Anne-Marie O'Brien, PhD, MA, WHNP-BC, is a nursing research scientist at Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA and a Research Fellow at the Center for Public Policy, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. She was previously a Clinical Assistant Professor at The George Washington School of Nursing where she also served as the Director of ABSN Clinical Education. Dr. O'Brien earned her Bachelor of Arts in French, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Master of Arts in French from UCLA. Dr. O'Brien practiced as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner for nine years in private practice in the field of reproductive endocrinology before going on to earn her PhD in Nursing & Healthcare Innovation with a focus on gerontology from Arizona State University. Over the last thirty years, she has worked for and with community organizations, academic institutions, and health systems in the belief that we can more effectively address racial and health inequities when we bring together our unique life experiences and expertise. Her clinical practice, research, and teaching have all centered on the social and ecological factors that influence a person's engagement in health promotion and shared decision-making. Dr. O'Brien is also an advocate for social justice and its impact on health disparities, and believes nurses play a crucial role in partnering with communities to make positive change. Dr. O'Brien's research has appeared in The Western Journal of Nursing Research, Nursing Research, Medical Research Archives, and Academic Medicine. Her program of research continues to critically examine institutional and societal power structures and to identify strategies for promoting health equity and social justice.
