Kevin R. Emmons

Rutgers Faculty Webpage

Dr. Kevin Emmons is a Clinical Associate Professor at Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden, where he teaches at both undergraduate and graduate levels. He focuses on preparing students to care for individuals with complex healthcare problems, focusing on persons disadvantaged by systems and communities who face barriers to quality health outcomes. Over the past five years, Dr. Emmons has secured several million dollars in funding for various impactful programmatic grants. Notably, he served as the Program Director for the HRSA-funded Veteran Nurses in Primary Care training program, which trained undergraduate veterans to provide community-based healthcare to fellow veterans. Additionally, he directed grants addressing health disparities and mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations.

A clinical expert in wound care and Fellow of the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society, Dr. Emmons specializes in quality of life and symptom management for individuals with complex wounds. His scholarly work includes numerous publications and presentations emphasizing symptom management, quality of life, cultural humility, and addressing health disparities. Dr. Emmons' clinical practice is multifaceted, encompassing diverse aspects of interconnected community health ecosystems. He served as Chief Nursing Officer for the NJ Department of Health’s Field Medical Station during the COVID-19 pandemic and has held leadership roles in academic-practice partnerships. His academic credentials include degrees from Rutgers, Drexel University, and the University of Massachusetts-Boston, with a clinical dissertation focused on wounds at the end of life.

• DrNP (Nursing): Drexel University, 2012
• Postgraduate Certificate (Adult and Gerontologic Primary Care Nurse Practitioner) : University of Massachusetts-Boston, 2013
• MSN (Nursing Education and Faculty Role): Drexel University, 2007
• Post Baccalaureate Certificate (Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurse Education Program): WebWOC/Metropolitan State University, 2007
• BSN (Nursing): Rutgers University–Camden, 2004

• Community-academic partnerships
• Advancing equitable ecosystems of care
• Wound care
• Palliative wound care
• Symptom management and quality of life
• International healthcare and service learning

Chapters in Books or Monographs

Emmons, K.R. & Dale, B. (2021). Palliative wound care. In McNichol, L.L., Ratliff, C., & Yates, S. (Eds.), Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society core curriculum: Wound management (2^nd ed., pp. 775-791). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Emmons, K.R. & Dale, B. (2016). Palliative wound care. In Doughty, D.B. & McNichol, L. (Eds.). Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society core curriculum: Wound management (pp. 690-703).  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Published Articles

Pontieri-Lewis, V., Emmons, K.R., Scardillo, J., Berke, C., Bryant, D., Yates, S., & Kent, D.J. (2021). COVID-19 Skin Manifestations: A guide for WOC nursing practice. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 48(5), 410-414.

Long, M.A., Emmons, K.R. & Chovan, J.D. (2018). Incontinence-associated dermatitis and intertriginous dermatitis as nurse-sensitive quality indicators. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 45(3), 221-226.

Emmons, K.R., Dale, B., & Crouch, C. (2014). Palliative wound care, part 2: Application of principles. Home Healthcare Nurse, 32(4), 210-222.

Dale, B. & Emmons, K.R. (2014). Palliative wound care: principles of care. Home Health Nurse, 30(1), 48-53.

Emmons, K.R. & Robinson, J.P. (2014). Impact of urinary incontinence on older adults and their caregivers. Journal of Aging Life Care, Spring edition. 

Emmons, K.R. & Robinson, J. (2013). Urinary incontinence severity and quality of life instruments. Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, 40(4), 350-354

• August 2021 – July 2022
  Project Title: Rutgers REACHES Out Initiative: Rutgers Enhanced Access to COVID-19 Health Equity Services Outreach Initiative
  Role: Principal Investigator/Project Director – Emmons, K. R.
  Funding Source: Health Equity Response COVID-19 Grant, New Jersey Department of Health
  Funded Amount: $472,124

• July 2021 – September 2021
  Project Title: Community Vaccination Program for Hard-to-Reach Populations in Camden County
  Role: Principal Investigator/Project Director – Emmons, K. R.
  Funding Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation / New Jersey Health Initiatives
  Funded Amount: $94,792

• 2020 – 2021
  Project Title: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – NEPQR COVID-19 Response Funding
  Role: Principal Investigator/Project Director – Emmons, K. R.
  Funding Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA
  Purpose: Support for preventing, preparing for, and responding to COVID-19 through nurse education and practice
  Funded Amount: $64,285

• 2019 – 2022
  Project Title: Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) – Veteran Nurses in Primary Care (VNPC) Training Program
  Role: Project Team – Emmons, K. R. (PI/PD), Cantwell, E. R., Linz, S., & Whiting, R.
  Funding Source: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), Bureau of Health Workforce
  Funded Amount: $1,500,000

Professional Honors and Awards

• 2021 - Chancellor’s Award for Civic Engagement, Signature Partnership Award for COVID-19 Response, Rutgers University - Camden

• 2020 - Recognition by the American Academy of Nursing for “courageous efforts during the coronavirus pandemic”

• 2019 - Chancellor’s Award for Civic Engagement, Rutgers University - Camden

• 2017 - Distinguished Nursing Alumni Award, Rutgers School of Nursing - Camden

• 2014 - Outstanding Nurse Educator Award, Rutgers School of Nursing - Camden

• 2010 - Quality and Patient Safety Award, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Pressure Ulcer Management Across System Hospitals: A Comprehensive Evidence-Based Approach

• 2010 - Helen McClelland Award for Clinical Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania Health System / GSPP, Nursing Excellence Award

Offices Held in Scholarly and Professional Societies

• 2018-present - Director-at-Large, Board of Directors, Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (elected to two terms)

• 2021-present - Co-Chair, National Conference Planning Committee, Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

• 2020-present - Faculty Advisor, Eta Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing

• 2018-2020 - Member, Research Committee, Eta Mu Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing

• 2017-2021 - Co-Chair and Member, Wound Track, National Conference Planning Committee, Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

• Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

• Advanced Practice Nurse, State of New Jersey

• Registered Nurse, State of New Jersey

• Registered Nurse, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

• Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN), Wound, Ostomy and Continence Certification Board

• Certified Foot Care Nurse (CFCN), Wound, Ostomy and Continence Certification Board

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), American Heart Association – Current

• Basic Life Support (BLS), American Heart Association

• American Nurses Association (ANA)

• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

• New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA)

• Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN)

• Delaware Valley Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (DVWOCN)

• Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI)