Kimberly Perris

Dr. Kimberly Perris is an Associate Professor and Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions, where she leads the Family Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and Health Systems Leadership tracks. A proud "Double Don," she earned both her master's and doctoral degrees from USF. As Founding Director of Nursing at Cal Poly Humboldt, she built an RN-to-BSN program grounded in community partnerships that expanded access to nursing education in rural Northern California. Her scholarship addresses nursing workforce well-being, Caring Science-informed leadership, narrative medicine, and academia-practice partnerships. She is co-founder and co-editor of Voices of Care, an open-access journal of narrative medicine and reflective practice. Dr. Perris serves on the HCAI California Health Workforce Education and Training Council and as President of the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) Far North Chapter. She is also incoming Board Chair of HealthImpact and ACNL Board Representative for Academia.

• Workforce culture transformation and resilience-building strategies
• Primary and ambulatory care systems redesign to improve access
• Team-based care models and interprofessional collaboration
• Peer mentorship and leadership development in nursing education
• Competency-based curriculum design aligned with the AACN Essentials

• Nursing workforce well-being, narrative medicine, and burnout prevention
• Caring Science and relational leadership in healthcare systems
• Role optimization and scope-of-practice innovation for registered nurses
• Academia-practice partnerships and rural workforce development
• Educational innovation, including immersive simulation and AI in nursing education

• DNP Program Director, USF School of Nursing and Health Professions (2026-present)
• Member, SONHP Curriculum Committee (2026-present)

• University of San Francisco, DNP Executive Leadership, 2018
• University of San Francisco, MSN, Clinical Nurse Leader, 2015
• Riverside Community College, AS in Nursing, 1991

• Founding Director of Nursing | Associate Professor, Cal Poly Humboldt (2019-2025)
• Population Health Nursing Director, Humboldt Independent Practice Association (2017-2019)
• Project Manager & Program Director, Sisters of St. Joseph Grant, Nurses in Schools Pilot, Humboldt Independent Practice Association (2016- 2018)       
• Population Health and Utilization Management, Department Manager, Humboldt Independent Practice Association (2016-2018)
• RN II, Humboldt State University, Student Health Center (2004-2016)

• HRSA Faculty Loan Repayment Program Award, 2021 (one-year extension awarded 2023)
• University of San Francisco Dean's Medal of Honor, Masters Program 2015

• Perris, K., Donahue. E., Zytkoskee, A., and Adsit. J., (2023). "Narrative medicine: an interdisciplinary approach to address burnout among the nursing workforce." Humboldt Journal of Social Relations 1 (45);136-151.
• Jensen, J., Perris, K., (2021) “Accountability teams as a tool for peer mentorship for nursing and social work students. The Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching, 5 (14).
• Perris, K., (2018) “Optimizing the RN role in primary care with standardized procedures.” View Point. Official Publication of American Association of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN).40, 3-7.
• Perris, K., (2018)  Advanced Access: Creating an Infrastructure for Success in Primary Care Doctor of Nursing Practice, (DNP) Projects.