Kathryn Robinson, Ph.D., MHA/Ed., RN
Bio: Dr. Kathryn Robinson is an Associate Professor and Associate Director for the University of Maine School of Nursing. She currently holds a 100% administrative appointment, leading the development of Northern New England’s first Ph.D. in Nursing program—an initiative supported by a $3.1 million federal earmark secured through congressional funding.
Dr. Robinson’s research and academic agenda center on strengthening and sustaining the nursing workforce through innovative education, genomic science, and health equity initiatives. She has authored over 10 peer-reviewed publications and a book chapter on population-based genetics, spanning cancer care and symptom management, wellness initiatives among nursing students, and workforce development in nursing education.
As a Nurse Scientist, Dr. Robinson has been awarded over $4 million in extramural and intramural funding, including support from the American Cancer Society, the Department of Education, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on multiple studies addressing genetic testing decision-making, cancer survivorship, rural health, and educational innovation in nursing.
A 2014 Jonas Nurse Leader Ph.D. Scholar, Dr. Robinson is also an alumna of the NIH/NINR Summer Genetics Institute, where she began collaborations with genomic nurse scientists across the Northeast. Her expertise in genomics has led to continued work as a consultant and medical writer for the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative at Jackson Laboratories, developing educational
resources for oncology clinicians and interprofessional healthcare teams.
Dr. Robinson is actively engaged in advancing nursing education and research throughout Maine and beyond. She is affiliated with the UMaine Institute of Medicine, served on the University of Maine System Research Council, and has chaired multiple nursing curriculum and diversity committees at the unit, college, and university levels. Her leadership has been recognized through awards such as the University of Maine Faculty Mentor Impact Award (2022), the Nursing Education in Maine Award (2022), and nomination for the ELH Outstanding Service Award (2025).
Her overarching goal is to expand Maine’s nursing workforce pipeline, enhance genomic literacy in nursing, and ensure that higher education in nursing remains responsive to the evolving health needs of communities regionally and nationally.
BOOK CHAPTER(S):
Robinson, K. (2022). Population-based genetics. In K.Subasic (Ed). Fast facts on genetics and genomics for nurses: practical applications. Springer Publishing. DOI: 10.1891/9780826175731.0012
REFEREED JOURNALS: (*Data-based articles)
Robinson, K., Rodday, AM., Dias, R., Strout, K., Peary, A., Johnson, R., Rao, V., Board, R., Olivieri-Mui, B. (2025). Motivations and Barriers regarding Higher Nursing Education among the Northeast Nursing Workforce. Journal of Professional Nursing. Under Review.
Peary, A., Strout, K., McNulty, J., & Bonnet, J., Robinson, K. (2025). Insights into School-Based Physical Activity Implementation Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Thematic Analysis. Journal of Child: Health, Care, and Development. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70164
Sibley, S., Robinson, K., Fairman, J., Nye, C., Poirier, P., Strout, K. (2024). Preparing for Clinical Placements and Transition to Practice with Objective Structured Clinical Examinations: A Qualitative Study of Family Nurse Practitioner Students. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 97 (1), p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2024.101636.
Sibley, S., & Robinson, K. (2024). Nurse Practitioner Education: Recommending Theories and Frameworks for Simulation-based Practice and Research Experience. Journal of Professional Nursing. 54, 50-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.06.010
Robinson, K., Cavanaugh, R., Peary, A., Johnson, R., Dias, R., Baker, B., Rao, V., Strout, K., Board, R., Olivieri-Mui, B. (2023). An Analysis of Orientation and Preceptorship Influence on Nurse Job Satisfaction Across Two States. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 40(3): 149-155.
Olivieri-Mui, B., Rodday, A.M., Rao, V., Baker, B., Peary, A., Johnson, R., Dias, R., Board, R., Strout, K., Robinson, K. (2023). Characteristics of Maine and Massachusetts nurses interested in advanced nursing degrees. Journal of Professional Nursing, 50: 53-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.11.002
Dias, R., & Robinson, K., Poirier, P. (2023). The Effect of Simulation on Nursing Student Perceptions of Readiness to Provide End-of-Life Care. Journal of Palliative Care, 25(6), E116-123. DOI: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000979
Strout, K. Schwartz-Mette, R., McNamara, J., Parsons, K., Walsh, D., Bonnet, J., M. O’Brien, L., Robinson, K., Sibley, S.,Smith, A., Sapp, M., Sprague, L., Robinson, K.B., Henderson, A. (2023). WellNurse in Nursing Education to Promote Resilience and Reduce Burnout: Protocol for A Holistic Multidimensional Wellness Intervention and Longitudinal Research Study Design in Nurse Education in Practice. JMIR Publications, 12:e49020.
Robinson, K., & Saber, D. (2022). Obesity: Policy and practice recommendations for high risk populations influenced by COVID-19 pandemic. mSystemsJ. American Society of Microbiology – Microbes and Social Equity Special Collection for Plos One. https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.00089-22
Flores, A. M., Nelson, J., Andrews, L., Stephenson, R. G., Robinson, K., Cheville, A., Sanders, A., Blot, W. J. (2020). Lymphedema signs, symptoms, and diagnosis in women who are in minority and low-income groups and have survived breast cancer. Physical Therapy, 100(3), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzaa002
Poghosyan, H., Mello, S., Robinson, K., Tan, A. (2020). Worry about the future health issues of smoking and intention to screen for lung cancer with low- dose computed tomography. Cancer Nursing. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000000897
Underhill, M., Blonquist, T.M., Habin, K., Lundquist, D., Shannon, K., Robinson, K., Boucher, J. (2017). A state-wide initiative to promote genetic testing in an underserved population. Cancer Medicine, 6(7),1837- 1844. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.1100
