Rate My Professor Sandra Daack-Hirsch

Sandra Daack-Hirsch, PhD, RN, FAAN, is a Professor and Executive Associate Dean and Dean of Faculty in the College of Nursing at the University of Iowa. She earned her BSN in Nursing from the University of Iowa College of Nursing in 1986, an MSN in Genetics/Pediatrics from the same institution in 1998, and a PhD in Epidemiology/Genetics/Family Health in 2007, with a dissertation on context for Filipino community-based orofacial cleft prevention interventions. Her career began as a Staff Nurse in the Department of Pediatrics at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics from 1986 to 1989, followed by roles as Neuromuscular Specialty Nurse (1989-1993), Genetic Nurse Specialist/Research Study Coordinator (1991-2006), and Genetic Nurse-Counselor at the University of Iowa Clinical Cancer Center (1997-1998). She joined the College of Nursing faculty as Assistant Professor in 2007, advanced to Associate Professor with tenure in 2013, and Full Professor in 2021. Daack-Hirsch has held key leadership positions, including Director of the PhD Program (2015-2020), Interim Associate Dean for Graduate-Practice Programs (2023-2024), Senior Faculty Affiliate at the University of Iowa Public Policy Center (2013-present), and President of the UI Faculty Senate.

Daack-Hirsch's research centers on clinical genetics, genetic testing, inherited disorders, genetic risk perception, congenital birth defects, prenatal testing, and newborn screening. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her expertise in clinical genetics, having consulted on numerous national projects. Notable awards include the 2025 Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, 2024 Midwest Nursing Research Society Distinguished Contribution in Research Award, Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (2018), Big Ten Academic Alliance Academic Leadership Program Fellow (2017-2018), International Society of Nurses in Genetics Founders Award (2010), and James N. Murray Teaching Award (2013). Key publications include 'A public perspective on incidental findings in clinical genomics' (2013), 'The role of patient engagement in personalized healthcare' (2014), contributions to studies on candidate genes for nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate (1999), and 'Mutations in IRF6 cause van der Woude and popliteal pterygium syndromes' (2002). She has served on editorial boards and institutional review boards, contributing to genetics integration in nursing curricula and ethical considerations in genomic research.