Stacia Hays

Dr. Stacia Hays serves as Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Clinical Associate Professor at Baylor University's Louise Herrington School of Nursing. A board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with active clinical practice, she holds national certifications as a Nurse Educator (CNE), Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC), and Public Health specialist. As Primary Care Editor for the Journal of Pediatric Health Care, she bridges academic leadership with frontline healthcare delivery.

Her educational foundation includes:

• DNP from University of Florida, Gainesville
• MSN from University of Texas at Austin
• BSN and Certificate of Public Health from University of Florida

Dr. Hays' research centers on nursing quality and advocacy, with pioneering work in improving child resiliency amid trauma, disasters, and chronic illness. Her scholarship addresses critical gaps in vulnerable populations through human trafficking protocols and disaster nursing frameworks. Internationally recognized, she developed Brazil's advanced practice nursing credentialing system and leads national initiatives on NP education standards.

Her 2018-2021 publications reveal consistent focus on clinical advancement systems, child trafficking identification, and chronic disease management. Key trends include translating research into actionable protocols for healthcare providers and developing educational frameworks that integrate advocacy with clinical practice across diverse settings.

Accolades reflect her impact:

• America’s Top 10 NP Award
• Florida Advocacy Icon Award
• International Transplant Coordinator of the Year
• Nurse Practitioner of the Year
• Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners

As a mentor and grant leader, Dr. Hays has secured funding for human trafficking response systems and international nursing credentialing. She chairs the National Task Force for Quality NP Education and co-leads the national APRN LACE Committee, shaping accreditation standards. Her UF Health collaboration created nursing-school quality improvement pipelines, while her work with The Center to Champion Nursing reimagines state-level action coalitions.

Through the Alliance for Children in Trafficking, she trains healthcare teams in trafficking response protocols. As International Transplant Nurses Society Conference Chair, she cultivates global networks for pediatric nursing excellence while volunteering as a camp nurse and church community leader.