
Kathleen Dracup, Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of the UCSF School of Nursing, is a distinguished nurse clinician, educator, leader, and researcher. Her professional career includes over 40 years of experience in cardiovascular nursing and university professorships. A member of the Institute of Medicine, she continues to be a leader in the field of cardiovascular nursing.
Dr. Dracup is recognized internationally for her investigation in the care of patients with heart disease and the effects of this disease on spouses and other family members. She was the first researcher to describe the quality of life of patients with heart failure who were being considered for cardiac transplant and the first to test the effects of teaching CPR to family members of cardiac patients. She has conducted a number of randomized clinical trials testing interventions to enhance self-management of patients with heart disease, to reduce the emotional distress experienced by patients and their family members, and to decrease morbidity and mortality from sudden cardiac death. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, Atlantic Philanthropies, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Veterans Association and the American Heart Association, among others. She has published more than 400 articles, chapters, and books.