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

Dr. 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).

PhD, University of Minnesota
Major: Nursing

MS, University of Minnesota
Major: Environmental/Occup. Health

MS, University of Minnesota
Major: Public Health Nursing

MPH, University of Minnesota
Major: Maternal/Child Health

BS, University of Minnesota
Major: Nursing

• Leadership Education in Adolescent Health, University of Minnesota

• Distinguished Fellow, National Academies of Practice, 2021
• Fellow, University of Minnesota Academy for Excellence in Clinical Practice, 2019
• Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2017

Porta, C. M. (2025). Total worker health is incomplete without trauma intelligence. Workplace Health & Safety, 73(9), 489. https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799251329508 

Cauley, M. R., Berry, A. E., Porta, C. M., Apple, R. K., Kripalani, S., Linzer, M., O’Brien, E. C., Rothman, R. L., & Roumie, C. L. (2025). Learning health system study designs for the evaluation of workforce interventions to cultivate eudaimonia (flourishing). Learning Health Systems, e70022. https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.70022    

Linzer, M., O’Brien, E. C., Sullivan, E., Rathert, C., Simmons, D. R., Johnson, D. H., McKinney, W. T., Mallick, S., Porta, C. M., Poplau, S., Wambua, M., Bosquet, A., Farley, H., Montori, V. M. & Goelz E. (2025). Burnout in modern-day health care: Where are we, and how can we markedly reduce it? A meta-narrative review from the EUREKA Project (Eliminating burnout through a Unified REsearch approach: Knowledge to Action). Health Care Management Review, 50(2). https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.000000000000013 

Porta, C. M., Frerich, E., Hoffman, S., Johnson, E., & Dillon, T. (2025). Re LAB ReImagine clinical residency for SANEs: Initial outcomes of an academic-clinical partnership. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 21(2), 86–94. https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000536 

Bradley, C., Frerich, E. F., Yip, W., Hoffman, S. J., & Porta, C. M. (2024). Learning the language of debriefing: Insights from expert sexual assault nurse examiners. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 93, 101567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2024.101567

Porta, C. M., Frerich, E. A., Hoffman, S., Bauer, S., Jain, V. M., & Bradley, C. (2024). Sexual violence in virtual reality: A scoping review. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 20(1), 66-77. https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000466 

Graefe, A., Mueller, C., Bane Frizzell, L., & Porta, C. M. (2024). Advancing health equity in prelicensure nursing curricula: Findings from a critical review. Nursing Inquiry, 31(3), e12629. https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12629 

Hoffman, S. J., Dillon, T., Moore, K. M., Frerich, E. A., & Porta, C. M. (2023). A trauma-informed mentoring framework for forensic nurses: An overview of STEERR-structure, process, and evaluation. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 19(4), 240-252. https://doi.org/10.1097/JFN.0000000000000446 

Porta, C. M., Elmquist, S., Martin, L., Wolfe-Sorensen, C., McMorris, B. J., Dworkin, J. D., & Erickson, D. J. (2023). "It could bring down Greek life as a whole": Greek life members' perspectives on party culture, safety, responsibilities and consequences. Journal of American College Health, 71(5), 1486-1496. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2021.1942004 

Brady, S. S., Jefferson, S. C., Saliares, E., Porta, C. M., & Patrick, M. E. (2022). 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. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(3), 1741-1764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02173-8 

Friedrich, C. F., Chaudhry, N., North, S., & Porta, C. M. "Innovative Interprofessional Internship: Connecting Students and Community Partners to Address Real-world Solutions," National Center for Interprofessional Education and Practice Nexus Summit, Virtual. (September 2025). 

Frerich, E., Walther, L., Duerscherl, J., & Porta, C. M. "Wound Identification and Photography for Patients of Diverse Skin Tones," International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science and Practice, Omaha, NE. (August 2025). 

Porta, C. M. "Strengthening the Public Health Nursing Workforce by Growing Trauma-informed Skills in Yourself and Your Teams," American Public Health Association Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN. (October 2024).

Hoffman, S., Porta, C. M., & Frerich, E. "Mentorship in Forensic Nursing: Reflections from the Field," International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science and Practice, Denver, CO. (August 2024). 

Porta, C. M. "TI; EI: Trauma-Informed; Emotionally Intelligent. Let’s All Be More Like Fungi," Minnesota Department of Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinators' Spring Conference, Breezy Point, MN. (April 2024). 

Graefe, A., Bane Frizell, L., & Porta, C. M. "Preparing Equity-Minded Nurses: A Critical Review of Nursing Curricula," American Association of Colleges of Nursing Diversity Symposium, New Orleans, LA. (February 2024). 

Porta, C. M., Frerich, E., Voller, V., Weirick, M., & Bradley, C. "Sexual Violence in the Metaverse: A Call for Policy Action," International Conference on Forensic Nursing Science and Practice, Phoenix, AZ. (September 2023). [3rd place research award]

Osingada, C. P., Tracy, M. F., Piehler, T. F., McMorris, B., Porta, C. M. "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," Midwest Nursing Research Society Annual Conference, Des Moines, IA. (March 2023).

Porta, C. M. Voller, V., Weirick, M., Harpin, S., & Dorsen, C. "The Promise of Psilocybin: Will We Ignore Treatment Possibilities for Another 50 Years? A Synthesis of Evidence," American Academy of Nursing Transforming Health Policy Conference, Washington, DC. (October 2022).

Porta, C. M., Frerich, E., Voller, V., Weirick, M., & Bradley, C. "Nursing in the Metaverse: A Call for Policy Action to Promote Health and Prevent Sexual Violence," American Academy of Nursing Transforming Health Policy Conference, Washington, DC. (October 2022).

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