Grant R. Martsolf | School of Nursing | University of Pittsburgh

PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN

Professor

Acute & Tertiary Care

Profile

Dr. Martsolf is an interdisciplinary teacher and scholar, focusing on the impact of public policy, culture, education, and the healthcare system on human flourishing.

Clinical Emphasis

Dr. Martsolf's clinical focus is on health and social policy.

Scholarly Emphasis

Dr. Martsolf has dedicated much of his academic career to studying the healthcare workforce, with a particular focus on the educational, policy, and financial factors that contribute to healthy work environments for nurse practitioners. His research has been supported by several federal agencies, including the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the National Institute on Aging, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In recent years, his interests have broadened to include the overall well-being of non–college-educated Americans. He is especially focused on issues of family formation, hope, and employment—particularly among working-class men.

Teaching

Dr. Martsolf teaches a variety of courses at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. He is the director of the Headwaters Project, an interdisciplinary teaching initiative at the University of Pittsburgh that places the flourishing person at the heart of the applied sciences. The Project’s flagship course, Happiness and Human Flourishing, invites students to reflect on their own lives and to cultivate habits that support flourishing in college and beyond. He also teaches Health Policy and Human Flourishing, which explores how government, in partnership with a vibrant civil society, can support human well-being. In addition, Dr. Martsolf teaches Research for Evidence-Based Practice, a course that equips clinicians to read and critically appraise research literature, and he regularly teaches Freshman Seminar. For several years, he has also led student programs in Argentina, studying health systems in parallel developed countries. Dr Martsolf is particularly interested in developing character, engaging in lifelong learners, and nurturing conversations that assist college students build meaningful lives during their university years and beyond.

Service

Dr. Martsolf is a member of the American Nurses Association and AcademyHealth, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. He serves on the editorial board of Nursing Outlook and is actively engaged in public and academic life. He regularly leads seminars, gives public lectures, and mentors students through the Beatrice Institute, an interdisciplinary academic community dedicated to advanced inquiry in the Christian intellectual and cultural traditions. In addition, he frequently speaks at community organizations throughout the Pittsburgh area and volunteers as a youth baseball coach.