Carolyn Porta
August 2025
Carolyn
Porta
,
PhD, MPH, RN, SANE-A, FAAN, FNAP
Forensic Nursing
Academy of Forensic Nursing
Holbrook
,
MA
United States
With nearly three decades of dedication to forensic nursing, Dr. Porta exemplifies excellence through her groundbreaking scholarship, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing the care of trauma survivors and the forensic nursing profession locally, nationally, and globally.
As Dean of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, it is my privilege to endorse and nominate Dr. Carolyn Porta, Professor and Associate Vice President, for the AFN DAISY Nurse Leader Award in the Forensic Nursing Scholar category. With nearly three decades of dedication to forensic nursing, Dr. Porta exemplifies excellence through her groundbreaking scholarship, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing the care of trauma survivors and the forensic nursing profession locally, nationally, and globally. Her work embodies the AFN’s mission to link research to practice through education, service, and dissemination of knowledge, making her an outstanding candidate for this prestigious recognition.
Mentors Other Forensic Nurse Leaders or Forensic Clinical Nurses
Dr. Porta’s mentorship is transformative. Since beginning her forensic nursing career in 1996 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, she has mentored countless forensic nurses and leaders. For 17 years, she has maintained an active clinical practice in the Regions Hospital SANE/FNE program while holding a full-time academic role, demonstrating her commitment to both practice and workforce development. Recently awarded a second cycle of HRSA SANE-ANE funding, Dr. Porta has expanded mentorship through innovative programs like the ReLAB mentorship and residency initiatives. These trauma-informed, culturally responsive programs—rooted in decolonization frameworks—support forensic nurses in rural areas and Indian Country, fostering resilience and connection. Nurses in these programs praise her respect, guidance, and ability to build a sustainable community of practice. Her strategic vision amplifies her impact, leveraging team efforts and personal outreach—often over a cup of coffee—to strengthen the forensic nursing workforce far beyond her individual capacity.
Promotes the Image and Visibility of Forensic Nursing
Dr. Porta elevates forensic nursing’s visibility with passion and purpose. Her HRSA-funded workforce initiatives have spotlighted the specialty across Minnesota, earning media coverage for their impact in rural and Indigenous communities. She has created educational materials, including a simulation learning component, to raise awareness of the specialty among BSN, MN, and DNP students, adopted by colleagues across the country. A recent collaboration with the state coalition against sexual assault produced a first-of-its-kind public-facing resource map of sexual violence services, enhancing community access to care. Nationally, her appointment to the Minnesota Department of Human Services Special Review Board—where she is the sole forensic nurse—demonstrates her expertise in serving diverse populations, including offenders and their families, with a holistic, nonjudgmental approach. Through clear communication of forensic nursing’s vital role, Dr. Porta ensures the profession is not only visible but indispensable to clinical, academic, and community stakeholders.
Role Models Forensic Nursing Leadership Attributes of Being Visionary and Strategic
Dr. Porta’s leadership is both visionary and actionable. In her roles on the American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel on Psychiatric, Mental Health & Substance Use and the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice (NACNEP), she shapes national policy, practice, and education. She has drawn attention to trauma treatment innovations within the Academy and advocated for forensic nursing’s integration into broader nursing education in NACNEP’s annual recommendations to Congress. Her strategic foresight ensures forensic nursing is a priority in addressing trauma and violence, positioning her as a role model for scholars and leaders alike.
Supports Forensic Nursing Professional or Programmatic and Policy Development
Dr. Porta’s contributions to forensic nursing are profound and multifaceted. Her scholarship advances the science of trauma care, her programs bolster workforce competence and wellbeing, and her leadership influences policy at every level. Programmatically, she has supported hospital-based, community-based, and teleSANE programs via team trainings, medical photography consultations, and technical assistance to level up their resources and create sustainable approaches to impactful patient care through her exemplary workforce development initiative.
A striking example of her impact dates to 1996, when she cared for an 82-year-old sexual assault survivor. In 2014, her meticulous records and testimony in a revived cold case secured a guilty plea, delivering justice years after the survivor’s passing. This case underscores her enduring influence on practice, research, and legal intersections. With joy, creativity, and relentless dedication, Dr. Porta propels forensic nursing forward, ensuring its growth and relevance.
Summary
Dr. Carolyn Porta is a forensic nursing scholar of unparalleled distinction. Her decades of service, mentorship, and innovation align perfectly with the AFN DAISY Nurse Leader Award’s vision of recognizing those who respond to trauma with care. I wholeheartedly recommend her for this honor.
Note: This is Dr. Porta's 2nd DAISY Award!
Mentors Other Forensic Nurse Leaders or Forensic Clinical Nurses
Dr. Porta’s mentorship is transformative. Since beginning her forensic nursing career in 1996 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, she has mentored countless forensic nurses and leaders. For 17 years, she has maintained an active clinical practice in the Regions Hospital SANE/FNE program while holding a full-time academic role, demonstrating her commitment to both practice and workforce development. Recently awarded a second cycle of HRSA SANE-ANE funding, Dr. Porta has expanded mentorship through innovative programs like the ReLAB mentorship and residency initiatives. These trauma-informed, culturally responsive programs—rooted in decolonization frameworks—support forensic nurses in rural areas and Indian Country, fostering resilience and connection. Nurses in these programs praise her respect, guidance, and ability to build a sustainable community of practice. Her strategic vision amplifies her impact, leveraging team efforts and personal outreach—often over a cup of coffee—to strengthen the forensic nursing workforce far beyond her individual capacity.
Promotes the Image and Visibility of Forensic Nursing
Dr. Porta elevates forensic nursing’s visibility with passion and purpose. Her HRSA-funded workforce initiatives have spotlighted the specialty across Minnesota, earning media coverage for their impact in rural and Indigenous communities. She has created educational materials, including a simulation learning component, to raise awareness of the specialty among BSN, MN, and DNP students, adopted by colleagues across the country. A recent collaboration with the state coalition against sexual assault produced a first-of-its-kind public-facing resource map of sexual violence services, enhancing community access to care. Nationally, her appointment to the Minnesota Department of Human Services Special Review Board—where she is the sole forensic nurse—demonstrates her expertise in serving diverse populations, including offenders and their families, with a holistic, nonjudgmental approach. Through clear communication of forensic nursing’s vital role, Dr. Porta ensures the profession is not only visible but indispensable to clinical, academic, and community stakeholders.
Role Models Forensic Nursing Leadership Attributes of Being Visionary and Strategic
Dr. Porta’s leadership is both visionary and actionable. In her roles on the American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel on Psychiatric, Mental Health & Substance Use and the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice (NACNEP), she shapes national policy, practice, and education. She has drawn attention to trauma treatment innovations within the Academy and advocated for forensic nursing’s integration into broader nursing education in NACNEP’s annual recommendations to Congress. Her strategic foresight ensures forensic nursing is a priority in addressing trauma and violence, positioning her as a role model for scholars and leaders alike.
Supports Forensic Nursing Professional or Programmatic and Policy Development
Dr. Porta’s contributions to forensic nursing are profound and multifaceted. Her scholarship advances the science of trauma care, her programs bolster workforce competence and wellbeing, and her leadership influences policy at every level. Programmatically, she has supported hospital-based, community-based, and teleSANE programs via team trainings, medical photography consultations, and technical assistance to level up their resources and create sustainable approaches to impactful patient care through her exemplary workforce development initiative.
A striking example of her impact dates to 1996, when she cared for an 82-year-old sexual assault survivor. In 2014, her meticulous records and testimony in a revived cold case secured a guilty plea, delivering justice years after the survivor’s passing. This case underscores her enduring influence on practice, research, and legal intersections. With joy, creativity, and relentless dedication, Dr. Porta propels forensic nursing forward, ensuring its growth and relevance.
Summary
Dr. Carolyn Porta is a forensic nursing scholar of unparalleled distinction. Her decades of service, mentorship, and innovation align perfectly with the AFN DAISY Nurse Leader Award’s vision of recognizing those who respond to trauma with care. I wholeheartedly recommend her for this honor.
Note: This is Dr. Porta's 2nd DAISY Award!