Billy F. Morales

Billy F. Morales, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, serves as MSN Program Director and Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of West Florida's Usha Kundu, MD College of Health. He teaches Advanced Pharmacology, Advanced Pathophysiology, Population Health Promotion and Management, and Family Nurse Practitioner practicum courses in the online MSN program.

Educational background:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Northwestern State University of Louisiana)
• Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner (Northwestern State University of Louisiana)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (Northwestern State University of Louisiana)

His research focuses on evidence-based patient-centered methodologies for health behavior change, with emphasis on:

• Improving colorectal cancer screening adherence through root cause analysis
• Bridging communication gaps in multicultural healthcare settings
• Applying motivational interviewing to enhance patient self-efficacy
• Reducing health disparities in underserved rural communities
• Provider-patient communication strategies for behavior modification

With 13+ years of clinical experience across rural health clinics, emergency departments, and urgent care facilities, Dr. Morales has presented his quality improvement work at state-level nurse practitioner conferences. As a bilingual (English/Spanish) Hispanic healthcare provider and former U.S. Army combat medic, he integrates military discipline with patient-centered care principles. His leadership in the MSN program emphasizes building upon baccalaureate education to address population health needs through experiential learning and evidence-based practice.