Justin O’Leary

Justin O’Leary, MSN, RN, PCCN-K is the recipient of the Henry B. Spencer Scholarship. Justin is currently in the Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing PhD program with a focus on health equity. Prior to his doctorate program, Justin completed his Master of Science in nursing with a concentration in Nursing Informatics at University of Phoenix and his Bachelor of Science in nursing at New York University (NYU).  He contributes his love of research to his time earning his Master of Arts in Biological Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience at Binghamton University, SUNY.

Justin is a Process Improvement Engineer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).  In this role he works side by side with nurses and other clinicians to improve operational and clinical processes to elevate the quality and streamline care for oncology patients.  Justin has previously worked administratively as a Senior Quality Management Nurse and clinically as a nurse in MSK’s Urgent Care Center, providing emergent oncology care to critically ill patients.  Professionally, Justin has served as an adjunct professor at Adelphi University and as the Vice President of the New York City chapter of the American Association for Men in Nursing.  He has presented podium and poster presentations at various national nursing conferences based upon his professional work and bodies of research in addition to publishing manuscripts in multiple peer-reviewed journals.

Within his PhD program, Justin is studying the financial hardship LGBTQ+ patients face when receiving medical care with an additional focus on oncology care.  His future body of research will explore disparities within the oncology population.  His goal is to serve as a dual appointed nurse researcher and educator to understand and train the future generation of nurses to provide high quality and affordable patient-centered care to all.

Justin is grateful for the Henry B. Spencer scholarship and its financial support.  More so, he appreciates the recognition and confidence NEF has in his leadership and scholastic abilities to grow as a nurse researcher and shape the future of nursing.