Georgia State University is an enterprising urban public research institution in Atlanta, the leading cultural and economic center of the Southeast.
THE BYRDINE F. LEWIS COLLEGE OF NURSING & HEALTH PROFESSIONS at Georgia State University is a leader in preparing the next generation of clinicians and scholars who are critical to improving individual and community health. Since 1968, the college has produced more than 7,300 nurses and nurse practitioners and more than 6,200 allied health care professionals. Many of these professionals go on to become educators and researchers.
Welcome to the Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions. Over the past 50 years, we have educated more than 12,500 health professionals to serve at the frontline of health care. Our vision is to become the premier school for the education of health professionals in the Southeast.
We provide our students with the real-world knowledge and patient care skills they’ll need to excel in the rapidly evolving fields of nursing and health professions. Our faculty are experts in their fields, and they are committed to supporting you as you progress through your education and toward your career path.
You will have access to a wide range of academic programs and opportunities that will help you chart your career path: health informatics, nursing, nutrition, respiratory therapy, field-entry doctorate programs in occupational therapy and physical therapy and a bachelor’s degree bridge program in dental hygiene. At Perimeter College, we offer an associate degree program in nursing and an LPN to RN program. Georgia State is the only university in Georgia to offer the full breadth of nursing education.
Many of our programs are nationally ranked, and we are proud of our reputation for excellence in teaching, research and service. Our graduates pass their professional licensure exams with high rates and are highly sought after by employers. Our clinical site preceptors routinely tell us feedback that our students are known for their outstanding clinical skills and leadership abilities.
We also offer a range of research opportunities and internships that allow you to gain hands-on experience in your field of study and to experience how you can make a difference in the lives of others. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to work with fellow graduate and undergraduate students and present their research at the Georgia State and Lewis College undergraduate research conferences
You will be part of a dynamic and supportive community here at the Lewis College that is committed to helping you achieve your academic and professional goals. I look forward to getting to know you and supporting you on your journey as a student and a healthcare professional.
We are privileged to educate the next generation of health care professionals. Learn more about us by exploring this website or following us on social media. And ask your healthcare providers if they are Georgia State graduates. You'll discover our grads are the people who care for people.
Huanbiao Mo
Dean and Professor of Nutrition

Dr. Huanbiao Mo
Dean and Professor

Dr. Sujay Galen
Associate Dean of Research and Interim Chair of Physical Therapy

Dr. Anita Nucci
Associate Dean for Academics

Dr. Kyungeh An
Associate Dean of Nursing

Dr. Kinsuk Maitra
Chair of Occupational Therapy and Professor

Dr. Doug Gardenhire
Chair of Respiratory Therapy, Clinical Professor and Governor's Teaching Fellow

Dr. Cedric Truss
Chair of Department of Health Sciences and Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Desiree Wanders
Interim Chair of Nutrition, Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director

Anthony Roberts
Assistant Dean, Finance & Administration
The advisory board is the chief volunteer group of Georgia State's Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions in assisting the dean in promoting and in achieving the vision for the college. This diverse group of friends of the college and leaders in the healthcare community is willing to share their time, their talent and their resources in helping the college achieve greatness.
Advisory Board Spotlights & Announcements
- Denise W. Hines Scholarship in Health Informatics
- The Charles Anthony Smith Ph.D., RN, ONC Nursing Scholarship
- Three New Members Voted To Georgia State Lewis College Advisory Board
- Advisory Board Spotlight: Beth Cayce-A COVID Vaccination Advocate and Cheerleader
- Two New Members Named to Lewis College Advisory Board
- Double Panther Leads and Teaches Nursing
- Alumnus Brent Robinson Leads Patient Care Experience at Metro Atlanta Hospital
Members
Charisse Braxton
Health Service Administrator with Kaiser Permanente
MBA, MHA ‘11; NP-C, Nursing ‘03
Beth Cayce
CEO of CaraVita HomeCare and CVSC,LLC
B.S. '75 and M.S. '84 (PT)
James C. (Jim) Forbes
Chief Strategy Officer
Vizzia Technologies
Jacqueline (Jackie) Herd, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE
Principal
Vizient, Inc.
Denise Hines
Chief Americas Officer with HIMSS
Natalie Jones DNP, RN, NPD-BC
Senior Vice President of Clinical Practice and Innovation
Prolink
Class of 2022
Susan K. Laird, DNP, MSN, RN, CPC
Founder, Today Transitions LLC
Ashley L. Matthews
Clinical Systems Manager at Junum
MS, Nutrition ‘10; BS, Criminal Justice ‘03
Tamara Melton
Registered Dietitian,
Co-founder and executive director of Diversify Dietetics,
MS, Nutrition '06
Debianne Peterman
Healthcare Consultant
Sharon Rhodes
Nutrition Consultant and Spokesperson
MS, Nutrition ‘08; Certificate, Dietetic Internship ‘02
Brent Robinson
Chief Operating Officer, Piedmont Augusta Clinical Hub
Ms, Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner ‘03
Karen Seagraves
Vice President at the Neuroscience Institute and Atrium Health
Ph.D., Nursing
Marci Silverman
Occupational therapist & STOTT Pilates Rehab Instructor with Good Hands Therapy LLC
MS, Exercise Science with Emphasis in Biomechanics ‘00
Charles Anthony Smith (Board Chair)
Clinical Assistant Professor and Coordinator of RN to BSN Program with Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University
MS, Nursing ‘85; BS, Nursing ‘81
Cordia A. Starling EdD, MS, BSN
EPIC Immunization Program Director with Georgia Chapter - American Academy of Pediatrics
MS, Nursing ‘86
Michelle Wallace
Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Grady Health Systems
Stephen L. Whiten
Field Reimbursement Territory Manager with McKesson Corporation
BBA, Marketing ‘69
Emeriti Members
Fran Fowler
Founder of Fowler Healthcare Affiliates, Inc.
BS in Nursing ‘74
Sarah Myers
Associate Nurse Executive
Atlanta VA Medical Center
Robert Pettignano
Medical Director -Health Law Partnership; Professor of Pediatrics
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta/ HeLP
Georgette Samaritan
Risk Management Consultant
MAG Mutual Patient Safety Institute
Todd Tyson
Retired – CEO Sales Representative
HiTech Healthcare, Inc. Breas Medical
Karen Waters
Retired – Senior Vice President
Georgia Hospital Association
The Lewis College student ambassador program established by the Office of Dean provides an opportunity for outstanding Lewis College students to serve as official hosts and goodwill ambassadors for the college. Student ambassadors represent the college and the dean with the highest level of integrity and professionalism.
BY THE
2,109
STUDENTS
529
STUDENTS
85%
74%
7,293
6,156
DEGREES OFFERED
Undergraduate
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Health Informatics
- Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Health Sciences — Rehabilitation Sciences
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
- Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy
Graduate
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Master of Science in Health Sciences —Health Informatics
- Master of Science in Health Sciences — Nutrition
- Master of Science in Health Sciences —Respiratory Therapy
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Doctor of Occupational Therapy
- Doctor of Physical Therapy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry — Nutritional Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences
- Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology —Rehabilitation Science
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
Specialty Degree Options
- Associate of Science to Bachelor of Science — Dental Hygiene Bridge Program
- Associate of Science to Bachelor of Science — Respiratory Therapy Bridge Program
- Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Registered Nurse to Master of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
Graduate Certificate Programs
- Health Informatics
- Health Leadership
- Five Nursing Specialties
POINTS OF PRIDE
School of Nursing
91%
of School of Nursing graduates passed the
NCLEX (registered nurse licensure exam) in 2021
97.5%
average Advanced Practice Nurse registration exam
Department of Nutrition
100%
of Department of Nutrition graduates passed the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Exam in 2021
Department of Occupational Therapy
100%
2021 National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination
Department of Physical Therapy
100%
of Department of Physical Therapy graduates secured Doctor of Physical Therapy licensure in 2022
Department of Respiratory Therapy
100%
of Department of Respiratory Therapy graduates secured Registered Respiratory Therapist licensure in 2000 – 2021
RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY
Lewis College students and faculty are working to improve the lives of individuals in underserved populations. Children and infants, older adults, people with disabilities and survivors of stroke are just a few of the groups we support.
The Lewis College is using its research to make homes and communities healthier. Our faculty experts are supporting and developing a number of projects and programs.
Faculty Research Highlights
- Stroke counseling for risk reduction in young African American men
- Berry consumption as a therapeutic strategy in chronic lung disease induced by electronic cigarettes in hypertensive rats
- Virtual hand rehabilitation using computer vision
- Nurse practitioners’ acceptability and use of firearm screening, counseling and lock provision in pediatric primary care settings
- Role of cytokines in adult women 18 years or older with fibromyalgia
- Effects of resistance exercise on cognitive function and mental health among older Chinese Americans
- Clinical utility of Fitbit and Apple Watch to measure daily arm/hand use in stroke
- Biochemical and physiological effects of vaping CBD Oil on young adults
- Technology development for individuals with disabilities to age in place
- Interaction of estrogen, age and activity on musculoskeletal strength in females
ATLANTA & GLOBAL CONNECTIONS
Students gain clinical experience by joining faculty to provide the following services and programs free of charge:
35,000+ Collective hours of unpaid service to the Atlanta community and beyond
23+ Years of back-to-school physicals for more than 3,000 homeless children through the Children’s Restoration Network and DeKalb County Head Start
500-600 Students Served at Panther’s Pantry monthly in collaboration with Student Success and Student Nutrition Services
3000+ Children and grandparents helped through Project Healthy Grandparents in in DeKalb and Fulton counties since 1995
18+ Years of health assessments and treatment for migrant farm workers in South Georgia through an Emory University-led consortium
- Nutrition education for more than 30 health care, social service and community organizations serving younger and older adults
- In-home nursing visits and grandparent support groups for grandparents and the grandchildren they are raising
- Education exchange with respiratory therapists and students from universities in India, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia
MORE INFORMATION
Contact Us
Location
Urban Life Building
404-413-1100
[email protected]
Mailing Address
Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions
P.O. Box 3995
Atlanta, GA 30302-3995