Bio

Jean Cefalu is an Instructor at LSU Health—New Orleans School of Nursing. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1984, Masters of Science in Nursing Education from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in 2009, Post-Masters Certificate as a Nurse Practitioner from the University of Massachusetts in Boston in 2012, and a PhD in Nursing Education and Administration at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 2016.

Dr. Cefalu is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nursing (AGPCNP) and is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is board certified as a Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse (CWOCN) as well as Foot Care Nurse (CFCN) through the Wound Ostomy, and Continence Certification Board (WOCNCB). In addition, she is a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Dr. Cefalu is the Coordinator for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care DNP program.  She serves as faculty in the undergraduate Gerontology course and as a graduate faulty and clinical preceptor in the Adult-Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration. She is the chair of the Academic Undergraduate Council and a member of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Faculty Senate.

Dr. Cefalu has extensive experience in medical-surgical nursing, wound care, and geriatrics in acute, long-term care, and clinic settings as a nurse practitioner, director of nurses, educator, preceptor, and guest lecturer. Her research interests and publication areas include prevention and management of skin related issues in the older adult population, caring for people living with urinary and fecal diversions, and adult learning theory.

Dr. Cefalu has received many awards and honors including the Dr. Allen A. Copping Excellence in Teaching Award, the Faculty Caring Award, the Daisy Faculty Award, Great 100 Nurses, Educator of the Year Award from the South Central Region of the WOCN, and the Sigma Theta Tau-Epsilon Nu Chapter Outstanding Graduate Award.