Dr. Cynthia Weston | Dean of College of Nursing

Cindy Weston, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CHSE, FAANP, FAAN, is the founding dean of the College of Nursing at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth.

Before joining HSC, Dr. Weston served as associate dean for clinical and outreach affairs, and associate professor at the Texas A&M School of Nursing. She has been a co-recipient of more than $20 million in funding to implement nurse-managed care delivery models, innovative simulation and integrated behavioral health care models, and improve health outcomes in vulnerable populations. Her research focused on cardiovascular disease, health and wellness, innovative pedagogy in family nurse practitioner curriculum, access to health care in vulnerable populations, patient safety and interprofessional education. Dr. Weston began her nursing career at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital/Texas Heart Institute caring for infants, children and adults after cardiac surgery and transplantation. She was appointed the Betty Baker Distinguished Professor in Cardiovascular Nursing at Stephen F. Austin State University in 1996.

A longtime registered nurse and nurse practitioner in Texas, Dr. Weston also served as president of Texas Nurse Practitioners, an organization she has been a member of since 2000. Other professional memberships include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, National League of Nursing, International Association for Clinical Simulation in Nursing and more. She is a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Nursing.

In 2007, she established nurse practitioner services for the cardiovascular service line at Kingwood Medical Center, achieving 100 percent compliance in CMS Core Measures throughout her tenure. In 2011, she received an academic appointment in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio School of Medicine as the nurse practitioner for the congenital heart program and Single Ventricle Clinic.

Dr. Weston received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas Medical Branch, her Master of Science in Nursing from UT Health Houston and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from UT Health San Antonio.