Dean and Professor
Washington State University
Spokane, WA
Patricia Butterfield is a public health nursing educator with expertise in occupational and environmental health nursing. As Dean of Washington State University's Intercollegiate College of Nursing, she provides leadership for the largest undergraduate nursing program in the Pacific Northwest. As a scientist, she is primarily involved in research initiatives addressing environmental health risks in rural communities. Her current studies are funded by NINR and EPA. Dr. Butterfield's research involves testing the therapeutic effects of public health nursing interventions aimed at reducing children's exposures to environmental contaminants. She is involved in national and international initiatives addressing environmental justice, health disparities, global health, and the sustainability of public health infrastructure.