Sara Headley

Sara Headley is a Clinical Instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), specifically within the Department of Family and Community Health Nursing Education. She holds a D.N.P. (Doctor of Nursing Practice) from Old Dominion University and B.S. in Nursing from VCU.

Education:

• D.N.P., Old Dominion University
• M.S.N. (Nursing Education), Old Dominion University
• M.S.N. (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner), Old Dominion University
• B.S. (Nursing), Virginia Commonwealth University

Research Interests: Her work focuses on rural health disparities, pediatric chronic illness management, vaping trends in rural high schools, neonatal care, and care of medically complex children. She actively contributes to improving healthcare access and outcomes in underserved communities.

Teaching & Clinical Practice:

• Clinical Coordinator for NURS 345: Nursing of Children
• Course Lead for NURS 345 and Lab Instructor for NURS 261
• Preceptor for Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) students in Newborn Nursery
• Clinical Practice: Cares for newborns in VCU Health System’s downtown newborn nursery

Awards & Affiliations:

• Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society (Graduate Division)
• Golden Key National Honor Society
• HRSA Grant Participant (2022-present)

Additional Roles: She coordinates mobile health initiatives through Old Dominion University’s Scholars Program and supports clinical education innovation.