Donnelly named Marie Manthey Professor in Innovation Practices

Clinical Associate Professor Joanne Donnelly, DNP, APRN, CRNA, FAANA, was named the inaugural Marie Manthey Professor in Innovation Practices.

Donnelly is a nationally and internationally recognized educator, clinician and patient safety expert in nurse anesthesia. She serves as the coordinator of the nurse anesthesia Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Minnesota and maintains a clinical practice as the associate chief nurse anesthetist at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. As a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, she is celebrated as a visionary in nurse anesthesia education and practice. Donnelly’s impact has been in advancing anesthesia team simulation, patient safety, difficult airway management and innovative anesthesia practice models.

“Lifelong learning and practice are pivotal to excellence in patient care,” says Donnelly. “I am dedicated to identifying gaps in practice and devising methods to minimize risks with the goal of ensuring patient safety. My mission is to enhance the interdisciplinary team approach, identify challenges, and apply solutions to improve the delivery of anesthesia.”

Donnelly has focused her scholarly work on simulation to enhance team dynamics, communication and patient safety during high-risk, low frequency surgical events. She has scaled this education to engage interdisciplinary teams and international partners to fundamentally alter or develop clinical performance steps to improve patient outcomes.

Sher earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bradley University, a master’s degree in nursing from Columbia University and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Vanderbilt University.