Susan R. Jacob, PhD, RN
Professor
874 Union Ave.
Memphis, TN 38163
(901) 289-3978
sjacob4@uthsc.edu
Dr. Jacob has served the college in multiple leadership roles – first in 2003-2012 and then again from 2015-early 2023. She initially retired as Professor Emeritus in 2012 after serving as Interim Dean but came out of retirement in 2015 to assume the role of Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. Since then, Dr. Jacob has filled several interim roles including BSN Program Director and Department Chair. In 2018 she was in the position of Assistant Dean of Quality and Strategic Affairs in 2018 and then served in the role of Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs from 2019-September 2022. She will continue in her role as Professor through early spring 2023.
UTHSC originally recruited Dr. Jacob in 2003 because the college was developing a clinical nurse leader program and had not offered a professional entry program in many years. Dr. Jacob led the development of that program and later worked with college leadership to convert the BSN program from a content-based to a concept-based program.
Dr. Jacob considers her most important contribution to the college to be leading efforts for the development and accreditation of cutting-edge programs. She also served as a consultant for Faith Community Nursing educators from 2012-2021 and led efforts for curriculum revision of the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Curriculum in 2014 and 2019.
Dr. Jacob is co-author and co-editor of a leading nursing textbook with Dr. Barbara Cherry, “Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, and Management,” now in its 9th edition. She has extensive experience in curriculum and serves as a team lead evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and a curriculum/accreditation consultant for colleges of nursing.
Dr. Jacob earned a BSN from West Virginia University, a Master of Science degree in Community Health Nursing from San Jose State University, and a PhD in Nursing Science from UT in Memphis in 1993.
Her research focus is grief and bereavement and her clinical focus is home health and hospice. She was instrumental in the development of the first hospice program in Memphis in 1979 and in 1983 received the John W. Runyan Community Nursing Award and the Key to the City of Memphis for her work developing hospice in Memphis.
In retirement, Dr. Jacob said she will continue to consult with colleges of nursing regarding accreditation and continue her work on the nursing textbook. She will also continue to facilitate grief support groups and serve on the boards of the Comfort Care Coalition, The Forsaken Children, and One by One Ministry.
Dr. Jacob also has made an impact on the College of Nursing through the endowed Dr. Susan Jacob Scholarship that will support nursing students in the undergraduate program at the college who have a special interest in serving in public health, home health, hospice, or palliative care.