Richard Henker

Dr. Richard Henker is a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing and a Fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. With a PhD in Nursing Science and more than three decades of academic and clinical experience, Dr. Henker is recognized for his contributions to global health, patient safety, and quality anesthesia care. His research has focused on perioperative thermoregulation, genetics and pain management, and health systems strengthening in resource-limited settings.

He is currently the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology representative to the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma, and Anesthesia Care (G4 Alliance), where he also serves as Vice President of the Permanent Council. The G4 Alliance is a global coalition dedicated to advancing access to essential surgical, obstetric, trauma and anesthesia services worldwide.

Dr. Henker has led Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) programs in Laos, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Belize, where he supports the development of nurse anesthesia education and the implementation of clinical quality initiatives. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to international efforts to expand the role of nurses and nurse anesthetists in global health policy. Dr. Henker’s work integrates research, advocacy, and capacity-building to promote sustainable, evidence-based care delivery worldwide.

Teaching

Dr. Henker is an experienced educator whose teaching spans undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. At the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, he has taught courses in pathophysiology, professional issues, research, science of healthcare delivery, and global health. He also serves as a dissertation chair and advisor for PhD and DNP students, mentoring more than 35 doctoral projects, many with a global health or implementation science focus. His international academic appointments include visiting professorships at Nagasaki University and Keio University in Japan, Mahidol University and Nakhon Phanom University in Thailand, and National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, where he has supported collaborative nursing education and research initiatives.

Dr. Henker is particularly committed to integrating simulation, interprofessional education, and global content into anesthesia curricula. As a mentor, he encourages students to pursue scholarly inquiry, apply theory to practice, and develop leadership in both domestic and international health systems. His teaching philosophy emphasizes inquiry-based learning, cultural humility, and the application of implementation science to translate evidence into practice for both patient care and systems-level improvement.

Service

Dr. Henker has a longstanding commitment to service at institutional, national, and global levels. At the University of Pittsburgh, he has served on a wide range of School of Nursing and University committees, including faculty governance, curriculum planning, DNP and PhD councils, and admissions. He is co-chair of the DNP Admissions, Progression, and Graduation Committee and has been a reviewer for internal funding and teaching award programs. Nationally, he has served on leadership and advisory boards for the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Globally, Dr. Henker has been a central figure in nurse anesthesia program development through Health Volunteers Overseas and has collaborated with Ministries of Health in Southeast Asia on nursing regulation, quality improvement, and workforce development. His leadership roles within the G4 Alliance—as Planning Committee Chair, Strategic Planning Committee member, and Vice President of the Permanent Council—reflect his dedication to policy advocacy and international health equity. His work is guided by the belief that collaborative service leads to lasting improvements in care.