Elizabeth Towner, PhD, FNP

Dr. Towner is a Family Nurse Practitioner and nurse educator who has taught for over 20 years in both graduate and undergraduate nursing programs. She has practiced as a nurse practitioner, mainly in rural areas, for almost 9 years. Dr. Towner initiated and served as Director of two new Nurse Practitioner programs, as well as faculty, Dean, Assistant Dean and Associate Dean of Schools of Nursing. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Societies and has served on a variety of professional and community advisory boards.

Dr. Towner became interested in becoming a nurse practitioner as a means of being a more effective public health nurse. She is a graduate of one of the first nurse practitioner programs (Indiana University) and has served as a test item writer for the first nurse practitioner certification examination.

Dr. Towner's doctoral dissertation, as well as subsequent publications and research, focused on nurse practitioner clinical competencies, caring competencies of nurse practitioners, and empowerment of clients. She has served as co-chair of the Curriculum Task Force for the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and as a member of their Board of Directors. Her background preparation, practice, and professional involvement for many years have been in the area of community health.

Dr. Towner lives in Ashland, Oregon, with her retired husband, Frank, and Cairn Terrier, Charlie. The three of them traveled for a year in a motor home after Dr. Towner retired briefly. They returned to Ashland to live and recently built a new home. Dr. Towner is active in political action in Ashland and serves as treasurer of the Friends of the Ashland Public Library. She has four grown children and three granddaughters.

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