Dorothy J. Wholihan

Faculty

Dorothy J Wholihan headshot

Dorothy J. Wholihan

DNP AGACNP-BC ACHPN FPCN FAAN

Clinical Professor
Program Director, Advanced Practice Palliative Care Specialty Sequence

1 212 992 9429

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Dorothy J. Wholihan, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN, is a Clinical Professor of Nursing and the Director of the Advanced Practice Palliative Care Specialty Program at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is a palliative care nurse practitioner with over 40 years of nursing experience dedicated to the care of persons with advanced illness and their families. She has held prior positions as an oncology and pain management clinical nurse specialist. She maintains an active clinical practice as a nurse practitioner in palliative care within the Veterans Health Administration, where she has cared for seriously ill veterans since 1989.

Recognized as a national leader in palliative care nursing education, Prof. Dorothy has served more than 15 years as national faculty for the ELNEC program (End of Life Nursing Education Consortium) and currently leads the ELNEC Geriatric course. She was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in 2019 and serves on the End-of-Life Expert Panel. She is also an active member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association and is a Fellow of Palliative Care Nursing.

Her palliative care practice and research interests include spiritual aspects of care, communication education, and the care of veterans at end of life.

DNP, George Washington University
Post-Master's Certificate in Christian Specialty, General Theological Seminary
Post-Master's Certificate in ANP - Uniformed Services, University of the Health Sciences
MSN, Yale University
BSN, University of Pennsylvania

Palliative care
Pain Management

American Academy of Nursing
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Nurses Association
Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association
National Faculty Member, End of Life Nursing Education Consortium
Sigma Theta Tau

University Distinguished Teaching Award, NYU (2020)
Distinguished Teaching Award, NYU Meyers (2019)
Fellow, Palliative Care Nursing
Fellow, Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing

The 'VANAC team' : Establishing a cancer prevention team

Wholihan, D. J., Genovese, L., & Wholihan, D. (1995). (Vols. 18, Issues 6, pp. 421-426).
Abstract
Abstract
Nurses recognize the increasing need to focus on primary and secondary prevention of cancer, yet the demands of current staffing prohibit many nurses from organizing and/or participating in cancer prevention and detection activities. This article describes an innovative program established at the Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA). Funded by an American Cancer Society professional education grant, nurses at the Bronx VA formed the 'VANAC' Team (VA Nurses Against Cancer). The camaraderie of a team approach invited generalist nurses to become involved with the program. The formation and activities of the team are described. After an intensive orientation, nurses participated in a wide range of educational activities, including patient education, staff seminars, and community presentations. The logistics of arranging such a program are discussed and recommendations for future direction are offered. It is hoped that nurses in other institutions can adapt the VANAC approach to their individual settings, thereby increasing the number of nurses involved in cancer prevention.

Home health in rural Kenya.

Wholihan, D. J., & Wholihan, D. (1993). (Vols. 11, Issues 6, pp. 47-50). 10.1097/00004045-199311000-00010
Abstract
Abstract
Despite the many environmental and cultural differences, many similarities exist between home health nursing in Kenya and the United States. Family-focused care is the goal, with emphasis on education and prevention.

The value of reminiscence in hospice care

Wholihan, D. J. (1992). (Vols. 9, Issues 2, pp. 33-35). 10.1177/104990919200900210
Abstract
Abstract
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Incorporating cancer prevention interventions into the home health visit.

Wholihan, D. J., & Wholihan, D. J. (1991). (Vols. 9, Issues 5, pp. 19-24). 10.1097/00004045-199109000-00005
Abstract
Abstract
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