Marianne Allen

Dr. Marianne Allen is an assistant professor of nursing and an advanced practice nurse with a passion for the profession of nursing and the care of women and children. With more than 40 years of experience as an educator and a perinatal clinical nurse specialist, she shows leadership in promoting nursing education, the quality and safety of health care through nursing research and evidence-based practice, and collaboration with faculty and colleagues to support life-long learning.

Research Areas & Scholarly Emphasis

Dr. Allen’s research interests focus on the childbearing family, including diversity and respectful maternity care and effect on maternal mortality and morbidity; maternal role attainment and postpartum depression during the first year after delivery; breastfeeding; and factors that may impact maternal and newborn well-being. She received funding from NICHQ to lead Pinnacle Health System’s quality improvement, evidence-based practice, and culture changes to earn Baby Friendly USA designation for excellence in breastfeeding. She was a consultant for the Keystone 10 Statewide Breastfeeding Initiative, Pennsylvania Department of Health. She has led quality initiatives for reduction of newborn readmissions for hyperbilirubinemia, collaborative care of the late preterm infant, and pain management of neonates and developed a system-wide program for perinatal bereavement. She received the Distinguished Clinical Scholar Award, University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing. A national speaker, Dr. Allen has presented topics at AWHONN, NACNS, Sigma Theta Tau International, and ANCC Magnet conferences.

Teaching

Dr. Allen teaches the Junior Undergraduate Clinical Courses NUR 1057 and NUR 1250 Nursing Care of Mothers, Newborns, and Families. She is a mentor for the Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (URMP) students and a committee member for DNP capstone projects. She has received the Pitt Nursing Excellence in Teaching (NET) Award.

Service

Dr. Allen is a member of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International. Prior to joining the School of Nursing, she served on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Pediatric Palliative Care and Hospice Task Force (2008-2012) and Tri-County Fatherhood Initiative (2006-2013). A supporter of the arts, she is a former board member and treasurer of Pennsylvania Regional Ballet, a non-profit pre-professional dance training school and honors company of Regional Dance America (1993-2018).

Clinical Emphasis

The childbearing family and factors that may impact maternal well-being, including respectful maternity care, maternal mortality and morbidity, breastfeeding, maternal role attainment, postpartum depression, perinatal bereavement, and late preterm infants.