Judith Pechacek, DNP, RN, CENP

Dr. Judith Pechacek has served as a professional nurse in a variety of settings for forty years. Her practice career was spent as a general staff nurse, nurse leader, manager and nurse executive. In 2013, she accepted a faculty position at the University of Minnesota, School of Nursing, teaching in the Health, Innovation and leadership track in the Doctorate of Nursing program (DNP). In 2015, she assumed overall leadership for the DNP program, the largest hybrid - DNP program in the nation with over 300 full time students in eleven specialties. Her teaching responsibilities have focused on leadership, quality, business and global studies. Her scholarship is dedicated to interprofessional practice and the connection to quality patient outcomes. Most recently Dr. Pechacek was named as the Senior Quality Nurse Scholar and faculty member for the Veterans Administration Quality Scholars (VAQS) Fellowship program. She also serves on multiple boards in the community, as a University committee member and is actively raising two teenagers on her Century farm in Rural Minnesota.

• Award for Excellence in Academic Unit Service 2023
• Daisy Award for Exceptional Mentorship 2023
• University of Minnesota, School of Nursing Alumni, Excellence in Innovation Award, 2022
• University of Minnesota, Center for Educational Learning, Outstanding teacher 2021
• E. Louise Grant Award, Excellence, Achievement, and Dedication in Nursing Education 2020
• Outstanding Teacher, University of Minnesota, Center for Educational Learning, 2019, 2020
• Outstanding Nurse Administrator of the Year, Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine, 2016
• Star Award, Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing, 2014
• Going the Extra Mile (GEM) in Quality and Safety Award, Fairview Health System, 2012
• Outstanding Alumni of the Year, Inver Hills Community College, 2011
• Leadership Safety Award, Minnesota Hospital Association, 2011
• Quality and Safety Special Recognition Award, Fairview System, 1997

• American Nurses Association
• American Organization for Nursing leadership, Certified Nurse Executive
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
• Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing
• Minnesota Organization for Registered Nurses

Hamer, J. D., Nayyar, R., Yarlaggadda, S., Arredondo, K., Pechacek, J., Horstman, M. J., & Godwin, K. M. (2025). Interprofessional quality improvement simulation: A virtual simulation activity for geographically distributed learners. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 38, Article 100737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2024.100737

Gingerich , S., Jonsdóttir, G., Wentzel, J., Flaten, C., Pechacek, J., & Bragadóttir, H. .(2024). Developing Global Leaders through International Partnership: A Collaborative Model for Graduate Nursing Programs. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 11(2), Article 6.https://pubs.lib.umn.edu/index.php/ijps/article/view/6370

Flaten, C. B., Pechacek, J. M., Potter, T. M., & Mueller, C. (2023). Planetary health in nursing curricula: How one school transformed nursing curricula as they integrated planetary health concepts with the 2021 AACN essentials. Journal of Professional Nursing, 49, 52-56.

Pechacek, J., Anderson, D., Lund, R., & Drill-Mellum, L. (2022). Healthy Work Environments: An Interprofessional Partnership Model to Promote Positive Workplace Culture. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 9(2), 7-7.

Bragadóttir, H., Potter, T. M., Pechacek, J. M., & Bjarnadóttir, T. (2020). Transforming Global
Leadership Skills in Graduate Nursing Programs Using an Intercultural Setting and a Case
Study on Refugees. Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies, 7(1), 2-2.

Pechacek, J. M., & Zaccagnini, M. (2019). The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Pechacek, J. M., & Zaccagnini, M. (2019). A template for the DNP project. In The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Pechacek, J. M., & Zaccagnini, M. (2019). The doctor of nursing practice essentials: A new model for advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Lutfiyya, M. N., Schicker, T., Jarabek, A., Pechacek, J., Brandt, B., & Cerra, F. (2017). Generating the data for analyzing the effects of interprofessional teams for improving Triple Aim outcomes. In C. W. Delaney, C. A. Weaver, J. J. Warren, T. R. Clancy, & R. L. Simpson (Eds.), Big data-enabled nursing: Education, research and practice (pp. 103-114). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53300-1_6

Lutfiyya, M. N., Brandt, B., Delaney, C., Pechacek, J., & Cerra, F. (2016). Setting a research agenda for interprofessional education and collaborative practice in the context of United States health system reform. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 30(1), 7-14. https://doi.org/10.3109/13561820.2015.1040875

Pechacek, J., Cerra, F., Brandt, B., Lutfiyya, M. N., & Delaney, C. (2015). Creating the evidence through comparative effectiveness research for interprofessional education and collaborative practice by deploying a national intervention network and a national data repository. Healthcare, 3(1), 146-161. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare3010146

Skinner, L., Tripp, T. R., Scouler, D., & Pechacek, J. M. (2015). Partnerships with aviation: Promoting a culture of safety in health care. Creative Nursing, 21(3), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.1891/1078-4535.21.3.179

Pechacek, J. M., & Drake, D., Terrell, C. A., & Torkelson, C. (2015). Interprofessional intervention to support mature women: A case study. Creative Nursing, 21(3), 134-143. https://doi.org/10.1891/1078-4535.21.3.134

Pechacek, J. M., Shanedling, J., Lutfiyya, M. N., Brandt, B. F., Cerra, F. B., & Delaney, C. W. (2015). The national United States center data repository: Core essential interprofessional practice & education data enabling triple aim analytics. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 29(6), 587-591. https://doi.org/10.3109/13561820.2015.1075474

Pechacek, J. (2011). Decreasing pressure ulcer risk during hospital procedures: A rapid process improvement workshop. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 38(2), 155.

Cathcart, D., Jeska, S., Karnas, J., Miller, S. E., Pechacek, J., & Rheault, L. (2004). Span of control matters. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 34(9), 395-399. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005110-200409000-00004

Pechacek, J. M. (2020, January). A comprehensive description of scholarly projects from 24 US DNP programs [Conference presentation]. AACN Doctoral Conference, Naples, FL, United States.

Pechacek J., Flaten, C. (2024, December 4-December 7). Transforming Global Leadership skills in Pre-Licensure Nursing Programs using an Intercultural Setting. [Conference Session]. Transforming 2024, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

Porta, Prunty, Bradley, Mackaben, Pechacek (2024). Midwest Interprofessional Conference and Simulation Summit: Elevating Practice through collaboration innovation and simulation. Institute for Simulation & Interprofessional Learning.

Bellegrade, K., Pechacek, J. (2024, January 18-20). An Education Model to Prepare Nurses for Leadership Roles in Policy, Health Diplomacy and Global Citizenship at the United Nations. [Conference Session]. 2024 Doctoral Conference, American Academy of Colleges of Nursing, Coronado, California, United States.

Pechacek J., Bellegrade, K. (2024, January 18-20). Nurses at the United Nations: An innovative teaching strategy to prepare nurses and faculty for global engagement [Poster Session]. 2024 Doctoral Conference, American Academy of Colleges of Nursing, Coronado, California, United States.

Flaten, C. & Pechacek J. (2023, November 30-December 2). Innovative Curriculum Design in Nursing a Focus on Care Coordination in Alignment with the 2021 AACN Essentials. [Conference Session]. Transforming 2023, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Orlando Florida, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (Presenter), & Pesut, D. (Presenter). (2019, November 19). Use of system archetypes to accelerate, advance and deepen systems thinking skills of nurses [Conference presentation]. Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, 45th Biennial Convention, Sigma, Washington, DC, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (Presenter), & Beilenson, P. (Facilitator). (2019, August 15). Building your value proposition [Conference presentation]. VAQS Summer Institute, Veterans Administration, Houston, TX, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (Presenter), & Pesut, D. (Presenter). (2019, November 19). Use of system archetypes to accelerate, advance and deepen systems thinking skills of nurses [Conference presentation]. Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing, 45th Biennial Convention, Sigma, Washington, DC, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (Presenter), & Beilenson, P. (Facilitator). (2019, August 15). Building your value proposition [Conference presentation]. VAQS Summer Institute, Veterans Administration, Houston, TX, United States.

Deckro, J., Harris, R., Ryan, J., Melek, G., Gaintanis, M., & Pechacek, J. M. (2018, September 1). An interprofessional approach to increasing inpatient influenza vaccinations [Conference presentation]. 5th Annual VISN 1 Improvement & Innovation Summit, Marlboro, MA, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (2017, November 15). Delivering testimony in 2016 [Conference presentation]. Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing: Public Policy Internship, St. Paul, MN, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (2017, November 14). Preparing for a hearing in 2016 [Conference presentation]. Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing: Public Policy Internship, St. Paul, MN, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (2017, January 20). DNP enhancement and enrichment programming (DEEP): Fostering student and faculty engagement [Conference presentation]. Doctoral Education Conference, AACN, San Diego, CA, United States.

Pechacek, J. M. (2017, January 20). DNP program improvements: Innovations in doctoral education [Conference presentation]. Doctoral Education Conference, AACN, San Diego, CA, United States.

Award: Strengthening Support of Survivors with an Expanded SANE Workforce 2023
Role: (PI: Carolyn Porta, Pechacek Faculty)
Sponsoring Organization: US Dept. of Health & Human Services HRSA
Award Dates: 2021 - 2024

Award: Inter professional Advanced Fellowship in VA Quality Scholars OAA Program 2018-present
Role: Principal Investigator: Diem, S, Faculty: Spoont, M and Pechacek, Judith
Sponsoring Organization: Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Academic Affiliations

Award: Jonas Scholars 2024- Present
Role: Principal Investigators: Pechacek Judith and Mary Fran Tracy
Sponsoring Organization: Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence
Award Dates: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027

Award: Jonas Scholars 2018-2020
Principal Investigator: Fulkerson, Jayne Allyn
Sponsoring Organization: Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence
Award Dates: 2018 - 2020

Award: MHealth/Fairview Longitudinal Integrated Interprofessional Clerkship 2018- 2022
Role: Principal Investigator: Anne Pereira, MD, MPH, FACP, Associate Professor of Medicine Project team: Judith Pechacek, Director DNP Program (Mentoring Sara Wood 2018-2022)
Sponsoring Organization: Academic Investment Education Program
Award Dates: 2019 - 2023

• Leadership and organizational culture
• Interprofessional education and practice
• Nursing informatics