A Message from the Senior Vice President, Provost, and Chief Academic Officer, UTMB
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to announce Kristen
Starnes-Ott, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, FNAP, will serve as Dean ad interim
of the UTMB School of Nursing (SON), effective January 17, 2026.
Dr. Starnes-Ott brings more than 30 years of
nursing experience and a proven record of academic leadership. She obtained her
PhD in Nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston,
her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern California,
Los Angeles, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Auburn University. She
also holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from East Carolina University.
Since joining UTMB in 2020 as Professor,
inaugural holder of the Betty Akins Chair in Nursing, and Vice Dean for
Academic Affairs, she has driven innovation in education, instructional design,
and organizational evaluations. She is recognized as an educational scholar
infusing technology to transform nursing education, earning membership in the
prestigious UT System Shine Academy in 2022.
Her contributions to nursing education
include starting two public university post-BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice
(DNP) programs in Nurse Anesthesia in Texas – one of which was the first public
BSN-DNP program approved in the state – and gaining accreditation approval
through the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs
(COA). Under her leadership, the UTMB SON successfully implemented the American
Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials for Professional
Nursing Practice ahead of schedule and subsequently led the SON through a
highly successful Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
reaccreditation visit in 2024 – a testament to her vision and commitment to
quality.
Dr. Starnes-Ott’s research portfolio,
supported by $5 million in federal and foundation grants, addresses critical
issues including provider communication, crisis management, and patient safety.
Building on this scholarly foundation, she has mentored doctoral students in
areas such as anesthesia practice, systems leadership, and value-based care.
She was named 2025 Mentor of the Year by the Texas Association of Nurse
Anesthetists.
Her national and state leadership includes
roles in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) and the Texas
Nurses Association (TNA). She currently serves as President of the Texas Nurses
Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the TNA. Her professional excellence is
recognized through her fellowship in the American Association of Nurse
Anesthesiology and the National Academy of Practice in Nursing.
Please join me in congratulating Dr.
Starnes-Ott and thanking her for stepping into this vital role. Her leadership
will ensure continued growth and innovation for our SON.
Sincerely yours,
Susan Chubinskaya, PhD, MS
Senior Vice President, Provost, and
Chief Academic Officer of the University of Texas Medical Branch
Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, John Sealy School of Medicine
Thomas N. and Gleaves T. James Distinguished Chair