We are pleased to announce that Melissa Hinds, MSN, RN, Director of the Online Assistance Unit, has been promoted to Associate Director of Health and Technology at the Center for Practice Innovations (CPI). Melissa Hinds is a registered nurse who oversees and develops curriculum, coordinates projects and implementation activities for the System Transformation initiatives, contributes healthcare knowledge across CPI activities and products, and ensures that CPI's technology platform runs smoothly to meet our Center's increasing needs, both internally and with our external partners. Ms. Hinds also supports the technical component of the FEMA – NY Project Hope grant and has overseen work on a previous SAMHSA initiative (Recovery to Practice) and several Columbia School of Nursing grant projects (E-LINC and CALA).
Ms. Hinds’s interest is in changing healthcare systems, adapting and teaching education strategies for diverse learners, and adopting effective evidence-based practices in academic and clinical healthcare settings to provide best care for culturally diverse populations and to inform nursing research. Her primary focus is to educate, train, and support the existing and emerging behavioral health workforce in clinical core competencies and integrated healthcare. In her new role, she plans to develop more integrated care and interprofessional content to help nurses and other clinicians state-wide.
In addition to her work with CPI, Ms. Hinds is an adjunct lecturer and clinical instructor at the City University of New York – Bronx Community College and a nursing peer mentor at the City University of New York – School for Professional Studies. She earned a bachelor's in nursing and a Master of Nursing Education from the City University of New York – School for Professional Studies, both while working full time for CPI. She previously earned a bachelor’s in Biology and Africana Studies from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
