About
Robin Toft Klar is a Clinical Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, where she has dedicated her career to advancing nursing through environmental and systems-level research. Her work focuses on the built environment’s impact on population health, nursing workforce capacity building in low- and middle-income countries, and interprofessional education. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and actively mentors PhD students.
Education:
- Post-Doc, Case Western University (2012)
- DNSc, Yale University (2002)
- MS, Boston College (1980)
- BSN, Fitchburg State College (1979)
- Diploma, Worcester City Hospital School of Nursing (1975)
Her research interests include global health, nursing workforce development, infection prevention and control, continuing professional development, and environmental design in healthcare. She has led major initiatives in Liberia and Rwanda to strengthen nursing and midwifery education and practice.
Her recent publications show a strong trend in global health systems strengthening, particularly in post-crisis settings (e.g., post-Ebola Liberia), with a focus on curriculum reform, preceptor training, PPE access, and pandemic adaptation. She integrates geospatial tools, simulation, and quality improvement frameworks into her work.
Scientific Awards:
- Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2019)
- Nurses with Global Impact Award, United Nations (2019)
- Recognition, Rwanda Ministry of Health (2016)
- Fellow, Comprehensive Geriatric Education Program, UMass (2013)
- Educational Achievement Award, UMass (2009)
- Fellow, Career Development Institute, UMass (2008)
- Leadership Award, Fitchburg State College (2003)
Dr. Klar has been instrumental in advising and leading multiple federally funded and international projects, including HRSA/PEPFAR-supported programs in Liberia and Rwanda. She collaborates extensively with academic and governmental partners to strengthen health systems. Her work in developing continuing professional development programs, curricular reforms, and resilient health workforce models demonstrates a sustained commitment to equity and sustainability.
She is actively involved in media and public engagement, with recent coverage of her work in Ghana involving health screenings and student training. Her lab and team efforts focus on global nursing innovation, particularly through the Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (RRHS) initiative.
Research fields
