Ruth M. Kleinpell, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAANP, FCCM, an internationally recognized nurse researcher, scholar and educator, recently joined Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) as assistant dean for Clinical Scholarship and professor of Nursing.

She comes to Vanderbilt from Rush University, where she had been director of the Center for Clinical Research and Scholarship at the medical center and professor in the Department of Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing in the College of Nursing. She had been a visiting professor at VUSN since 2012.

As assistant dean for Clinical Scholarship, she serves as director of the Scholarly Practice Program, focusing on supporting clinical teaching faculty in scholarship initiatives and scholarly clinical excellence. Her own research interests include telemedicine, ICU nursing care, elder care and outcome assessment, as well as advancing faculty and clinical scholarship.