Melissa Murphey, DNP, APRN FPA, FNP-C
Clinical Associate Professor
Assistant Dean of Graduate Clinical Programs
Dr. Melissa Murphey, a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience, joined the faculty at Loyola University Chicago in 2025. Her extensive background in nursing leadership includes serving as the Dean of the College of Nursing at Oak Point University and as the Director of Nursing at Lewis University. While at Resurrection University, she served as the Assistant Dean of Graduate Nursing Programs and successfully managed the creation of their Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Additionally, she spent ten years as the Director of Nursing for the Division of Minimally Invasive, Robotic, General, and Bariatric Surgery at the University of Illinois Health Science Systems in Chicago.
Dr. Murphey earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Lewis University, where she played four years of NCAA basketball and served as team captain. She subsequently earned a Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at the University of Illinois at Chicago. To further refine her executive and academic skills, she also completed a Higher Education Leadership Institute fellowship at Wellesley College.
Beyond her academic and administrative roles, Dr. Murphey is a dedicated advocate for the nursing profession and her community. She currently serves as the Treasurer of the Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nursing, where the organization was successful in obtaining autonomous practice for Illinois nurse practitioners during her tenure. She also gives back to the community as a volunteer for the Special Olympics.
Research Interests
Dr. Murphey’s research focuses on vulnerable groups and their struggles within the healthcare system, global health disparities, interprofessional education, and surgical interventions. Her doctoral work at the University of Illinois at Chicago, titled “Detecting Depression Among Hispanic and African American Women Undergoing Bariatric Surgery,” established a foundation for her ongoing investigation into health equity and specialized patient populations. Her scholarly work has been published nationally and internationally, contributing to the body of knowledge on nurse practitioner education and clinical outcomes.
Dr. Murphey has presented her findings at the International Network for Health Workforce Education in Wales and several Sigma Theta Tau conferences across the world. Her presentations address critical issues such as educating the nursing workforce during global health crises, developing university partnerships with the United Nations Association, and implementing faculty practice frameworks.
Specialty Area
Vulnerable Populations, Health Policy, Interprofessional Education