Dorrie Fontaine

Dorrie Fontaine is the Dean of the School of Nursing, the Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing, and the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at the University of Virginia. At the School of Nursing she has implemented Appreciative Inquiry methodology as the basis for the School’s strategic planning and launched an interdisciplinary process to create a transformational model to provide compassionate end-of-life care across the health care spectrum. In addition, she has been a strong advocate for interprofessional education, engaging both medical and nursing students in collaboration with the School of Medicine, and a champion of developing the School’s continuing education programs for working nurses. Between 2003 and 2004, she served as president of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. That association recognized her contributions with its Lifetime Member Award. In 2015, she received the Martin Luther King Jr. Award from UVA Health System as well as the University of Maryland’s Visionary Pioneer Award. In 2014, Dr. Fontaine received recognition from UVA’s Sons and Daughters of Liberty for her leadership along with UVA’s Lifetime Learning Outstanding Faculty Speaker recognition award.