Palm Beach Atlantic announces Dr. Pat Heyman, associate dean of the School of Nursing, as the University’s director of COVID-19 response.
In this role, Heyman is the central point of contact for prevention, risk reduction and infection mitigation. He ensures accuracy and consistency of COVID-19 communication. He offers both a medical and administrative perspective, providing day-to-day guidance for COVID-19-related decisions.
Heyman earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from PBA in 1994. He earned his Bachelor of Science in nursing, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Florida, which awarded him the Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2011.
Heyman was the first full-time faculty member in the School of Nursing and helped grow the program. He was on the team that started the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and briefly served as interim associate dean of graduate studies, seeing the program through its first accreditation in 2016. He served as the school’s associate dean of undergraduate studies from 2010 to 2019, leading to a doubling of enrollment.
He is an innovator and helped secure several grants to expand the School of Nursing’s simulation programs. Heyman has used podcasts in the classroom since 2008, and one of his health assessment videos has more than 450,000 views on YouTube.
In addition to his role at PBA, Heyman has been active with Palm Health Foundation, including the foundation’s preceptor of excellence program, online clinical placement and nurse-education gap initiatives to ensure the quality of nurses and other healthcare workers in South Florida. He received the foundation’s Commitment to Community Award in 2005.
Prior to PBA, Heyman worked as a nurse practitioner in a private practice.
