Debra J. Ford, PhD
Interim Associate Dean, College of Professional and Continuing Education
Associate Professor
Contact
College of Professional and Continuing Education
Interdisciplinary Leadership EdD (Doctorate)
Interdisciplinary Department
Debra J. Ford, PhD
Interim Associate Dean, College of Professional and Continuing Education
Associate Professor
Dr. Debra Ford is associate professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Creighton University. The classes she teaches include Leadership Theory, Proposal Construction, Organizational Strategy, Introduction to University Teaching, and Grant Writing. She also serves as Associate Vice Provost of Creighton’s Teaching & Learning Center and is on the administrative council for Creighton’s Center for Interprofessional Education & Research (CIPER).
Cura personalis, Magis, and Reflection and Discernment are the Creighton Jesuit charisms that particularly guide her work. She said, “I see my role as a teacher and mentor as someone who helps students navigate through their learning and through university systems.”
Before joining Creighton University in the EdD program, Dr. Ford served as Associate Dean-Student Affairs at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, as well as in other roles over her career in the School of Nursing. Her other administrative and teaching experiences include serving as an assistant professor of Communication Studies at Creighton in the early 2000s, and as Basic Course Director at the University of Kansas-Department of Communication Studies. Dr. Ford is serving as First Vice President for the Central States Communication Association as part of their officer rotation.
Her central research interest focuses on understanding how leading, team(ing), and teaching/learning are created through and influenced by communication. Specific topics include: interprofessional/interdisciplinary teams; organizational rhetoric, particularly that of healthcare-related special interest groups; and learning science. Her co-authored book (with M. F. Hoffman), Organizational Rhetoric: Situations & Strategies, is one of only two textbooks on the topic.
Dr. Ford earned her BA and MA in organizational communication from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She earned her PhD in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas with emphases in organizational and health communication. When she is away from academia, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, remodeling, reading historical novels, aerobic dance, and crafts. She is also a huge fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Department
Interdisciplinary Studies
Position
Associate Professor
Books
- Hoffman Mary F, Organizational rhetoric 2010
- Russo Tracy Calloway, Handbook for effective business communication 1997
Publications
- Journal of physical therapy education
Chesser Brianna T, Do We Make a Difference? The Effect of a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Curriculum on Student Cultural Competence 2024 - Journal of communication pedagogy (Print)
Ford Debra, Crisis, Collaboration, and Hope
7, p. 190 - 193 2023 - Corner E J, Mixed methods evaluation of the impact of the COVID-19 ICU remote-learning rehabilitation course for frontline health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK 2020
- Online journal of rural nursing and health care
Luger Shelly, A pilot quality improvement project facilitating clinical leadership skills in rural new graduate nurses
19:1, p. 136 2019 - Online journal of rural nursing and health care
Nelson-Brantley Heather, Nurse Executives Leading Change to Improve Critical Access Hospital Outcomes: A Literature Review with Research-Informed Recommendations
18:1, p. 148 2018 - The Journal of nursing administration
Nelson-Brantley Heather V, Leading Change: A Case Study of the First Independent Critical-Access Hospital to Achieve Magnet® Designation
48:3, p. 141 - 148 2018 - Journal of Leadership Studies
Bloomquist Candace, Interdisciplinary Leadership Practices in Graduate Leadership Education Programs 2018 - Journal of Advanced Nursing
Nelson-Brantley Heather V., Leading change: A concept analysis
73:4, p. 834 - 846 2017 - American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
Warr E, A23 EMERGING STRATEGIES TO TRAIN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: Icu Innovations: Case Study Of Quality Improvement Education Implementation At Two Sites With Contrasting Results
195 2017 - Börk Laura, The Journal of BSN Honors Research. Spring 2015. Full Issue 2015
- Ekholm Erin M, Rhetorical Strategies Implemented By The American Medical Association To Identify Roles Within The Interprofessional Healthcare Team 2015
- The Journal of continuing education in nursing
Tarnow Karen, Effect of Continuing Education: Do Attendees Implement the Tools That Are Taught?
44:9, p. 391 - 396 2013 - Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science
Richards S, Integrating Inquiry-Based Field Investigations into an Environmental Science Curriculum
87:2, p. 105 2012 - Albin Julia M, The Journal of BSN Honors Research, Volume 5, Issue 1, Summer 2012 2012
- Jantzen Michelle, Examining Nurse Leader/Manager-Physician Communication Strategies: A Pilot Study 2012
- Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))
Gilson D., Current Developments in Specialty Training
23:7, p. 431 - 433 2011 - Communication theory
Keyton Joann, A mesolevel communicative model of collaboration
18:3, p. 376 - 406 2008 - Western journal of communication
Bisel Ryan S., Unobtrusive Control in a Leadership Organization: Integrating Control and Resistance
71:2, p. 136 - 158 2007 - Annals of internal medicine
Cooper L, Communication in Health Care Visits when Doctors and Patients Have the Same versus Different Ethnic Backgrounds
139:11, p. I34 2003 - Ford Debra J, Hornik, Robert C. . Public Health Communication: Evidence for Behavior Change 2002
- ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK
Ford D, Where east meets west: Fieldwork instruction in Hong Kong and England
10:2, p. 19 - 39 2001 - AORN journal
Ford D, A creative process for reinforcing aseptic technique practices
73:2, p. 446 - 450 2001 - Magnusson S, Investigating the development of understanding and scientific reasoning via cycles of guided inquiry instruction 2000
- Journal of moral education
Hart Daniel, Family influences on the formation of moral identity in adolescence: Longitudinal analyses
28:3, p. 375 - 386 1999 - The Journal of continuing education in the health professions
Whitten Pamela, Comparison of face-to-face versus interactive video continuing medical education delivery modalities
18:2, p. 93 - 99 1998 - Physician executive
Lyons M F, Physician leadership. How do physician executives view themselves?
22:9, p. 23 - 26 1996 - Psychological medicine
Gallo J. J., Filters on the pathway to mental health care, II. Sociodemographic factors
25:6, p. 1149 - 1160 1995
Presentations
- Ford, D. J. (2017). Butterflies flying in formation: Enhancing presentations in the workplace. University of Kansas School of Nursing Continuing Nursing Education presentation, Kansas City, Kansas. 2017
- Ford, D. J., & Olds, D. (2016). Building our capacity for advocacy. Kansas Action Coalition Annual Summer Summit, Topeka, Kansas. 2016
- Carlton, L., & Ford, D. J. (2016). Communicating for success in leadership: Report on the Kansas Nurse Leader Residency Program, Northeast Region. Kansas Action Coalition Annual Summer Summit, Topeka, Kansas. 2016
- Ford, D. J. (2016). Butterflies flying in formation: Presentations in the workplace. Kansas Action Coalition Nurse Leader Residency Program, Northeast Region. 2016
- Ford, D. J. (2015). Introduction to Panel 4: Negotiations and collaborations during and after a crisis. Uniting to Save World Cultures: Investigating the Attributes of Successful Emergency Cultural Heritage Protection Interventions. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. 2015
- Busenhart, C., & Ford, D. J. (2015). Leading change, advancing health in Kansas through nursing. Kansas Action Coalition Annual Summer Summit, Overland Park, Kansas. 2015
- Ford, D. J. (2014). Next generation advising: Introducing the Graduate Advising Resource Center. Scholarship Forum, University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City. 2014
- Ford, D. J. (2014). Interorganizational collaboration: Shouldn't this be easier than it looks? KU Edwards Campus Lecture Series, Overland Park, KS. 2014
- Ford, D. J. (2014). Organizational rhetoric and crisis. Guest lecturer, COMS 930: Stakeholders. 2014
- Ford, D. J. (2014). Rhetorical critique methodology. Scholarship Forum, University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City. 2014
Awards
- Best Research Poster Presentation
Leading Change: A Concept Analysis. (Nelson-Brantley & Ford)
International Nursing Administration Research Conference - Best Research Poster Presentation
The Kansas Action Coalition: Creating a Culture of Health for Kansas. (Peltzer, Shen, Ford & Teel)
2015 Nursing Research Council Symposium, University of Kansas Hospital - Outstanding Service Award
2013 Annual Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, for Local Arrangements Chair
Central States Communication Association - Top Paper
2007 Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN (Bisel, Ford & Keyton)
Organizational & Professional Communication Division, Central States Communication Association - Top Paper
2007 Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN (Koesten, Schrodt & Ford)
Interpersonal Communication Division, Central States Communication Association - Donn W. Parson Graduate Faculty Mentorship Award
Selected by the Dept. of Communication Studies Graduate Student Council
Communication Studies, University of Kansas