The Office of Research sat down with Richard Ricciardi, Ph.D., CRNP, FAANP, FAAN - Professor and Executive Director of the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement - to learn more about him and his work at GW.
Hometown
I was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York City, in culturally diverse
neighborhoods where children played outside, neighbors kept their doors open, and
friendships were formed in schoolyards, parks, and on walks to and from school. All four of
my grandparents immigrated to the United States from the same small town in Italy, and
their sacrifices, along with those of my parents, instilled in me a deep appreciation for
family, education, community, service, patriotism, and the opportunities America made
possible. Growing up within sight of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island reinforced my
understanding that, despite our different backgrounds, we are connected by a common
humanity. It also taught me that belonging to a community carries a responsibility to
contribute to the well-being, safety, and support of others.
Educational Background
My educational journey has been closely intertwined with my development as a nurse
practitioner, military officer, clinician, leader, and scientist. I earned a Bachelor of Science
in Nursing from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and later
completed a pediatric nurse practitioner certificate program at Fitzsimons Army Medical
Center in Colorado. During that formative period, I had the privilege of meeting and
developing lasting friendships with Drs. Loretta Ford and Henry Silver, who established the
nation’s first nurse practitioner program at the University of Colorado. After seven years of
practice as an Army nurse practitioner, I earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the
University of Maryland at Baltimore, with a focus on the care of adolescents and young
adults. I subsequently completed post-master’s certificates as an adult and family nurse
practitioner at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, where I also
earned my PhD. My doctoral research examined the impact of body armor on the physical
performance of military personnel, bringing together my clinical experience, commitment
to the warfighter community, and growing interest in scientific inquiry.
How I Got Interested In Research
My interest in research grew from my 31 years of service in the United States Army and from
a deep commitment to supporting servicemembers and their families as they defend our
nation and national interests and enter into in harm’s way. As a nurse practitioner and
military officer, I came to understand that the complex challenges facing the warfighter
community required not only excellent clinical care, but also rigorous scientific inquiry. My
early research examined the physiological demands of wearing body armor, including its
effects on energy expenditure, fatigue, mobility, and physical performance under simulated
operational conditions. I later contributed to research on traumatic brain injury and
persistent post-concussion symptoms among servicemembers. These experiences taught
me that research is most meaningful when it begins with the real-world needs of patients
and communities and generates evidence that can directly improve clinical practice,
policy, psychological and physical preventive care, and systems of care.
Current Work
My current scholarship focuses on the responsible development, evaluation, and
implementation of artificial intelligence in nursing and healthcare. I am particularly
interested in ensuring that AI advances patient safety, health equity, access to care,
clinical decision-making, patient engagement, and health outcomes while augmenting,
rather than replacing, clinician’s judgment and the therapeutic relationships at the heart
of care. My recent work examines how AI can help nurse practitioners personalize
patient and family education, strengthen clinical decision support, improve preventive
services and immunization outreach, support chronic disease management, and
address the unique needs of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult populations.
Central to this work is the conviction that AI must be introduced thoughtfully, with
transparent governance, strong privacy protections, representative data, continuous
evaluation, clinician oversight, and the meaningful involvement of nurses in the design,
testing, and implementation of AI-enabled care.
Fun Facts
Outside of clinical nursing, research, academia, and health policy, I am an avid
photographer with a passion for capturing people, places, and moments that tell a
meaningful story. Photography offers me another way to observe the world closely,
preserve experiences, and connect with individuals and communities. My work has
received numerous awards, but what I value most is the creative process, the combination
of technical skill, patience, curiosity, and attention to detail. In many ways, photography
and research are closely connected: both require us to look beyond the obvious, recognize
what others may overlook, and communicate what we discover in ways that inform,
engage, and inspire others.