Dr. Maryann Gierloff chose to teach at North Park for its small size, strong academic focus, and innovative nursing program. 鈥淭here is a genuine interest in students, not only from the academic perspective but also in terms of their personal and spiritual well-being,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his interest extends to the community and the student鈥檚 current and future role in the community.鈥�
It is an exciting time to teach nursing, Gierloff says. As the profession and the healthcare industry undergo major changes and challenges, North Park helps students develop the skills that nursing leaders need to shape the future and improve the health of the population, including sound judgment, the ability to think, and to use creativity in resolving issues. As the graduate program director, Gierloff says a life of service, Christian ethics, and a multicultural focus are woven throughout coursework within the graduate nursing program.
Gierloff鈥檚 research interests include psychoneuroimmunology, positive emotions, improving patient outcomes, and decreasing infections.