Dr. Kim Critchley New Dean of Nursing

The University of Prince Edward Island has appointed a new Dean of Nursing. Dr. Kim Critchley officially takes over the position on July 1. She joined UPEI in 1996 and has served as Acting Dean of the School of Nursing since August 2004. Her new appointment is for six years.

"Kim Critchley has been a fine leader for UPEI's Faculty of Nursing during her year as Acting Dean. Our Faculty is on a very positive track at a time when it is so important to the entire community to have excellent education and research in the field of nursing," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan.

"As a leader, I embrace life-long learning, humble self reflection, careful listening, and openness to new ideas," says Critchley who holds a doctorate degree from the University of Helsinki. Her thesis work involved cardiovascular rehabilitation and lifestyle modification following a myocardial infarction. Her clinical areas of expertise are emergency and critical care nursing. Primary health care, cardiovascular rehabilitation, Aboriginal and children's health are her research areas of interest.

Dr. Critchley is co-director of the Children's Applied Research Team at UPEI. She is president elect of the Atlantic Region Canadian Schools of Nursing and the co-principal of the Atlantic Research Training Centre which offers masters and doctorate degrees in applied research. She is co-investigator for an international nursing student exchange program between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico and she represents UPEI on a similar exchange involving universities in Sweden, Finland, England, and Estonia.

Dr Critchley was born and raised in Cape Breton Island. After nursing and teaching for several years in Alberta and British Columbia, she is delighted to make PEI home for herself and her children.