Joanne Disch is Interim Dean and Professor of the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota. In addition, she is the first to be appointed to the Katherine R. and C. Walton Lillehei Chair in Nursing Leadership and continues as Director of the Katharine J Densford International Center for Nursing Leadership.

Dr. Disch is a nationally and internationally recognized nursing leader. She has been president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses; chairperson of ANA’s Committee on Nursing Practice Standards and Guidelines; and chairperson of the Nursing Executive Council of the University Healthcare Consortium. Currently, she is a Board member of the Allina Health System, AARP, and the American Academy of Nursing.

She has published widely on issues related to critical care, nursing practice standards, managed care, and leadership, and is a frequent speaker. Dr. Disch has received several awards including Outstanding Alumna from the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing; the Distinguished Alumna from the University of Alabama in Birmingham’s School of Nursing; Outstanding Faculty Member at Rush College of Nursing; and the 2001 Founders Award for Excellence in Fostering Professional Standards from Sigma Theta Tau International.