Joanne M. Disch (MSN 1976)

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Joanne M. Disch, PhD, RN, FAAN graduated from the UAB School of Nursing in 1976 with a Master of Science in Nursing degree. She is serving as Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing after retiring recently from her position as Director of the Katharine J. Densford Center for Nursing Leadership. Prior to her academic position, she was Chief Nurse Executive at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.

Dr. Disch is the Immediate Past President of the American Academy of Nursing and has also served as President of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the AACN Certification Board. Having chaired many other boards and councils, including the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) board, her commitment to professional organizations is unsurpassable.

In 1994, she received the UAB School of Nursing’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Dr. Disch is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She was named a UAB School of Nursing Visionary Leader in 2010.