Jill McElheny

Jill McElheny is a Professor in the College of Nursing at Columbia Southern University. With nearly 30 years of clinical experience and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, she brings expertise in disaster nursing, emergency care, and medical missions to her academic role. Her credentials include board certifications as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP) and Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP-BC), along with the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) distinction.

• Education: DNP (University of Colorado), MSN/BNS (Medical University of South Carolina), BA in History (Furman University)
• Leadership: Founding Dean of School of Nursing at Columbia International University, Director of BSN program at Colorado Christian University

Her research focuses on disaster response frameworks, short-term medical mission models, and integrating Christian values into nursing practice. She emphasizes faith-based approaches to healthcare, spiritual care in clinical settings, and global health outreach opportunities for nursing students.

McElheny's recent publications examine disaster nursing protocols and medical mission strategies. Her work with Samaritan’s Purse DART and Children’s Heart Project demonstrates commitment to international emergency relief, having served in multiple countries as a medical transporter and disaster response team member.