Anne M. Fink, PhD RN CNE FAHA
Associate Professor & Department Head
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science
Pronouns: she/her
Contact
Building & Room:
706 NURS
Address:
845 S. Damen Ave, MC 802, Chicago, IL 60612
Email:
Research Heading link
Occupational health & sleep neurobiology: Our team examines the physical and psychological consequences of work schedules that restrict sleep. We aim to make discoveries about circadian rhythms, heart rate variability, blood pressure regulation, brain mechanisms, sleep architecture, and the microbiome. Ultimately, the new knowledge will inform the development of novel health-promoting therapies.
Public health relevance: Chronically inadequate sleep impairs cardiovascular health, which eventually leads to diseases and fatalities (e.g., stroke, hypertension, heart failure). From an occupational health perspective, sleep disorders also increase workers’ risk for serious accidents and poor mental health. Research about shift work-related problems is important for determining how workplace policies should be improved to optimize safety and health.
- Fink AM. Measuring the effects of night-shift work on cardiac autonomic modulation: An appraisal of heart rate variability metrics. International Journal of Occupational Medicine & Environmental Health, 2020; 33:409-25. doi:10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01560.
- Maki KA, Burke LA, Watanabe-Chailland M, Sweeny D, Romick-Rosendale LE, Calik MW, Green S, Fink AM. Sleep fragmentation increases blood pressure and is associated with alterations in the gut microbiome and fecal metabolome in rats. Physiological Genomics, 2020; 52:280-92. doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00039.2020.
- Maki KA, Fink AM, Weaver TE. Sleep, time, and space—fatigue and performance deficits in pilots, commercial truck drivers, and astronauts. SLEEP Advances, 2022; 3:pac033. doi:10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac033.
- Fink AM. Shift work sleep disorder and mental health: An integrative review of neurobiological, sociological, and psychological perspectives with public policy implications. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 2024; 25:94-102. doi:10.1177/15271544241238752.
Teaching Heading link
Curriculum design: Our team’s teaching innovations frame basic science content (e.g., neuroscience, molecular biology, genomics) within a holistic nursing perspective.
Courses & programs: Physiology, Pathophysiology & Pharmacology (e.g., NURS 534, NUNA 514, NURS 422); Graduate Program in Neuroscience; Thesis Supervision (e.g., NURS 599, NUEL 596); Honor’s College & Bridge to Faculty Mentoring.
- Fink AM, Hallihan H. A guide for utilizing gestalt, critical, and humanistic theories to transform pathophysiology instruction in nursing. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 2023; 18:e250-5. doi:10.1016/j.teln.2023.04.006.
- Fink AM, Martha SR, Calik MW, et al. Understanding the autonomic nervous system: A how-to guide for designing engaging pathophysiology and pharmacology courses. Nursing Forum, 2023; 2397564. doi:10.1155/2023/2397564.
- Fink AM, Martyn-Nemeth P. Socratic inquiry, syllogism, schematic cases, and symbolism. Critical-thinking strategies for nursing education. Nurse Educator, 2023; 48:125-30. doi:10.1097/NNE.0000000000001324.
Degree, License & Teaching Certification Heading link
PhD MS, University of Illinois Chicago.
BSN, Loyola University Chicago.
RN (Registered Nurse), State of Illinois.
CNE (Certified Academic Nurse Educator), National League for Nursing.
Service Heading link
Midwest Nursing Research Society, Distinguished Service Award, 2024.
Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA), 2017-2024.
CDMRP Panels, Grant Reviewer, 2018-2023