Dr. Shanahan has been a full-time faculty member in the nurse practitioner (NP) program at Samford University since 2017. In 2023, she began to serve as the NP Department Chair. Her professional interests focus on vulnerable populations. Alongside her faculty role, she currently serves as the project coordinator for the Nurse Practitioner Residency (NPR) grant at Samford University, a position she has held since 2023. Previously, she worked as a health education specialist for the same grant.

Dr. Shanahan is a seasoned nurse educator with significant leadership and clinical practice experiences. She has expertise in program, curriculum, and course development. Her commitment lies in the development of professional nurses and in fostering strong relationships with academic institutions, preceptors, and clinical partners within our community.

Degrees and Certifications

• DNP, Samford University
• FNP-BC, American Nurses Credentialing Center
• MSN, Mississippi University for Women
• BSN, University of Alabama
• COI, (certified online instructor), Quality Matters

Awards and Honors

• Tavel Award (Speaker presentation at STT International– Provost funds), 2022
• Travel Award, Samford University Student Representative AACN Student Policy Summit, 2016

Involvement/Professional Societies

• America Nursing Association (ANA), Member
• Obesity Medicine Association, Member
• Sigma Theta Tau, Member
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), Member
• Nurse Practitioner Alliance Association (NPAA), Member
• National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), Member
• ASNA Legislative Committee, Member

Expertise

• Health care for the homeless
• Public Health
• Health care mobile unit delivery system

Recent Publications

• Greenhalgh, C., Bigham, A., & Shanahan, T. (accepted, pending publication, 2024). A case study of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners.
• Johnston, K. C. & Shanahan, T. D. (2023). Uncontrolled asthma and laryngeal candidiasis in primary care. The Journal of Nurse Practitioners. 19(9). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2023.104755
• Shanahan, T., Gurley, L., Cunningham, J., &. Chatman, S. (2022). Promoting understanding of medical decision-making coding for nurse practitioner students. The Journal of American Association of Nurse Practitioners. 34(11), 1235-1241.
• Shanahan, T. & Cunningham, J.  (2019). Courage to trust. Journal of Christian Nursing. (Accepted- pending publication)

Recent Presentations

• Johnston, K., Shanahan, T., & Kaal, M. (Oct. 20, 2023). Dietetic intern and nurse practitioner student virtual IPE. Podium presentation at CHS Connections.
• Collins, A. & Shanahan, T. (July 24, 2022). Innovative course design to measure and advance cultural intelligence in family nurse practitioner students. Podium presentation at Sigma's 33rd International Nursing Research Congress.
• Shanahan, T. (2022). AANP CE 1.25 hours – 1 year recertification. Diabetes mellitus: Focusing on the pharmacologic management. https://samfordce.instructure.com/courses/79
• Collins, A. & Shanahan, T. (April, 2022). Innovative course design to teach strategies for the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and measure improvement in cultural competence of family nurse practitioner students. Podium presentation at 2022 NONPF 48th Annual Conference: Driving Change in NP Education and the DNP.
• Collins, A. & Shanahan, T.  (November 4, 2021). Application of King's Theory of Goal Attainment to cultural competence development in family nurse practitioner student. Podium presentation at King’s International Nursing Group Conference 2021 K.I.N.G. Research Conference: Contemporary Applications of Imogene King’s work and Related Theories. [Virtual].
• Shanahan, T. (2021). AANP CE 1.25 hours – 1 year recertification. Diabetes mellitus: Focusing on the pharmacologic management. Retrieved from https://samfordce.instructure.com/courses/79
• Chatman, S., Shanahan, T., & Wynn, S. (2019, November 15).  Innovative course design to teach strategies for the advancement of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, and measure improvement in cultural competence of family nurse practitioner students. Podium presentation at 2022 NONPF 48th Annual Conference. George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
• Shanahan, T. (04/04/2019). Incorporating Quality Assurance into an Online Nurse Practitioner Program. 2019 NONPF 45th Annual Conference (abstract submitted – not accepted). Atlanta, GA.
• Scott, L., Dunn, L., & Shanahan, T. (2019, February 16). A Quality Improvement Project to Improve the Usage of Universal Lipid Screening Guidelines at a Federally Qualified Health Center in the Southern United States. Poster session presented at CANPA Annual Conference: The Impact of Cardiometabolic Risk Across the Lifespan, Birmingham, AL.