Meet the Dean: Ki Moore

They're experts in their fields and essential campus leaders. But how well do you know deans across the University?

This occasional Lo Que Pasa series introduces deans across campus and provides insight into their motivations, challenges and reasons for choosing to work at the University of Arizona.

Name: Ki Moore

College: Nursing

Dean since: July 1

Why did you choose to join the University of Arizona?

I was recruited by then-Dean Claire Parsons. She had expertise in neuroscience that was an excellent fit with my interests. I finished my Ph.D. at the University of California, San Francisco and stayed on faculty there for about four years. I loved UCSF but also thought I should experience a new university. I was excited about the opportunities at the University of Arizona and it was one of the few colleges of nursing with laboratory facilities.

What do you enjoy most about serving as dean of the College of Nursing?

There are many things I enjoy in this position. I love interacting with the students, their families, alumni and donors. It is exciting to start new initiatives and create opportunities for faculty development.

What are some of the challenges and rewards of serving as dean?

I like to view challenges as opportunities for creating positive outcomes. Finding and/or taking advantages of new initiatives that allow us to expand the accomplishments of the college is very exciting. Before serving as dean, I had very little experience working with alumni and donors, but I find it very rewarding. We have wonderful students. I very much enjoy welcoming new students to the college and celebrating graduation.

What's one thing happening in your college right now that people should know about?

We recently launched Global Nursing in our college. We have the opportunity to take our programs to the microcampuses and other counties. We have a group of faculty who are very energetic about and involved in collaborating with our global colleagues.

What are a few exciting things happening at the College of Nursing?

We just launched a new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in integrative health in Gilbert. We have our first cohort of students, who started this fall, and the ribbon cutting will be Nov. 13.

We are building partnerships with health care organizations such as Banner Health, the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, and HonorHealth.

We have a new certificate program in the diagnosis and management of autism spectrum disorder awaiting final approval from the (Arizona) Board of Regents. To our knowledge, it will be the first in the country to prepare pediatric clinicians to diagnosis and manage ASD, which is a significant health care problem in the U.S. and Arizona.

What is your leadership philosophy?

I prefer a collaborative leadership approach that values and respects diverse perspectives. Best outcomes are achieved when the pathway has been shared and is collaborative. We are working on the "workplace we want" culture in the college. Achieving this culture builds from shared values and respect.

What is one thing most people don't know about you?

I have been training in martial arts for 16 years and have my fourth-degree black belt. I love training!

How do you pronounce your first name?

It rhymes with "hi."

What are some of your hobbies?

Running, every morning that I am not horseback riding. Training and breaking boards (reusable plastic ones – we do not waste trees!).

How do you envision the role of the College of Nursing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Simulation is a critical part of our educational programs. Simulation gives our students the opportunity to prepare for the real world in a safe environment.  We are committed to expanding simulation and digital health.

Some people might not be familiar with nursing research. Can you tell us more about it and how it relates to other kinds of health-related research?

Research conducted by nurses and other faculty in the college focuses on interventions to improve the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities and also on understanding risk factors for and mechanisms of altered health conditions that impact quality of life and self-management. The research emphasis areas in the college represent our strengths in precision health, data and systems science, and health determinants science.

You're an expert on cancer treatments directed at the central nervous system. Can you explain how you began working in that area and why it interests you?

When I was in my Ph.D. program, we started one of the first clinics for children with cancer who had completed therapy. These are now called long-term survivor or off-therapy clinics. Parents told me about the unanticipated problems children who had received any form of CNS-directed therapy were having in school.  This led to a number of studies to understand risk factors for cognitive problems and underlying mechanisms of treatment-related neurologic injury.

You were named last year to the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health. Can you describe that role and share any thoughts about the national landscape for nursing research?

The landscape for nursing research has changed dramatically. Priorities that have emerged include the "omics" of symptoms, interventions to alleviate symptoms, self-management, use of innovative technology for novel interventions, and end-of-life care. Serving on the National Advisory Council is a wonderful opportunity to participate in discussions about new priorities that will move the research portfolio.   

You've been at the college for more than 30 years. What are some key milestones that you've seen in that time?

One key milestone was the launching of our Doctor of Nursing Practice program. This program was first approved in 2002 and initially accredited in 2010. It has grown to include seven specialties and is the largest program in the college. Another milestone is the advances in simulation (and we still need to do more) to support our entry-to-practice and advanced practice programs. 

The College of Nursing offers many degrees, including two doctorates. What types of careers are students being prepared for, and how have those changed since you completed your doctorate?

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (program) prepares students to be the leaders in advanced practice and health care. These students integrate advanced practice with clinical scholarship. Our Ph.D. program prepares nurse scientists for a research career. The DNP has grown and offers family nurse practitioner, adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, informatics, and executive nurse leadership specialties.

Our Ph.D. program has also evolved with emphasis areas that reflect national priorities for nursing and health-related research.

You began your career as a registered nurse and then moved into academia. What made you decide to take that direction? 

I was always interested in understanding more about the biological basis of health care problems that were within the domain of nursing. I chose UCSF for my doctoral studies because they had a program in physiological nursing. In addition to the courses in the School of Nursing, I took the same basic science courses as medical students. I wanted to combine my passion for pediatric oncology with the opportunity to teach and mentor nursing students. I am fortunate that it worked out!