Paula Tucker

Dr. Paula Tucker is a board-certified Family and Emergency Nurse Practitioner, educator, researcher, and leader with extensive experience in nursing education, clinical practice, and academic administration. She currently serves as Associate Dean for Clinical Practice Operations and Education and Clinical Associate Professor at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. 
Dr. Tucker joined the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in 2015 as a Clinical Instructor and has served in multiple academic leadership roles, including Specialty Director of the Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) Program. 

Dr. Tucker earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Georgia Baptist College of Nursing at Mercer University, her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Emory University, her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Vanderbilt University, and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing from Emory University in 2024. She also completed a prestigious postdoctoral fellowship through the Quality Scholars Program at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, where she focused on healthcare quality improvement, leadership, and implementation science.

Her research interests include traumatic brain injury outcomes, health equity, implementation science, quality improvement, and workforce development. She has secured and contributed to federally funded research initiatives and collaborates across academic, clinical, and community settings to improve patient and population health outcomes.

A nationally recognized leader in advanced practice nursing, Dr. Tucker is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). She has held numerous leadership positions within national professional organizations, including service as Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAENP) and leadership roles with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Through her scholarship, leadership, and advocacy, Dr. Tucker remains dedicated to advancing nursing education, strengthening the healthcare workforce, and improving healthcare delivery for diverse populations.