New Faculty Profile: Get to Know Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CPH
Aug. 12, 2019
Please join us in welcoming Clinical Assistant Professor Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CPH, who joined the University of Arizona College of Nursing family last month. Dr. Godfrey, who will be teaching in the College’s advanced practice DNP-FNP program, has more than 16 years of health care experience within the fields of hospice, gerontology, emergency medicine, medical/surgical, telemetry, cardiac intensive care, pain management, and orthopedic spine surgery. Prior to joining Arizona Nursing, Dr. Godfrey was an advanced practice clinician with TribalEM, an emergency medicine leadership company that works exclusively with government and tribal health programs.
"Implementation science and healthcare leadership really excite me! I hope to continue to work in these areas. I also strive to culturally adapt evidence-based practice for American Indian/Alaska Native patients and communities.” ~ Timian Godfrey, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CPH
What drew you to a career in nursing?
A primary motivation to pursue a nursing career is my personal endeavor in the Navajo belief of hozho. Hozho is a holistic belief that health and well-being for all living things results in physical and spiritual beauty, harmony and goodness. It is often said that one must "walk in beauty", and I believe this statement aligns with the mission of nursing. We must promote hozho in our patients, colleagues and within ourselves in how we care for others.
As I continued to learn and gain knowledge through education, the more I realized how little I do know. In order to best serve my patients, rigorous study is needed to cultivate understanding and develop the skills necessary to improve individual, aggregate and systems outcomes. My desire to not only nurture my own hozho but also in those I serve, continues to motivate me in deepening my understanding of holistic health through education.
What attracted you to the UA College of Nursing?
I was attracted to Arizona Nursing's mission to promote innovation and vision in transforming healthcare. Academia provides a unique opportunity to promote innovation in care delivery methods and advocate for evidence-based practice, both of which are especially appealing to me. Integrated and interdisciplinary care efforts are the way to address many of our nation's most pressing health issues, and I'm fortunate to now belong to an institution that encourages this.
What is your field of research/specialty?
Implementation science and healthcare leadership really excite me! I hope to continue to work in these areas. I also strive to culturally adapt evidence-based practice for American Indian/Alaska Native patients and communities.
Where are you from originally?
I was raised in American Fork, Utah by a wonderful mother and father. I also have one younger brother. I am a member of the Navajo Nation and I belong to the Red Bottom clan with my maternal grandfather being from the Salt clan. I am also Hawaiian-Japanese. My husband is an emergency medicine resident physician at Banner University Medical Center and we have been married for 9 years. We have two gorgeous young daughters, ages 5 and 2. We moved to Tucson in June 2019 from Las Vegas, NV where my husband served as a flight surgeon in the Air Force.
What do you like to do in your free time?
During the periods of free time I do have, I mostly enjoy spending time with my family and running around with my girls. Performing any form of physical exercise is probably my favorite past time. I'm excited to get outdoors and explore Mount Lemon and Sabino Canyon.