Carolyn Porta, PhD, MPH, RN SANE-A, FAAN, FNAP

Carolyn Porta is the Associate Vice President for Clinical Affairs for the University of Minnesota. She is a Professor in the School of Nursing, and an adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health and the Center for Spirituality and Healing. Dr. Porta is a forensic clinician and scientist committed to promoting the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Her current scholarship focuses on the science of trauma-informed practice, leadership, and organizations, and system-level strategies to strengthen the health care workforce and mitigate threats to their wellbeing. She has extensive experience in clinical service, team science, mixed methods clinical trials, interprofessional clinical training, and strategic and operational leadership of large-scale research and workforce development initiatives ($100M+ USD funding, and 115+ publications).

Healthcare workforce development, leadership and support; Trauma-informed practice and care; Sexual violence prevention and response; Total worker health

Mixed methods clinical trials and implementation science; Community- and clinical-partnered; M-Health, including wearables, GIS, and ecological momentary assessments

Forensic and Public Health Nursing

Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for adults/adolescents

Distinguished Fellow, National Academies of Practice, 2021

Inducted Fellow, University of Minnesota Academy for Excellence in Clinical Practice, 2019

Inducted Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2017

Award: Restoring Survivors with an Excellent SANE Workforce
Principal Investigator: Porta, Carolyn
Sponsoring Organization: US Dept. of Health & Human Services HRSA
Award Dates: 2024 - 2027

Award: Nurses' Attitudes Towards Psychedelic Use in Healthcare
Principal Investigator: Porta, Carolyn
Sponsoring Organization: Joe & Sandy Samburg Foundation
Award Dates: 2022 - 2023

Award: Strengthening Support of Survivors with an Expanded SANE
Principal Investigator: Porta, Carolyn
Sponsoring Organization: US Dept. of Health & Human Services HRSA
Award Dates: 2021 - 2024

Award: Storying and Story Care: Building a Model to Transform Self
Principal Investigator: Martin, Lauren
Sponsoring Organization: University of Minnesota OVPR SDG
Award Dates: 2021 - 2022

Award: Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Traini
Principal Investigator: Ramirez, Marizen Rojas
Sponsoring Organization: CDC Nat'l Inst for Occup Safety & Health
Award Dates: 2020 - 2025

Award: USAID Advancing Higher Education for Afghanistan's Devel
Principal Investigator: Porta, Carolyn Marie
Sponsoring Organization: FHI 360 DISASTER RELIEF FUND
Award Dates: 2020 - 2025

Bradley C, Frerich EF, Yip W, Hoffman SJ, Porta, CM. Learning the language of debriefing: Insights from expert sexual assault nurse examiners. Clin Simul Nurs. 2024;93:101567. doi: 10.1016/j.ecns.2024.10156

Graefe A, Mueller C, Bane Frizzell L, Porta CM. Advancing health equity in prelicensure nursing curricula: Findings from a critical review. Nurs Inq. 2024;31(3):e12629. doi:10.1111/nin.12629

Porta CM, Frerich EA, Hoffman S, Bauer S, Jain VM, Bradley C. Sexual violence in virtual reality: A scoping review. J Forensic Nurs. 2024;20(1):66-77. doi:10.1097/JFN.0000000000000466

North SE, Lafky R, Porta CM, Sick B. Interprofessional students’ insights into the experiential learning environment: Values, impacts, and alignment with interprofessional collaborative practice competencies and the triple aim. J Interprof Educ Pract. 2023;32:100639. doi:10.1016/j.xjep.2023.100639

McGuire CM, Stebleton MJ, Lenk KM, Lust K, Porta CM, Laska MN. Trade-offs faced by 2-and 4-year college students experiencing food insecurity: An analysis of qualitative data. Am J Health Promot. 2023:8901171231184074-8901171231184074. doi:10.1177/08901171231184074

Hoffman SJ, Dillon T, Moore KM, Frerich EA, Porta CM. A trauma-informed mentoring framework for forensic nurses: An Overview of STEERR-structure, process, and evaluation. J Forensic Nurs. Published online June 15, 2023. doi:10.1097/JFN.0000000000000446

Porta CM, Elmquist S, Martin L, et al. “It could bring down Greek life as a whole”: Greek life members’ perspectives on party culture, safety, responsibilities and consequences. J Am Coll Health. 2023;71(5):1486-1496. doi:10.1080/07448481.2021.1942004

Osingada CP, McMorris B, Piehler TF, Tracy MF, Porta CM. Acceptability, feasibility, and efficacy of telehealth interventions for HIV testing and treatment in adult populations. Telemed J E Health. 2023;29(7):1001-1013. doi:10.1089/tmj.2022.0424

Liu Y, Frazier PA, Porta CM, Lust K. Mental health of US undergraduate and graduate students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Differences across sociodemographic groups. Psychiatry Res. 2022;309:114428. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114428

Singer C, Porta CM. Improving patient well‐being in the United States through care coordination interventions informed by social determinants of health. Health Soc Care Community. 2022;30(6):2270-2281. doi:10.1111/hsc.13776

Brady SS, Jefferson SC, Saliares E, Porta CM, Patrick ME. Sex in the context of substance use: A study of perceived benefits and risks, boundaries, and behaviors among adolescents participating in an internet-based intervention. Arch Sex Behav. 2022;51(3):1741-1764. doi:10.1007/s10508-021-02173-8

C Porta with E Frerich, V Voller, M Weirick, C Bradley. Sexual violence in the metaverse: A call for policy action [Poster]. International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science & Practice. Phoenix, AZ, September 2023.

Osingada CP, Tracy MF, Piehler TF, McMorris B, Porta CM. Patient perceptions and predictors of intention to use telehealth for follow-up care: A mixed methods study among clients living with HIV in Kampala, Uganda [Oral presentation]. Midwest Nursing Research Society 47th Annual Research conference. Des Moines, IA, March 2023.

C Porta with V Voller, M Weirick, S Harpin, C Dorsen. The promise of psilocybin: Will we ignore treatment possibilities for another 50 years? A synthesis of evidence [Poster]. American Academy of Nursing Transforming Health Policy conference. Washington, DC., October 2022.

C Porta, E Frerich, V Voller, M Weirick, C Bradley. Nursing in the Metaverse: A call for policy action to promote health and prevent sexual violence [Poster]. American Academy of Nursing Transforming Health Policy conference. Washington, DC., October 2022.

C Peternelj-Taylor with A Colbert, CM Porta. Authorship strategies and being an excellent peer reviewer for journal manuscripts. International Association of Forensic Nursing Annual Conference. Dallas, TX October 2022.

• Global health and workforce development
• Sexual violence prevention
• Health promotion among vulnerable populations