Anne M. Fink, PhD RN CNE FAHA
Associate Professor & Interim 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:
CV Download:
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). Sleep disorders also increase the risk for accidents and poor mental health. Research about shift work-related problems is important for determining how workplace policies affect 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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 422, NURS 534); Thesis Supervision (NURS 599); Graduate Program in Neuroscience; 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.
Degrees, Licenses & Certifications Heading link
PhD MS, University of Illinois Chicago.
BSN, Loyola University Chicago.
RN (Registered Nurse), State of Illinois.
CNE (Certified Nurse Educator), National League for Nursing.
Awards & Service Heading link
Distinguished Service Award, Midwest Nursing Research Society, 2024.
Clinical Article of the Year, American Heart Association, 2020.
Barbara Berger Excellence in Teaching Award, 2019.
FAHA (Fellow of the American Heart Association), 2017.