Virtual Event – SSTH DNP Faculty Live Lecture: DNP Innovation & Positive Disrupters in Healthcare with Dr. Sarah Flores, Dr. Sarah Templeton & Dr. Rachel Van Niekerk

The School of Science, Health & Technology invites you to a special virtual lecture exploring how Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) leaders are serving as positive disrupters in today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape. This session will highlight how the DNP role is uniquely positioned to drive innovation, lead system-level change, and elevate patient care across clinical, administrative, and educational settings.

Earn 1 FREE CEU for attending this lecture

Learn how DNP-prepared nurses are shaping the future of the profession through evidence-based leadership, practice transformation, and organizational innovation. Hear directly from DNP faculty about the competencies, responsibilities, and leadership pathways of today’s DNP clinicians and scholar-practitioners. We will also share more information about Biola’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, and faculty will be available to answer questions.

Featured Speakers

Dr. Sarah Flores
Her areas of interest center on preparing B.S.N. students for the transition to professional nursing and navigating the healthcare environment. Flores enjoys facilitating thought-provoking discussions around the intersection of the Christian faith and topics such as ethical issues in nursing, patient and professional advocacy, allocation of healthcare resources, and the complexity of healthcare systems. She also has experience in nursing informatics, project management, and performance improvement, which she integrates into courses. Flores’ research interests center on pediatric injury prevention, specifically prevention of unintentional window falls, and emergency preparedness in the ambulatory setting. She currently serves as an Associate Professor of Nursing and the Associate Dean of Health Sciences.

Dr. Sarah Templeton
Her love for Biola began during her undergraduate education in the nursing department. She has spent the majority of her 23-year nursing career serving as a registered nurse, then a nurse practitioner, and over the last five years as the director of the on-campus Student Health Center. Significant university contributions include providing leadership and direction through the COVID-19 pandemic, infusing proactive and preventative mental health services within the Student Health Center, and improving access to high-quality on-campus healthcare for students. Similarly, Templeton has served as an adjunct faculty member for the nursing department for approximately 15 years teaching a variety of courses including a variety of clinical rotations, nursing skills lab and nursing leadership. The opportunity to teach and mentor nursing students has been a highlight in her career. Templeton always believed she would conclude her nursing career as a full-time nursing professor at Biola University. In August 2023, Templeton will continue her work in serving future nurses as a full-time professor and associate director in Biola's Department of Nursing. She is eager to continue preparing the next generation of nurses, stepping into new leadership opportunities and contributing further to nursing research.

Dr. Rachel Van Niekerk
She is an Associate Professor and Director of Biola's Nursing Program. She is also a pediatric nurse practitioner and brings her love of children and teaching into the classroom. She has served as Director of the BSN program since 2016 and has taught in most areas of the B.S.N. Program. While her primary responsibilities are currently administrative, she continues to teach and support students in their first semester of clinical nursing and then as they prepare to graduate. She is passionate about mentoring students and faculty in the clinical and classroom settings.

Anyone interested in the DNP, nursing leadership, or healthcare innovation is encouraged to RSVP, as spots are limited. Please register to receive the Zoom link.

We look forward to seeing you there!