UTMB nursing dean focuses on preparing the next generation
Photo courtesy of University of Texas Medical Branch
Kristen Starnes-Ott is guiding the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing through changes affecting the nursing profession, including workforce shortages, emerging technologies and evolving healthcare delivery.
Appointed senior vice president and dean of the School of Nursing and nursing workforce pipeline development leader for UTMB Health in June 2026, Starnes-Ott is focused on preparing nurses at every level, from undergraduate education through doctoral programs.
A central part of that work is SONSHINE, the School of Nursing’s strategic plan for 2026-2029. Developed with input from faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners, the plan emphasizes sustainable growth, high-impact research, innovative leadership, nursing workforce development and educational excellence.
Starnes-Ott brings more than 30 years of nursing experience to the role. Her career has included critical care nursing, nurse anesthesia, research, education and workforce development. She joined UTMB in 2020 as vice dean for academic affairs and the inaugural Betty Akins Chair of Nursing.
Her research has focused substantially on workforce readiness and pipeline programming. Her portfolio includes more than $5 million in funded projects related to provider communication, patient safety and nursing workforce pipelines.
The School of Nursing is also using simulations and virtual reality to help students prepare for challenging situations, including caring for patients with difficult diagnoses and supporting families after a death. Other simulations address self-care and wellness in a profession that can be physically and emotionally demanding.
Starnes-Ott said nursing education must prepare students for a healthcare environment transformed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the arrival of artificial intelligence. A School of Nursing team is developing a custom chatbot for nursing students as part of that effort.
She has launched two post-BSN-to-DNP nurse anesthesia programs in Texas, guided the school through a successful Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education reaccreditation in 2024 and was named the 2025 Mentor of the Year by the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She currently serves as president of the Texas Nurses Foundation.