Ann Eckhardt

Dr. Ann Eckhardt is an Associate Professor and Chair of Graduate Nursing at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), within the College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Prior to UTA, she held the Deloris Helsley Ascher Endowed Associate Professorship at Illinois Wesleyan University. She has extensive clinical experience in cardiovascular and trauma intensive care, and has transitioned to academic leadership roles, including Associate Chair of Clinical Education since 2021. Her research focuses on cardiovascular symptomatology, particularly fatigue in cardiac patients, and public health messaging for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). She collaborates internationally, notably with institutions in Japan, and co-authored Jarvis' Health Assessment and Physical Examination textbooks.

Education: PhD in Nursing from University of Illinois Chicago (2012) and BSN from Illinois Wesleyan University (2003). Professional memberships include American Heart Association, Sigma Theta Tau International, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty.

Research interests include developing instruments to assess public perception of ACS symptoms, improving triage decisions in emergency nursing, and addressing nurse faculty shortages. Awards include the CONHI Nursing Faculty Leadership Mentor Award (2024) and recognition as a 40 under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader (2016).

Teaching spans DNP and PhD mentorship, with courses on research practicum and dissertation guidance. She has advised numerous students on topics like diabetes management, fatigue in cardiac patients, and geriatric syndromes. Service roles include leadership in UTA committees, Sigma Theta Tau International, and international nursing education initiatives with Tokyo Medical Dental University.

Grants include a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-funded project addressing nursing faculty shortages and studies on emergency nurse ACS symptom recognition. Labs/teams involve collaborations with institutions in Japan and the U.S. on symptomology and health literacy projects.