Lecturer

Dr. McPhillips earned her BSN and MSN from The Pennsylvania State University and completed her PhD in Nursing and postdoctoral research training at The University of Pennsylvania. She was a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Pre-Doctoral Fellow (T32NR009356) in the NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health School of Nursing and Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Post-Doctoral Fellow (T32HL07953) in the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology in the School of Medicine. Her program of research focuses on improving sleep and enhancing health related quality of life in older adults. Dr. McPhillips is currently pilot testing a multicomponent behavioral sleep intervention for insomnia in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23NR018487). She has taught in a variety of roles and courses since coming to Penn in 2013. Her teaching philosophy embodies being a life long learner and creating a safe and comfortable environment to share knowledge, encourage critical thinking, inspire and instill confidence in students. 

“Teaching is so important to me because as a nurse, I may positively affect a few patients a day, but as a nurse educator, I may touch the lives of hundreds of patients through the impact I have on one student or an entire class of students.”