Rate My Professor Caroline Sutter

Dr. Caroline Sutter, DNP, is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at George Mason University's College of Public Health, where she also serves as Co-Director of the Center for Health Workforce at Mason and Principal Investigator for the Northern Virginia Area Health Education Center. A doctorally trained Family Nurse Practitioner, Sutter has dedicated her career to advancing health science through education, clinical practice, and research focused on improving healthcare access. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2012, Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 2001, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1999 from George Mason University, complemented by an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) from Marymount University in 1993. Her professional journey includes clinical roles as Trauma Coordinator and Registered Nurse at Children’s National Medical Center from 1993 to 2015, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Northern Virginia Community College from 2007 to 2012, and progressive academic positions at George Mason University, advancing from Assistant Professor (2012–2019) to her current associate professorship, alongside directing graduate programs and serving as Population Health Center Education Director from 2012 to 2020.

Sutter is nationally recognized for implementing and evaluating innovative models of community healthcare access and system navigation, fostering collaboration across public health, public safety, and healthcare sectors to deliver evidence-based treatment to at-risk and marginalized populations. Her research specializations include health workforce development, healthcare access for uninsured and vulnerable groups, the bridge-care model for chronic disease management, diversity in health professions, and interdisciplinary training. Notable publications encompass 'Operationalizing the Bridge Care Model—Advocating for At-Risk Students' in Creative Nursing (2019, with R. Sutter-Barrett and K. Skurpski), 'Vaccine-related attitudes and decision making among uninsured, Latin American immigrant mothers of adolescent daughters: a qualitative study' in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics (2018, with J.E. Painter et al.), 'Impacting Vulnerable Populations Through Integrating Oral Health Care Into Nurse-managed Health Centers' in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners (2016, with L. Vece et al.), 'Bridge Care Nurse-managed Clinics Fill the Gap in Health Care' in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners (2015, with R. Sutter-Barrett and K. Dickman), and 'A Plant-Based Nutrition Program' in American Journal of Nursing (2017, with J. Evans et al.). Sutter's contributions extend to leadership in university committees, including Faculty Org Chair (2023–present), CEPH Accreditation Committee Workforce Lead (2022–present), and co-founding the Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics in 2012. Her impact is evidenced by major awards: 2019 George Mason University Alumni Association Outstanding Service Award, 2017 AANP Virginia Nurse Practitioner of the Year, 2016 Virginia Nurse Practitioner of the Year from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2015 Evelyn E. Cohelan Faculty Leadership Award, and 2012 Faculty of the Year at Northern Virginia Community College.