Patricia Duffy Cunningham DNSc, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FNP-BC

Patricia Duffy Cunningham, DNSc, PMHNP-BC, PMHCNS-BC, FNP-BC, is an Associate Professor of Nursing and Coordinator of the Psychiatric Mental Health Doctor of Nursing Practice Option at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. Dr. Cunningham received the Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from her hometown school of Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed the Master of Science degree in nursing from Indiana University with a major in adult psychiatric mental health nursing. After working as a certified psychiatric clinical nurse specialist in both hospitals and private practice, she became an instructor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and completed the educational requirements for national certification as a family nurse practitioner.

Blending the roles of family nurse practitioner and psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, she earned the Doctor of Nursing science degree at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. Dr. Cunningham is a member of the Tennessee Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau Beta Theta Chapter at Large. She has received numerous teaching and practice awards, including the Outstanding Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Award from the Tennessee Nurses Association in 2001 and the Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of Tennessee Student Government Association in 2004 & 2011.