Sara Gifford

Degrees

• Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Detroit Mercy
• Master of Science in Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy

Biography

Dr. Sara Gifford is faculty in the McAuley School of Nursing at University of Detroit Mercy, where her work centers on healthcare simulation and the integration of innovative teaching and learning into the curriculum. Her passion for engagement, collaboration and innovation began on the Detroit Mercy STAR Center Simulation Team and continues to shape her scholarship and teaching. She is committed to advancing simulation practice in nursing and the broader healthcare field.

In the classroom, Dr. Gifford focuses on medical-surgical nursing and NCLEX preparation, and she brings simulation and other innovative strategies into the curriculum, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Her teaching is grounded in the mission of the University, drawing on Ignatian and Mercy pedagogy to form students who are reflective and committed to service.

She serves as a faculty liaison for virtual reality and artificial intelligence integration within the College of Health Professions STAR Center, sits on the College of Health Professions Innovation Team and is a member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).

Dr. Gifford earned her DNP, MSN and BSN from UDM and is a board-certified Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist with 10 years of clinical practice experience in adult critical care and medical-surgical environments. She completed the American Nurses Association Innovation Accelerator program and was a Center for Augmenting Intelligence (CAI) Faculty Fellow in Nursing Education and Simulation.

She has published various projects related to well-being, engagement and innovation in both clinical and academic settings.