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Joyce Griffin-Sobel, PhD, RN, named dean of the College of Nursing at Upstate Medical University

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Joyce P. Griffin-Sobel, PhD, RN, CNE, ANEF, who has more than 30 years of experience in academic nursing, has been named dean of the College of Nursing at Upstate Medical University.

Griffin-Sobel, who is known for her leadership and innovation in teaching with technology and interprofessional education, is a professor in the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing at Hunter College, City University of  New York, where she has served as acting dean, assistant dean of curriculum & technology (2008-2011), and director of undergraduate programs (2004-2011).

The appointment, effective April 1, was announced  by Upstate President David R. Smith, MD. Griffin-Sobel succeeds Elvira Szigeti, PhD, who has announced her retirement. Szigeti has served as dean of Upstate’s College of Nursing since 1998.

“The outstanding growth of our College of Nursing under Elvira Szigeti, I believe has enabled us to attract a visionary leader like Joyce Griffin-Sobel,” Smith said. “We are excited about her plans for the college and the breadth of experience she brings in the areas of teaching, administration and research that will benefit all of us throughout the university.”

Griffin-Sobel already has met with faculty, alumni and students to discuss her plans for the college. “My goals are to develop interprofessional education experiences, broaden the college’s online course offerings, build strong relationships with our stakeholders such as health care and community agencies, corporations and alumni, and to deepen the research mission of the college.”

Upstate’s College of Nursing, enrolls more than 400 students in a variety of programs, offering bachelor’s, master’s, post-master’s certificate. It will begin offering the doctor of nursing practice degree this fall. The college is accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

At Hunter, Griffin-Sobel is principal investigator for New York City Nursing Education Consortium in Technology (NYCNECT) which is a HRSA-funded faculty development grant in teaching with technology.  She is co-principal investigator, with Carol Storey-Johnson, MD, senior associate dean for education at Weill Cornell Medical College, for ITEACH--Integrating Transdisciplinary Education Across Cornell-Hunter.

As acting dean, and assistant dean of curriculum and technology, Griffin-Sobel oversaw curricular activities and academic quality in this school of 800 students, and led the incorporation of technology into curriculum, with special attention to the use of simulation and informatics. During this time, she created a CUNY-wide consortia of faculty development in teaching with technology. While director of undergraduate programs, Griffin-Sobel oversaw curriculum, academic advising and student activities. During her career at Hunter, she was instrumental in the nursing school’s successful application to the National League for Nursing to be named a Center of Excellence in 2010. She also aided in the creation of partnerships for academic progression of students from junior to senior colleges within the CUNY system, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Partners in Nursing Program.

A member of the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1988-1995, Griffin-Sobel served as director of clinical nursing research for the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, where she developed the first program of clinical nursing research.  She held the rank of lieutenant commander. Her other academic appointments include the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

Griffin-Sobel’s impact has been felt as an author, editor and contributor to numerous scholarly works, and books including, Gastrointestinal Cancers (Oncology Nursing Society, 2007), and Hematology & Immunology: Concepts for Nursing (Appleton Century Crofts, 1986) which won an AJN Book of the Year Award. Griffin-Sobel has numerous scholarly articles published on cancer care, faculty development, teaching with technology and interprofessional education. She also served as editor of the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (2004-2006) and as associate editor of Oncology Nursing Forum (2002-2004).

Griffin-Sobel is a much sought-after speaker, having lectured across the globe on issues related to technology in health care and cancer care.  She has received numerous honors for her teaching and research including the 2012 Excellence award in Academic Mentoring from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation, and was named a Fellow of the Academy of Nursing Education in 2008.

She has been active in professional organizations such as the National League for Nursing, both on the Academy of Nursing Education Review Panel, and a Center of Excellence consultant; American Association of Colleges of Nursing, where she serves as a CCNE on-site evaluator, and Sigma Theta Tau International.

Her clinical career has been in oncology, particularly care of those with gastrointestinal malignancies.  She earned her PhD at New York University in nursing (1987), her MS in nursing as a clinical nurse specialist at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing (1981) and her BS in nursing at Herbert H. Lehman College (1975).

She is married to Donald Sobel.

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