Kim Dupree Jones, professor of nursing and medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), will take the helm as dean of the Linfield-Good Samaritan School of Nursing beginning in August.
“I am thrilled that Kim Dupree Jones will lead our nursing program,” said Susan Agre-Kippenhan, vice president for academic affairs at Linfield College. “Her commitment to nursing education in a liberal arts setting, research expertise, experience as a family nurse practitioner and her focus on the future of nursing’s contribution to the changing healthcare environment proves that she’s a perfect fit for Linfield.”
Jones’ area of research expertise is fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder that primarily affects women. She has authored more than 100 publications in this area, and her work is cited in national and international fibromyalgia treatment guidelines and texts. She has completed 60 studies in fibromyalgia to date, backed by more than $9 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health, foundations, industry and donors. Jones is the president of the Fibromyalgia Information Foundation, a non-profit organization whose aim for the past three decades has been to disseminate scientifically-sound fibromyalgia data.
“I was drawn to Linfield’s school of nursing because of their reputation for innovation and educational excellence,” Jones said. “Linfield shares my belief that nursing contributes a unique perspective that shows us distinctive solutions for the future in the communities we serve.”
“Kim Jones will bring many strengths to our School of Nursing,” said Joanna Rowe, Linfield professor of nursing who currently serves as the interim dean. “Specifically, her experience as an accomplished researcher and dedicated nursing educator across different programs of study will help guide our School of Nursing in educating nurses to meet dynamic health care needs of the community and reshaping nursing education.”
Jones has previously held faculty positions at University of Arizona at Tucson, National College of Natural Medicine, Morehouse and Spellman Colleges and Georgia State University. She holds a Ph.D. from OHSU, a M.N. from Emory University and a BSN from the University of Tennessee.
Additionally, Jones has been a family nurse practitioner, most recently in the rheumatology clinic at OHSU and The Frida Center for Fibromyalgia. She has also served as a family nurse practitioner at the Centers for Disease Control, the Gwinnett County Detention Center, Ciba Vision, Planned Parenthood and Southside Health Care, among others.
“I am honored to lead the school during this transformational time for both higher education and healthcare,” Jones said. “I look forward to collaborating with students, faculty, alumni, staff and our many community partners to create a shared vision for the future.”
