Marcella M. Rutherford, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.N., dean of the College of Nursing at Nova Southeastern University (NSU), has been named one of just 20 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Executive Nurse Fellows for 2013. Rutherford joins a select group of nurse leaders from across the country chosen to participate in this world-class, three-year leadership development program designed to enhance nurse leaders’ effectiveness in improving the United States health care system.In her role as dean, Rutherford is directly responsible for overseeing the nursing program, which transitioned to the College of Nursing in January of 2012. Rutherford’s extensive nursing and finance background has informed her interest in research, including her knowledge of health care reimbursement and its impact on nursing and the health care industry. Her publications have focused on health care economics, finance, and policy and include textbook chapters on health care policy, the business of health care for nurse practitioners and entry-level nurses, and a historical research exemplar chapter for qualitative research text. Her current research focuses on the use of online learning in Ph.D. programs. Rutherford is the nursing director of Florida Funding for the Rural and Underserved Program, offering nursing students at all levels experience educating patients on health promotion and disease prevention.
