Paulina VanView profile
Professor
Dr. Paulina Van, PhD, RN, HMCT, CNE, FAAN, is a Professor at Samuel Merritt University's College of Nursing, having dedicated over four decades to transformative nursing education, research, and community service. Her career spans leadership roles such as Faculty Organization President and director of the RN to BSN program design team, while her pedagogical innovations in mindfulness and cultural humility have influenced institutional curricula. Education: Master of Science in Nursing (UCSF), PhD Research Focus: Health equity, perinatal mental health, and cultural competency in nursing Community Leadership: Hospice East Bay Board, Chapters Health West Region Advisory Council Her groundbreaking Model of Coping after Pregnancy Loss for Diverse Women has reshaped public health policies and nursing education globally. Dr. Van also led a $2.3 million HRSA grant to improve graduation rates for Hispanic and African American nursing students. Dr. Van’s scholarly output spans 20 years, addressing grief intensity, academic-practice partnerships, and sleep disturbances after pregnancy loss. These works intersect nursing, psychology, and public health, emphasizing underserved populations. Scientific Awards Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing Fellow of the Academy of Diversity Leaders in Nursing Two U.S. Congressional Recognition Retirement Awards She established the Dr. Paulina Van Perinatal Nursing Scholarship to support students addressing pregnancy loss in medically underserved communities. Dr. Van's legacy includes empowering diverse health professionals and integrating healing arts into nursing education.




