Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate dean for community programs and initiatives, has been selected as the 2019 Black Nurse of the Year by the Black Nurses Association of the Greater Washington, DC Area Inc. She was chosen for her commitment to service and practice and exemplary work within the community.
“As a black woman and a nurse, I’ve sought to use my background and passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion as ways to expand and enhance the profession’s reach,” says Sharps. “I am truly grateful for this recognition and the opportunities nursing has provided me to make an impact on the world.”
Her work as a researcher, educator, and expert practitioner has brought Sharps, the Elsie M. Lawler Chair, to the forefront of community and public health nursing, including care to refugee youth and homeless women who have been abused, HIV testing and counseling, and partnering with community organizations to care for underserved populations.
Sharps has developed and tested the Domestic Violence Enhanced Visitation Program, known as DOVE, to reduce intimate partner violence, keep families safe, and improve the mental and physical health of pregnant women and children
