Senior Associate Dean for Strategy and Global Affairs and Frances Hill Fox Distinguished Term Professor
Senior Associate Dean for Strategy and Global Affairs and Frances Hill Fox Distinguished Term Professor
Dr. Bryant is a first-generation college graduate and North Carolina native deeply committed to strengthening and sustaining a diverse nursing and biomedical workforce in cancer research. As an internationally recognized nurse-scientist, educator, and mentor, her work focuses on enhancing care through patient and care partner informed research, global partnerships, and workforce development.
Dr. Bryant serves as Senior Associate Dean for Strategy & Global Affairs and holds the Frances Hill Fox Distinguished Professorship. She is co-director of the PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center on Quality and Safety in Nursing and Midwifery. As an oncology and gerontology certified nurse and certified global nurse consultant, Dr. Bryant holds an Interdisciplinary Certificate in Aging and a Primary Care Certificate. She has over 20 years of clinical experience in acute care, long-term care, and community settings serving individuals with cancer.
Palliative and Collaborative Care Studies and Interventions
Dr. Bryant’s research addresses the critical need to understand and improve interprofessional teamwork and coordination for individuals and care partners facing serious illnesses, including cancer and cognitive impairment. She advances team science through routine collaboration with physical therapists, occupational therapists, oncologists, dental hygienists, and registered nurses to innovate and implement palliative and supportive care interventions. Her scholarly work encompasses descriptive, observational, systematic review studies, and intervention designs.
Pathways for Nursing and Biomedical Workforce
Dr. Bryant has extensive experience supporting and mentoring nursing and biomedical students throughout their academic journeys. She co-founded and directed an undergraduate nursing fellowship for 10 years to expand pathway opportunities for oncology nurses. Her professional mission centers on mentoring future generations of nurse and non-nurse clinicians and scientists through course development, guest lecturing, and direct mentorship at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Her mentees have received awards for published research and now hold tenure-track faculty positions leading cancer prevention research at institutions nationwide.
Collectively, her research and scholarship have led to 120 manuscripts, with 50% co-authored with students. She has secured $10 million in funding from state, federal, foundation, and philanthropic sources as principal investigator, multiple principal investigator, co-investigator, consultant, and scientific advisor. She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and Fellow in the Gerontological Society of America. She also received the UNC School of Nursing PhD Award in Doctoral Education in 2019 and 2025.
Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP)
The Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program (CUREP) proposes to address cancer by expanding and recruiting exceptional applicants to the pool of future cancer researchers within the biomedical workforce.
2025: Healio, 2025 Disruptive Innovators Advanced Practice Trailblazer
2025: Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentorship and Education, UNC School of Nursing
2024: Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina
2022: Excellence in Oncology Research Award, North Carolina Triangle Oncology Nursing Society
2020: Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
2020: Laurel Archer Copp Literary Award, UNC School of Nursing
2020–2022: Anne Belcher Interprofessional Faculty Scholar in Nursing
2019: Faculty Award for Excellence in Doctoral Mentorship and Education, UNC School of Nursing
2017-2019: NIH Loan Repayment Program Clinical Scholar
2017: Victoria Mock New Investigator Award, Oncology Nursing Society
2016: Excellence in Care of the Older Adult with Cancer, Oncology Nursing Society
(Selected publications 2015-present)
Coombs, L. & Bryant, A. L. (2026). Integrating compassion early: palliative care’s role in improving the quality of life and psychological well-being for individuals undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Annals of Palliative Medicine, doi: 10.21037/apm-2025-aw-125. Online ahead of print.
Slusser, K., Makic, M.B., Loresto, F., Bryant, A. L. & Coats, H. (2025). Access and Early Integration of Palliative Care in the Non-Hospital Setting for Individuals Living with Cancer: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review. Special Collection: Palliative Care and Caring Practices edition of the Global Qualitative Nursing Research Journal, 12:23333936251375184. doi: 10.1177/23333936251375184.
Jung, A., Crowder, V., Chan, Y.N., Klemm, D., Tan, K.R., Poor, E., Okanlawon Bankole, A., Anderson, D.S., Coppola, S., Pergolotti, M., Schwartz, T., Richardson, D.R., & Bryant, A.L. (2025). Physical Function and Mobility in Older Adults Receiving Treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study. Oncology Nursing Forum, 18;52(5):382-392. doi: 10.1188/25.ONF.382-392.
Tan, K., Chan, Y.N., Iadonisi, K., Poor, E., Betancur, S., Jung, A., Sagester, K., Coppola, S., Pergolotti, M., Kent, E.E., Schwartz, T., Richardson, D., & Bryant, A.L. (2023). Perspectives of caregivers of older adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia during Initial hypomethylating agents and venetoclax chemotherapy. Supportive Care in Cancer, 4;31(1):95. doi: 10.1007/s00520-022-07565-7.
Shieu, B., Teng, C.H., Chan, YN., Cho, Y., Dictus, C., Wang, J., Beeber, A., Bryant, A.L., Wu, B., Plassman, B., Anderson, R. (2024). Comparing the Experiences of Participants with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia during an Oral Health Intervention. Innovation in Aging, 26;7(9):doi: 10.1093/geroni/igad123.
Bankole, A., Burse, N.R., Crowder, V., Chan, Y. N., Hirschey, R., Jung, A., Tan, K., Coppola, S., Pergolotti, M., Richardson, D. R., & Bryant, A. L. (2024). A strong reason why I enjoy coming to work”: Clinician acceptability of a PAlliative and Supportive Care InTervention (PACT) for older adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and their Care Partners. Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 15(3).
Bryant, A.L., Hirschey, R., Caiola, C., Chan, Y.N. Cho, Y., Plassman, B, Wu, B., Anderson, R. & Bailey, D.E. (2024). Care partners Experience of an Oral Health Intervention for Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia using Behavior Change Technique: A Qualitative Study. Geriatric Nursing, 56, 40-45.
Jensen, C.E., Heiling, H.M., Beke, K.E., Deal, A.M., Bryant, A.L, Coombs, L.A., Richardson, D.R. (2023). Time spent at home among older adults with acute myeloid leukemia receiving azacitidine- or venetoclax-based regimens. Haematologica. 108(4):1006-1014. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2022.280728.
Chan, Y.., Betancur, S., Conklin, J., Hirschey, R., Piepmeier, A., Foster, M.C., Anderson, R.A., Bender, C., & Bryant, A.L. (2022). Cognitive Function in Adults with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treated with Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review. Cancer Nursing. DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001164
Bryant, A.L., & Buhlinger, K. (2022). Role of the Advanced Practitioner in the Management of Oral Chemotherapy for Adults with AML. Journal of Advanced Practitioner in Oncology, 13(3), 333-336.
Patel, M., Bryant, A.L., Mayer, D.K., & Winzelberg, G. (2022). Using the PDSA Framework to Improve Rates of Clinical Tool Use in Outpatient Oncology Palliative Care Clinics. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 26(5),483-486.
Yang, J., Plassman, B., Sun, S, Tan, D., Pei, Y., Yoon, P., Ting, S., Hameed, W., Teoh, K.H., & Bryant, A., Anderson, R., & Wu, B. (2022). Carepartner-assisted intervention to improve oral health for older adults with cognitive impairment in Singapore. Aging and Health, 2,(3), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahr.2022.100080
Mayo, S.J., Brennenstuhl, S., Panesar, P., & Bryant, A. L. (2022). Patterns of Concerns among hematological cancer survivors. Cancer Nursing. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001060.
Poor, E., Chan, Y. N., Iadonisi, K., Tan, K., & Bryant, A.L. (2022). Exploring Experiences of Bereaved Caregivers of Older Adult Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 26(2), 135–139. https://doi.org/10.1188/22.CJON.135-139
Pergolotti, M., Deal, A., Williams, G., Bryant, A.L., McCarthy, L., Nyrop, K., Reeve, B. B., Basch, E., & Muss, H. (2019). Older Adults with Cancer: A Randomized Control Trial of Occupational and Physical Therapy. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15930
Bryant A.L., Gosselin, T., Coffman, E.M., Phillips, B., Gray, T.F., Knafl, G.J., Klepin, H.D., Wood, W.A., Muss, H., & Reeve, B.B. (2018). Symptoms, Mobility and Function, and Quality of Life in Adults with Acute Leukemia During Initial Hospitalization. Oncology Nursing Forum. 1;45(5):653-664. doi: 10.1188/18.ONF.653-664.
Bryant, A.L., Coffman, E., Bullard, E., Hirschey, R., Bradley, J., Stover, A., Wood, W. A., & Bennett, A.V. (2018). Experiences of Inpatient Bone Marrow Transplant Nurses and Providers using Electronic Symptom Reporting. Journal of Oncology Practice, 14(8), e496-e504.
Bryant, A.L., Drier, S.W., Lee, S. & Bennett, A.V. (2018). A systematic review of patient reported outcomes in phase II or III clinical trials of myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia Research, 7:70, 106-116.
Bryant, A.L., Deal, A.M., Battaglini, C., Phillips, B., Bailey, C., Pergolotti, M., Coffman, E. Hackney, A.C., Wood, W.A., Mayer, D.K., Muss, H., & Reeve, B.B. (2018). The Effects of Exercise on Patient Reported Outcomes and Performance-Based Physical Function in Adults with Acute Leukemia Undergoing Induction Treatment. Integrative Cancer Therapies, doi: 10.1177/1534735417699881.
Fennimore, L.A., Battista, V., Leak Bryant, A., Paice, J.A., & Ferrell, B. (2025). Intrinsic Factors as to Why Advanced Practice Providers Stay in Oncology. Oncology Nursing Forum, 18;52(5):351-358. doi: 10.1188/25.ONF.351-358.
Bryant, A., Morgan, M., Betancur, S., Xu, J., Hirschey, R., Coombs, L., Wehner, K., & Mayer, D.K. (2024). Development of an Undergraduate Oncology Nursing Elective with a Focus on Palliative Care. Nurse Educator, 49(3), E172-E174.
Hotchkiss, J., Bula, A. K., Zimba, C., Bingo, S., Chinkhata, M., Song, L., & Bryant, A. L. (2023). Evaluating the Knowledge Change Before and After Continuing Cancer Education in Malawian Nurses. Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education, 38(5), 1624–1628. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-023-02310-y
Bryant, A.L., Krok-Schoen, J., Cobran, E., Greer, J., Temel, J., & Pirl, W. (2023). Evaluation of an Intensive Workshop on Research Methods in Supportive Oncology. Palliative and Supportive Care, 1-6, DOI: 10.1017/S1478951522001432
Kahwa, E., Dodd, A., Conklin, J., Woods Giscombe, C., Bryant, A. L., Munroe, D., Ferguson, V., Singh, S., Lynch, M., & Bolton, A. (2022). A Bibliometric analysis of Nursing and Midwifery Research in the Caribbean. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, doi: 10.1111/jnu.12721.
Gillett, C., Mason, S., Fleming, L., Mayer, D. K., & Bryant, A. L. (2022). An Academic-Practice Partnership During COVID-19 Pandemic: Transitioning from a Clinical to Virtual Fellowship. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 10.1111/jocn.15817. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15817
Bryant, A.L., Foster, B., Giscombe, C., Santos, H., Jenerette, C., Brooks, J., & Rodgers, S. (2022). Supporting Racial, Ethnic Minority, and Disadvantaged Undergraduate Nursing Students with Honors Projects. Journal of Professional Nursing, 40:130-134. doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.08.004.
Brody, A.A., Edelman, L., Siegel, E.O., Foster, V., Bailey, D.E., Bryant, A.L., & Bond, S. M. (2016). Evaluation of a Peer Mentoring Program for Early Career Gerontological Nursing Faculty and Its Potential for Application to Other Fields in Nursing and Health Sciences. Nursing Outlook, pii:S0029-6554(16)30011-2. Doi:10.1016.
Bryant, A.L., Brody, A., Perez, A., Shillam, C., Edelman, L., Bond, S., Foster, V. & Siegel, E. (2015). Development and Implementation of a Peer Mentoring Program for Early Career Gerontological Faculty. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, doi: 10.1111/jnu.12135.
Project Number: DI-2023C1-31283
Title: Implementation of Symptom Monitoring with Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes (ePROs) during Cancer Treatment: The OncoPRO Initiative
Major Goals: Remote symptom monitoring using electronic patient-reported outcomes, however, implementation at scale in real-world settings remains challenging for practices.
Source of Support: Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), PI: Ethan Basch, MD
Role: Co-Investigator
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: 3/2024-2/2030
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $3,914,749
Project Number: R25-CA291602-01
Title: Cancer Undergraduate Research Education Program
Major Goals: 1) Provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in cancer research during a ten-week summer internship, 2) Increase student interest in pursuing careers in cancer research by offering professional development activities essential for gaining admission to graduate and professional schools, 3) Provide year-long group coaching to help students integrate academic and life skills and increase chances of successfully completing degrees.
Source of Support: NIH/NCI
Role: MPI
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: 7/1/2024-6/30/2029
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $1,323,529.76
Project Number: R25-CA181000-11A1
Title: Workshop on Research Methods in Supportive Oncology (RMSO)
Major Goals: This annual intensive six-day workshop includes didactic sessions on a broad range of relevant methods and small writing groups led by R01-funded supportive oncology investigators. With daily feedback and mentorship, participants write a complete research protocol over the six days.
Source of Support: NIH/NCI
Role: RMSO Early Career Small Group Leader and Consultant
Project/Proposal Start and End Date: 2/2025-1/2030
Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs): $1,462.535
Palliative and supportive care interventions
Patient reported symptoms and outcomes
Quality of life in blood cancers
Survivorship