Education

• DNP (In Progress), American University of Health Sciences
• MSN Nurse Educator, American University of Health Sciences
• MSN Family Nurse Practitioner, American University of Health Sciences
• BSN, American University of Health Sciences

Bio

Ms. Denise Waller is Full -time Faculty Member at American University of Health Sciences (AUHS), bringing more than a decade of experience in nursing education, public health, and acute clinical care. Her professional background includes medical-surgical nursing, intensive care (ICU), direct observation units (DOU), palliative care, skilled nursing, and community health—with a strong commitment to patient-centered, evidence-based practice.

She currently serves as a Public Health Nurse with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Previously, she worked as a Registered Nurse at Centinela Hospital Medical Center, where she provided critical care to patients with life-threatening conditions, including those affected by COVID-19. These clinical roles refined her expertise in diagnostic interpretation, hemodynamic monitoring, and emergency response.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Denise served as a Licensed Vocational Nurse at several healthcare institutions, including West Los Angeles Veterans Medical Center, UCLA – Les Kelley Medical Center, and LAC-USC Women’s and Children’s Hospital. These experiences gave her comprehensive skills in outpatient procedures, laboratory testing, patient education, and collaborative care planning.

In her academic role at AUHS, she teaches and mentors BSN students in both didactic and clinical courses. She is highly regarded for her adaptable, compassionate teaching style that inspires students to grow into ethical, confident, and competent nursing professionals.

Ms. Waller is a proud member of Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society of nursing, and is actively pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a focus on underserved populations and healthcare access.

Published Work / Educational Contributions

Currently developing a scholarly project focused on healthcare delivery to underserved and homeless populations, with an emphasis on integrating street medicine programs. The project explores evidence-based strategies, community partnerships, and interdisciplinary models to improve access and health outcomes for vulnerable groups.

Subject Matter Expertise

Nursing Education, Acute and Critical Care Nursing, Community and Public Health, Medical-Surgical, Community Health Science, Community Health Nursing Care, Basic Leadership & Management in Nursing.

Research Interests

Ms. Waller is researching healthcare provider bias in the treatment of pain among minority and underserved pregnant patients. Her work examines how implicit bias, and systemic inequities contribute to the under-treatment of pain and the frequent mislabeling of patients as drug-seeking during prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care.