Phyllis Sharps

Phyllis W. Sharps is a distinguished academic and healthcare leader currently serving as the Associate Dean for Community Programs at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. She holds a PhD, MSN, RN, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). Dr. Sharps has a notable background as a retired Army Colonel, which complements her extensive experience in nursing and public health.

In her role, Dr. Sharps has been instrumental in leading initiatives aimed at improving community health through nurse-managed centers and various health programs, particularly in East Baltimore. Her research primarily focuses on the impacts of intimate partner violence (IPV) on pregnant and parenting women, exploring how such experiences affect the health outcomes of mothers and their children. She has authored numerous publications addressing reproductive health and violence reduction among African American women.12

Dr. Sharps has also secured significant funding for her research, including a $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research for the Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation (DOVE) project, which aimed to mitigate the effects of IPV through public health interventions. Additionally, she has been involved in high-level advocacy, having testified before Congress on healthcare reforms to enhance access to nursing practices for vulnerable populations.1

Her contributions to the field have been recognized through various accolades, including induction into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame in 2013 and receiving the Visionary Pioneer Award from the University of Maryland School of Nursing in 2015.1