Edward Cruz

Edward Cruz is an Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Windsor. He specializes in nursing education reform, international nurse migration, and caregiver support systems. His leadership in advocating for internationally educated nurses has earned national recognition, including the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2025) and Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Award (2023).

His research focuses on trauma-informed care integration into nursing curricula, caregiver experiences in mental health and addictions contexts, and systemic barriers faced by immigrant healthcare professionals. Collaborations with institutions like Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare have produced influential studies on caregiver needs and interprofessional collaboration.

Cruz has led 14+ research projects, securing grants through initiatives like WE-Spark Health Institute. His academic work bridges theory and practice, addressing critical issues such as nursing faculty shortages and improving retention rates for internationally trained nurses through bridging programs.

Key contributions include developing culturally safe advance care planning frameworks and pioneering studies on male nurses' professional experiences in gendered healthcare environments. Current initiatives focus on enhancing medication safety through nurse-pharmacist partnerships and optimizing post-stroke patient reintegration strategies.