Daihnia Dunkley, PhD, RN

Senior Lecturer in Nursing

email: daihnia.dunkley@yale.edu

About:

Dr. Dunkley is a Senior Lecturer in the Graduate Entry Pre-Specialty in Nursing (GEPN) and Masters of Science in Nursing programs.  She has an expansive clinical background in in maternal-child nursing, hospital leadership, and academia. Dr. Dunkley earned her Bachelors degree in Nursing from Hampton University, and both her Masters of Science in Nursing Education and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from the University of Phoenix. 

As she transitioned from bedside nursing to leadership roles, Dr. Dunkley became aware of the inequities within the healthcare system and their impact on patients and practitioners, especially those of color.  Having spent the formative years of her career doing the work to understand these complex problems, her focus shifted towards serving as a change agent by advocating for systematic improvement in matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the nursing profession, and eradicating racial health disparities.  Her dissertation research focused on the experiences of Black female executive nurse leaders and created the inspiration for founding The League of Extraordinary Black Nurses; a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting current and future Black nurses through the guiding principles of leadership, mentorship, and scholarship. 

Additionally, Dr. Dunkley serves as a consultant, applying strategy to passion in her efforts to diversify nursing representation, empower minority nurse leaders, and improve maternal health outcomes. She actively provides nursing career development services and creates various education and advocacy materials for expectant families, including a video podcast series centered around various pregnancy and childbirth topics.  Dr. Dunkley is a well-respected and sought after speaker, whose work and reputation has attracted invitations to several international and domestic conferences and other engagements, including the University of Oxford Women’s Leadership Symposium in London, England.

Research Interests:

Dr. Dunkley’s scholarly inquiry encompasses matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the nursingprofession, and racial health disparities; particularly related to maternal mortality and morbidity outcomes.

Selected Publications/Presentations:

Publications

Dunkley, Daihnia. (2020). The Black Maternal Health Crisis: What You Need to Know, Healthcare 360. 33-34. http://Bit.ly/dfwblackproviders

Selected Presentations:

American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) 2021 Virtual Conference “Outsiders Within: The Lived Experiences of Black Female Nurse Executives.”  (2021)

University of Technology Caribbean School of Nursing (CSON) 5th Biennial Nursing and Midwifery Conference, Jamaica, West Indies. 

Topic: “Outsiders Within: The Lived Experiences of Black Female Nurse Executives.” (2021)

Oxford Women’s Leadership Symposium, University of Oxford, England; abstract accepted for oral presentation. 

Topic: “Outsiders Within: The Lived Experiences of Black Female Nurse Executives” (2020)

Pink Cornrows 3rd Annual Black Policy Lab; panelist.

Topic: “Essential: What First Responders Need from Policymakers” (2020)

Nursing Students’ Association of New York State

Topic: “Racial Disparities in Maternal Health: What Nursing Students Need to Know” (2020)

Black Nurses Rock Convention; panelist.

Topic: “The Need for Diversity & Inclusion in Nursing Leadership” (2020)

SUNY Downstate Nursing Research & Evidence-Based Practice Conference.  

Topic: “The Lived Experience of Being Black and Female When Becoming a Nurse Executive” (2019)

Transcultural Nursing Society Conference

Topic: “Being Black and Female: Nurse Executives’ Lived Experiences” (2019)

Qualitative Health Research (QHR) Conference sponsored by the University of Alberta International Institute for Qualitative Methodology.

Topic: “Outsiders Within: The Lived Experiences of Black Female Nurse Executives” (2019)

NYU Langone employee program- Utilizing a Mentorship Approach to Address the Underrepresentation of Ethnic Minorities in Senior Nursing Leadership; workshop facilitator. 

Topic: “Negotiation and Collaboration” (2019)

The Greater New York City (GNYC) National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) Black Maternal Child Health Committee; panelist.

Topic: “The State of Black Maternal Child Health” (2019)

Medgar Evers College Annual Nursing Pinning Ceremony; keynote speaker.

Theme: “Nurses Leading the Way” (2019)