Dr. Gelinas is currently employed by the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth. As a TCOM Assistant Professor, she serves as the Patient Safety Section Director in the Department of Medical Education and Health Systems Science. Collaborating with the Institute for Health Care Improvement (IHI) and the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety (CBPPS), she designed, developed and implemented the only Patient Safety Course in the U.S. being taught to third-year medical students resulting in Certification as a Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS™). Over 800 TCOM medical students, residents and faculty have attained the CPPS™ credential. Achieving CPPS™ certification has proven to distinguish TCOM students during residency interviews.

Her expertise reflects an exemplary career spanning a range of nursing, leadership and health care executive roles, from staff nurse to national system chief nursing officer. Her military service included five years active duty and fourteen years of reserve duty in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, achieving the rank of Lieutenant and earning the National Defense Medal.

For five years, she served on the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) Board of Directors, with her term ending when NPSF successfully merged with IHI. She has served as IHI faculty for over 20 years.

In addition to outstanding professional credentials, Dr. Gelinas has published over 125 journal articles and editorials, contributed chapters in seven books, conducted over 300 presentations at conferences, moderated 150 satellite network broadcasts, and developed and moderated over 50 educational programs and webinars across national and international audiences.

She serves on numerous federal, national and regional committees and boards, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Harms Technical Expert Panel and the CMS Nursing Steering Committee. She completed six years of service on the National Quality Forum Patient Safety Steering Committee and fifteen years of service on The Joint Commission’s Nursing Advisory Council. She is a TeamSTEPPS® Master Trainer and is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS™). She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), a recognition awarded to less than 1% of the 4.5 million registered nurses in the United States, acknowledging significant, sustained scholarly contributions to the profession. She is a Distinguished Practitioner Fellow in the National Academies of Practice (NAP), in recognition of significant and enduring contributions to interprofessional health practice.

Serving on the Editorial Board of American Nurse Journal since 2006, in 2014 she was appointed Editor-in-Chief, a role she continues today. The American Nurse Journal is the official peer-reviewed journal of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and has the largest circulation of a nursing journal in the U.S.

Dr. Gelinas earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, a Master of Science in Nursing with Honors from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also studied at the Wharton School of Business, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Duke University. A talented and progressive leader, she is committed to advancing innovations in care delivery, leadership, professional practice, academic excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration and high quality, safe care.

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