Contact Information

Biography

Sr. Rosemary Donley, PhD, APRN, FAAN, a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill, joined the Duquesne University School of Nursing in 2009, drawn by its commitment to social justice. She holds the Jacques Laval Chair for Justice for Vulnerable Populations and teaches graduate seminars in health policy and social justice.

She founded and continues to lead the annual McGinley-Rice Symposium on Justice for Vulnerable Populations, a nationally recognized series that raises awareness and inspires action on issues affecting vulnerable populations, including older adults, children, veterans, immigrants, individuals with mental illness, disabilities, addiction, homelessness, trafficking, violence, and hunger.

A Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow, Sr. Rosemary served as Dean of Nursing and later Executive Vice President at The Catholic University of America. During her tenure, she developed an innovative Teaching Nursing Home program and later became a certified adult nurse practitioner. She subsequently directed four federally funded grants totaling $3.2 million to educate graduate nurses—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—to serve vulnerable communities.

Her research has focused on vulnerable populations, aging, end-stage renal disease, and health policy. A former president of the National League for Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, she also served as Senior Editor of the Journal of Nursing Scholarship. She has authored more than 130 publications and presented internationally.

Sr. Rosemary has received numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) and the American Academy of Nursing, seven honorary degrees, the Nell J. Watts Lifetime Achievement in Nursing Award, designation as an American Academy of Nursing Living Legend, the Elizabeth Seton Medal, the Immaculata Medal, and recognition as a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania.

Education

  • PhD, University of Pittsburgh
  • MNEd, University of Pittsburgh
  • BSN, St. Louis University
  • Nursing Diploma, Pittsburgh Hospital
  • Primary Care Certificate, The Catholic University of America

Expertise

  • Vulnerable populations
  • Social justice
  • Health policy
  • Nursing education
  • Chronic illness in adults

School

  • Donley, R. (2024). The DNP graduate’s role in health policy and advocacy. In H. M. Dreher, M. E. Smith Glasgow, M. D. Dahnke, & V. T. Cotter (Eds.), DNP role development for doctoral advanced nursing practice. Springer Publishing Company.
  • Donley, R. (2023). Global health, nursing, policy, and social justice. In R. Kearney-Nunnery (Ed.), Advancing your career: Concepts of professional nursing (8th ed., pp. 348-355). F. A. Davis.
  • Donley, R., & Moceri-Brooks, J. (2023). Is there trafficking in your neighborhood? In M. de Chesney & D. Sabella (Eds.), Human trafficking: A global health emergency: Perspectives from nursing, criminal justice, and the social sciences (pp. 83-90). Springer Nature.
  • Robson, K., Flanagan, N., & Donley, R. (2023). Trends in health outcomes before and after long term care federal regulations limited antipsychotic medication use: A secondary data analysis. Journal of Informatic Nursing, 8(4), 20-26. 

McGinley-Rice 16: The Face of the Person who has been Abused
Funders: Buhl Foundation, Catholic Charities, Duquesne University Civic Engagement & External Relations, Epsilon Phi Chapter, Sigma International, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, McAuley Ministries, Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, Scott & Susan Lammie, United Way of Southwestern PA, UPMC & UPMC Health Plan
Date: 2025

McGinley-Rice 15: The Face of the Person with Dementia
Funders: Dementia Society of America, Duquesne University Civic Engagement & External Relations, Epsilon Phi Chapter, Sigma International, Jewish Healthcare Foundation/Dementia Friends Pennsylvania, McAuley Ministries, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, and UPMC & UPMC Health Plan
Date: 2024

McGinley-Rice 14: The Face of the Person who is Incarcerated
Funders: UPMC and UPMC Health Plan, The Pittsburgh Foundation, McAuley Ministries and Pittsburgh Mercy, Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, Catholic Charities, Duquesne University Office of Civic Engagement and External Relations, The Forbes Funds, Staunton Farm Foundation, United Way of Southwestern PA, Epsilon Phi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International, Duquesne University School of Nursing Alumni Association, and Jewish Healthcare Foundation
Date: 2023

McGinley-Rice 13: The Face of the Person who is Socially Isolated
Funder: Buhl Foundation
Date: 2022

McGinley-Rice 12: The Face of the Person who is Poor
Funders: Buhl Foundation, and Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation
Date: 2021

  • The Face of McGinley-Rice Symposia - 2019 
  • Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania - 2019 
  • Cameos of Caring - 2018
  • Living Legend, The American Academy of Nursing - 2006
  • Fellow, The American Academy of Nursing - 1989
  • Member, the National Academy of Medicine - 1989
  • 6 Honorary degrees: Felician - 1981, LaRoche - 1989, Loyola of Chicago - 1988, Madonna - 1988, Rhode Island - 1988, Seton Hall - 2009
  • Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellowship - 1977-1978