Michael E Zychowicz DNP, ANP-C, ONP-C, FAAN, FAANP, FNAON
Dr. Michael E. Zychowicz, DNP, FAAN, FAANP, FNAON, ANP-C, ONP-C
Dr. Michael Zychowicz is a nationally recognized leader in advanced nursing practice, bringing more than three decades of clinical, academic, and leadership experience to the profession. He currently serves as Clinical Professor at Duke University School of Nursing, where he directs both the Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner Specialty and the Veterans Health Specialty. He previously served as Co-Director of the Durham VA Health Care System’s Post-Graduate NP Residency Program and as Director of Duke’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs, including oversight of 11 MSN majors—eight of which are nurse practitioner concentrations.
A dedicated educator and innovator, Dr. Zychowicz has played a leading role in national initiatives aimed at expanding and enhancing musculoskeletal education for nurse practitioners. He holds board certifications as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner. His contributions have been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Award for Excellence, the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON) Orthopedic Nurse of the Year Award, and the Case Western Reserve University Alumni Award for Excellence. Additionally, he was honored as the 2004 Nurse Practitioner of the Year by the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State.
Dr. Zychowicz has authored and edited numerous foundational texts in the fields of orthopedic and primary care nursing, including 'Orthopedic Nursing Secrets' and 'Introduction to Orthopedic Nursing.' He has contributed over 60 book chapters and a substantial number of peer-reviewed publications. His scholarly efforts primarily concentrate on orthopedic care, musculoskeletal conditions, simulation-based education, and veteran-centered practices.
As an invited speaker, Dr. Zychowicz has delivered nearly 200 national and international presentations, providing educational content to audiences worldwide. These presentations have covered emerging trends in orthopedics, veteran health, and nurse practitioner education. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP), and the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (FNAON). He also completed prestigious leadership development programs, including the AACN Leadership for Academic Nursing Fellowship and the Wharton Executive Nurse Leadership Program.
Dr. Zychowicz is a progressive academic with a growing portfolio of scholarship on incorporating emerging technologies into nurse practitioner education. He holds a particular interest in the potential applications of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR) to revolutionize educational methodologies. His ongoing scholarly endeavors investigate how immersive, AI-enabled tools can enhance clinical reasoning, procedural competence, diagnostic precision, and student engagement.
A distinguished veteran and former officer of the U.S. Army Reserve, with over fifteen years of dedicated service in the Army Nurse Corps, Dr. Zychowicz demonstrates a profound personal and professional dedication to advancing healthcare services for veterans. He has actively promoted veteran-centric content within Nurse Practitioner curricula and has spearheaded initiatives aimed at enhancing providers' competencies in addressing the distinctive health requirements of military populations.
In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Zychowicz has held clinical roles in orthopedics and sports medicine as a Nurse Practitioner and RN First Assistant in surgery. A clinical area of interest for him has been occupational back injuries and the factors influencing the time it takes for injured employees to return to work.
At Duke University, he has held positions as a principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous federally funded grants, contributing to the acquisition of substantial financial support, amounting to millions of dollars, for advanced practice education and workforce development.
Dr. Zychowicz has served in numerous leadership capacities within prominent national organizations, including NAON, the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State (NYSNPA), the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB), and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Additionally, he is a founding member of the Association of Post-Graduate APRN Programs, an entity dedicated to the advancement of residency and fellowship training for nurse practitioners.
Through his continued engagement in education, scholarship, clinical practice, mentorship, and advocacy, Dr. Zychowicz remains profoundly dedicated to advancing the role of nurse practitioners in shaping the future of healthcare.