Professor Sandra Daack-Hirsch received her BSN, MSN and PhD form the University of Iowa. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in clinical genetics and has consulted on numerous national projects and policies to promote the education and practice of nurses in genetics. Her research tackles fundamental questions in genetics and nursing science, e.g., What causes birth defects? How do families use genetic information to make decisions? How can healthcare providers better communicate genetic risks? These are not just academic questions—they are deeply personal for the families who participate in her studies, and they have real-world implications for healthcare practice and policy.

She has a sustained record of excellence across the tripartite faculty roles of teaching, scholarship, and service. She is the recipient of the James N. Murray Teaching Award; the highly prestigious, University of Iowa Michael J. Brody Award for Faculty Excellence in Service; the Midwestern Nurses Research Society’s Distinguished Contribution in Research Award; and the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence.

Her current research project is in inherited cardiovascular diseases. Inherited cardiovascular diseases are estimated to affect 1/200 families in the United States, and affected individuals are responsible communicating risk to their at-risk family members so they can also be tested and treated. She is developing an innovative family communication tool to help families pass along life-saving information.

Curriculum Vitae