Dr. Kevin Emmons is a Clinical Associate Professor at Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden, where he has dedicated over 15 years to preparing undergraduate and graduate students to care for individuals with complex healthcare needs. His work emphasizes health equity, focusing on populations disadvantaged by systemic barriers and disparities in healthcare access. He teaches across multiple programs, including the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse Education Program, and has played a pivotal role in securing several million dollars in funding for community-academic partnerships.
A clinical expert in wound care, Dr. Emmons advocates for palliative wound care and symptom management in everyday practice, particularly for vulnerable populations. His faculty practice experience includes serving at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Camden, providing wound and foot care for individuals experiencing homelessness. During a planned leave from Rutgers (2022–2024), he helped redevelop a street medicine program on the island of Hawai’i, furthering his commitment to community-based healthcare.
His leadership roles included serving as Associate Dean for the Center of Excellence in Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Innovation (CEIPEI), where he oversaw clinical simulation, interprofessional education, and faculty practice initiatives. He has also served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN). During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was appointed Chief Nursing Officer for the New Jersey Department of Health’s Field Medical Station in Atlantic City, leading frontline response efforts.
Dr. Emmons’ diverse clinical background spans acute care, community-based population health, and military nursing. While an Officer in the United States Army Reserve Nurse Corps, he served in Kuwait and Iraq, bringing a unique perspective to military and veteran healthcare. As Program Director for the HRSA-funded Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (NEPQR) Veteran Nurses in Primary Care Training Program, he helped prepare veteran nursing students for community-based primary care roles. Dr. Emmons leads the Health and Healing in Guatemala service-learning course, providing students with an immersive experience in the highlands of Guatemala, where they worked collaboratively with Indigenous Mayan communities to address local healthcare challenges. His contributions to nursing education and practice are reflected in numerous publications and presentations, emphasizing symptom management, cultural humility, and quality of life in patient care.
Dr. Emmons earned his undergraduate nursing degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, a master’s degree in nursing education from Drexel University, a post-master’s certificate as an Adult-Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner from the University of Massachusetts-Boston, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DrNP) from Drexel University. He is board-certified as an Adult-Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner, Certified Wound Care Nurse, and Certified Foot Care Nurse.
Title of Clinical Dissertation: Wounds at the End of Life: Wound Symptoms and Severity, Quality of Life, and Patient-Reported Symptoms and Preferences for Care
Awards, Honors, and Recognition
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