Patricia Watts Kelley, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, CAPT (Ret.), joined The University of New Mexico, College of Nursing as a Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship. She previously served as a Professor of Nursing and the Director of the Veterans to Bachelors of Nursing Science Program at Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA.
She has held several research and leadership positions within the federal government including Health Sciences Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research & Development, Washington, D.C. Prior to her Navy retirement, she held the position of Deputy Director of Nursing and Allied Health Research, Navy Medicine Research and Development Center, Navy Headquarters, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington, DC. She served as the first Navy Executive Director of the TriService Nursing Research Program and Director of Nursing Research Services at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.
Her research interests are in the areas of clinical knowledge development and continuity of care of wounded service members, military and Veteran caregiver burden, health promotion, and self-care management in persons living with complex chronic conditions. She served as the specialty consultant to the US Navy Surgeon General for Nursing Research.
She had maintained a part-time Nurse Practitioner practice at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD specializing in diabetes and military health up until her retirement from the Navy. She is a Board Member of the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation and a volunteer Nurse Practitioner Consultant. The Navy Safe Harbor Foundation is dedicated to supporting the recovery of seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their families by assisting them with resources not currently provided by government or community resources.
She received her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the Catholic University of America, a Post-master’s certificate in Family Primary Care from Northeastern University, a Master of Science from Boston University School of Nursing with a specialty in gerontology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the American University, and an Associate Degree in Science from Northeastern University. Kelley is board certified as a Family and Gerontological Nurse Practitioner.
She entered Naval Service from Boston, MA, as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 1990 and since then has held a wide variety of clinical research, operational, staff and leadership positions overseas and within the United States. She was recognized for her service with a variety of military awards and civilian honors. She is a fellow in American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Prior to entering Naval Service, she held several civilian-nursing positions including serving as Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, & Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Windsor House Adult Day, Cambridge, MA; and Director of Nursing Senior Care Management. She was responsible for several innovative geriatric programs. Among them were the dementia dual program at Windsor House Watertown and the facilitation of the Community Alzheimer’s Support Services.
