Patricia Pawlow, PhD, ACNP-BC

Dr. Pawlow contributes to Penn’s School of Nursing culture of equity and inclusion through hervarious roles and responsibilities. As the Biobehavioral Health Science Department Vice Chair, she contributes to thoughtful retention and promotion of faculty and staff who enrich our community with diverse perspectives. As Director of the AGACNP program, she incorporates an admission process that values a holistic review of applicants, and as a teacher, she provides a forum that welcomes the sharing of individuals’ unique knowledge and experience in a respectful manner.  

As course director for the disease management AGACNP courses Dr. Pawlow begins each course discussing the differences between memorizing information for a test and understanding the physiologic changes associated with a disease and the impact on the patient’s response. Students learn quickly that the expectation is that they will not only demonstrate understanding of the material for the current class, but they also will apply this knowledge throughout the program.

Dr. Pawlow’s clinical research focuses on early integration of palliative care for patients with serious illness. As a clinician and an educator, she has witnessed the challenges of providing for the supportive care needs of patients and their families as they live longer with serious illnesses. The growth of palliative care practice and research to meet the needs of patients with serious illness is inspiring. Yet, the slow integration in certain patient populations and the many misconceptions surrounding these services reflect work that still needs to be done.

Dr. Pawlow is a nurse scientist at ChristianaCare Health System. In this role she works with the nursing research and evidence- based practice team to ignite a spirit of inquiry among the nurses and advanced practice registered nurses and to promote high quality patient care that aligns with the latest evidence.

Diagnosing and managing acutely ill patients is a group sport that requires good communication skills, a knowledge of available resources, and an appreciation for the perspective of other clinicians. In “Principles of Adult Gerontology Acute Care” I, II, and III (NURS6700, NURS6710, and NURS6720), students learn the importance of teamwork by first taking a test alone and then taking the same test as part of a group of six or seven students. By working together, students negotiate options, critically think through the evidence, and work together as a team to determinethe best choices.

• BHS Department Faculty Mentorship Award
• Sigma Theta Tau- Xi Chapter Research Award
• Hospice and Palliative Nurse Association- Inaugural HPNA Palliative Nurse Leadership Scholar
• Outstanding Nurse Educator Award- awarded by Graduate Student Organization University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing