Holly Brown

Holly Brown is the Executive Director of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing and an Associate Professor at St. John Fisher University's Wegmans School of Nursing. She specializes in psychiatric-mental health nursing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), blending clinical practice, scholarship, and curriculum development to improve healthcare outcomes.

• Education
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Rochester
  • Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing, SUNY Stony Brook
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing, SUNY Stony Brook

Brown's research focuses on IDD nursing education, mental health interventions, and inclusive healthcare practices. She has led grants exceeding $475,000 to develop primary care residency curricula and hospital care protocols for IDD patients, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and technology integration.

Her publications and presentations span anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and functional assessment in IDD populations. Recent work includes book chapters on mental health screening and opinion pieces addressing systemic gaps in acute care for individuals with IDD.

• Professional Affiliations
  • Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education
  • American Psychiatric Nurses Association
  • Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association
  • Advisory roles: Mary Cariola Center, Monroe County IDD Subcommittee

Brown's clinical practice at Hillside as a Senior Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner complements her academic leadership, ensuring her work remains rooted in real-world challenges faced by individuals with IDD and their families.