Dr. Kristen Starnes-Ott earned her BS in Biology from East Carolina University, BSN from Auburn University, MSN in Nurse Anesthesia from the University of Southern California and PhD in Nursing from University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. During her doctoral work, she was named the AANA Foundation New York Life Doctoral Fellow and received the Outstanding Doctoral Award from the Zeta Pi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau.
Dr. Starnes-Ott has been a practicing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for over fifteen years. At UTHealth School of Nursing, she served as a faculty member of the Nurse Anesthesia Graduate Division and Assistant Dean and Chair of the Acute and Continuing Care Department. She started the only public university offering of a post-BSN to DNP program in Nurse Anesthesia in Texas in May 2014. She was named to the Bette Thomas Distinguished Professorship in Innovative Healthcare Delivery in July 2015.
Dr. Starnes-Ott stated, “I am very excited to join the University of South Carolina College of Nursing team! The College of Nursing is a dynamic educational and research environment that develops leaders in healthcare. I look forward to working collaboratively with the staff and faculty.”
Her research interest is using simulation technology to improve provider communication and impact patient safety outcomes in perioperative care systems. She co-authored and produced the video “21st Century Simulation Innovation in Education & Research,” which received the Award of Merit-Best Shorts Competition in 2012.
She has served on numerous state and national professional organizations committees and taskforces including the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Education and Continuing Education Committees.
She joins the college on June 19, 2017.