Summary
Cynthia A. Danford, PhD, CRNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP-BC, FAAN, is a nurse scientist II in Cleveland Clinic’s Office of Nursing Research and Innovation and consultative staff in the Lerner Research Institute. Dr. Danford’s research interests are focused on working with children and families to instill healthy lifestyle habits and decrease overweight/obesity and cardiovascular risk. She embraces a family-centered approach and recognition of situational context to help families set realistic goals related to healthy lifestyle choices. Her research has grown from her nursing experience.
As a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, Dr. Danford has extensive clinical experience in pediatric nursing and pediatric primary care. She has worked in home, community, in-patient, and clinic settings. Dr. Danford has taught graduate and undergraduate levels at several universities as an academician. The courses she has taught include both pediatric nursing theory and clinical courses as well as nutrition, role transition, and neonatal intensive care, obstetrics and medical-surgical clinical. She most recently held a faculty position at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.
Contributing to the advancement of nursing science, Dr. Danford has many publications related to issues of overweight, obesity, and healthy lifestyles. She has presented her work nationally and internationally (Russia, Japan, Denmark, Canada, Spain, Ireland). She has received funding for her innovative research with event history calendars, most recently from the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) National Institute of Health (NIH).
Education
- Research Fellowship, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- PhD, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
- MSN, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- BS, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana
Certifications
- Certified Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (PPCNP-BC), American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner – Primary Care (CPNP-PC), Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
Contact Information
Cleveland Clinic
Office of Research and Innovation
9500 Euclid Avenue/ T4-43
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
216.445.6462
danforc@ccf.org
Leadership
Dr. Danford is an active member of the International Family Nursing Association (IFNA), where she combines her passion for families, research, and practice and serves as co-chair for both the research committee and conference planning committee. She previously served as co-chair of the IFNA research collaboration subcommittee. She also leads a pediatric research cluster and participates in a group that brings attention to policy as a component of research. Her involvement in IFNA has led to many international research collaborations and opportunities to build family nursing science worldwide. As a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and former president of the Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP), Dr. Danford served six years as AFPNP liaison to the NAPNAP research committee, where she helped set future pediatric research priorities and reviewed grant applications and conference abstracts for presentations and awards. In academia, she has served on numerous nursing and university-wide committees, including co-chairing the University of Pittsburgh Equity, Inclusion, Anti-Discrimination, and Advocacy Committee (EIADAC). Dr. Danford was also influential in advancing Russian nursing education through collaboration with the Russian Ministry of Health on a Russian nursing education project.
Clinical Practice & Teaching
Clinical Practice
Dr. Danford has clinical expertise in pediatrics using a family-centered approach. She is a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner with a focus on wellness and illness prevention. She has provided care in home, community, and child life settings and is experienced in various pediatric settings, including neonatal and pediatric intensive care units (ICUs).
Teaching
Dr. Danford’s academic experience has included undergraduate and graduate student education. She has been on the faculty at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, The Ohio State University, Wayne State University, and University of Pittsburgh. She has primarily taught pediatric theory and clinical courses for BSN, MSN, and DNP students. She was program director for the primary and acute care pediatric nurse practitioner programs at Wayne State University where she was instrumental in curriculum development. Throughout her career, she has also taught medical-surgical and obstetrics clinical courses, as well as courses in research, nutrition, neonatal ICU, health assessment, diversity and role transition. She has mentored PhD students on dissertation research, MSN students on theses, and DNP students on quality improvement projects.
Research & Publications
Dr. Danford’s research focus is on families with young children with whom she works to explore healthy lifestyle behaviors related to eating, physical activity and sleep in order to minimize overweight, obesity and cardiovascular risk. She uses event history calendars to engage children and parents/caregivers in assessing environmental factors, which may influence lifestyle choices and subsequently guide tailored development of meaningful lifestyle goals. She has received funding through AETNA, American Nurses Foundation and most recently, National Institute of Health and National Institute of Child Health and Development (NIH/NICHD). She has delivered numerous national and international presentations and has several publications. She is co-editor and author of several chapters in the book: The nurse preceptor toolkit: Preparing nurses and advanced practice nurses for clinical practice. Her past work is available on request.
Research Funding
Self-Regulating Lifestyle Behaviors to Decrease Obesity Risk with Parent-Preschool Child Dyads Using Event History Calendars (EHCs). NIH NICHD R21(5 R21 HD091712-02). 2018-2021.
Fathers’ Experience in Families with a Child with a Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review. Submitted to Minnesota State University, Mankato and the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family & Society, the International Family Nursing Association (IFNA). 2021-2023.
2024 - Publications
Danford, C.A., Mooney-Doyle, K., Deatrick, J.A., Feetham, S., Gross, D., Knafl, K., Kobayashi, K., Moriarty, H., Ostergaard, B., & Swallow, V. (2024). Building family interventions for scalability and impact. Journal of Family Nursing, 30(2), 94-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/10748407241231342
Shirk, H. Kreider, C., Bell, T., Gervase, S., Buchko, B.L., & Danford, C.A. (2024). Predictability of Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) with Medical-Surgical Adults. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 46(9), 685-691. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459241271393
Danford, C.A., Roberts, K.J., Foster, M.J., Giambra, B., Spurr, S., Polita, N.B., Sheppard-LeMoine, D., Alvarenga, W. Beierwaltes, P., de Montigny, F., Lerret, S.M., Nascimento, L.C., Polfuss, M., Rene, C., Sullivan-Bolyai, S., Somanadhan, S. & Smith, L. (2024). Fathers’ ongoing journey when a child in the family has a chronic condition: A meta-synthesis. Journal of Family Nursing, 30(4), 283-303. https://doi.org/10.1177/10748407241290308
2024 - Presentations
Busch, D., Christiansen, B., Danford, C.A., Snedden, T., & Schultz, C.M. (14 March 2024). DNP-NP Projects: A summary of the literature from the AFPNP Research & Scholarship Committee. Podium presentation for AFPNP 2-hr meeting at NAPNAP 45th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, Denver, CO. Invited.
Busch, B., Shirk, H., Kreider, C., Bell, T., Gervase, S., & Danford, C.A. (April, 2024). Predictability of DASA-IV in Med-surg patients. Podium presentation for Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) Promoting Health Through Nursing Science 36th Annual Scientific Sessions. Boston, MA.
Danford, C.A. & Heuer, B. (17-21 April 2024). Advocating for preceptors to integrate competency-based education with NP students in practice. National Association of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 50th Annual Conference: The NP Educators Golden Jubilee, Baltimore, MD.
Pignatiello, S., Carter, K., Powaski, K., & Danford, C.A. (17-19 April 2024). The Journey to Initiating Minimal Sedation in the Children’s Institute. Poster presentation for Society of Pediatric Nurses 34th Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Gilbert, P., Burke, D., Kshettry, S. & Danford, C.A. (12 June 2024) M-power birth: An innovative approach to support perinatal trauma survivors. Poster presentation for Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) Maternal Health Summit. Columbus, Ohio
Danford, C.A., Mooney-Doyle, K., & Moriarty, H. (14 August 2024). Writing a winning abstract. A walk through the abstract submission process. Webinar presentation for International Nursing Association. International audience representing 14 countries.
Novosel, L.M. & Danford, C.A. (September 2024) Adult Depression within the Context of Primary Care NP Practice. Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association Annual Conference (GAPNA). San Antonio, TX.
Novosel, L.M. & Danford, C.A. (September 2024) Adult Depression, Counseling, Psychotropic Medications, and the Primary Care NP. Ready, willing, able? Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association Annual Conference (GAPNA). San Antonio, TX.
Gumucio, J.A., Bena, J.F., Ryan, D. & Danford, C.A. (30 September 2024). The relationship between 30-day readmission risk score and acute care transfers in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital. Podium presentation for Inaugural Joint Venture Rehabilitation Research Symposium, Cleveland Clinic & Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation, Cleveland, Ohio.
Pignatiello, S., Carter, K., Powaski, K., & Danford, C.A. (16-19 Oct 2024). Utilization of a Multidisciplinary Comfort Team to Decrease Pain and Anxiety in the Pediatric Medical Setting. Podium presentation at 2024 Annual ASPMN Conference, San Antonio, TX.
Pignatiello, S., Carter, K., Powaski, K., & Danford, C.A. (16-19 Oct 2024). The Journey to Initiating Minimal Sedation Across the Children’s Institute. Poster presentation 2024 Annual ASPMN Conference, San Antonio, TX.
2023 - Publications
Spurr, S., Danford, C.A., Roberts, K., Sheppard-LeMoine, D., Machado Silva-Rodrigues, F., Darrezo Rodriques Nunes, M., Darmofal, L., Ersig, A. L., Foster, M., Giambra. B., Lerret, S., Polfuss, M., Smith, L., & Somanadhan, S. (2023). Fathers’ experiences of caring for a child with a chronic illness: A systematic review. Children,10, 197. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10020197
Danford, C.A. (2023). Understanding the evidence: Qualitative research designs. Urologic Nursing, 43(1), 41-45. https://doi. org/10.7257/2168-4626.2023.43.1.41
Levay, M.M., Sumser, M.K., Vargo, K., Bodas, A., Bena, J.F., Danford, C.A., & Siedlecki, S.L. (2023). The effect of active distraction compared to midazolam in preschool children in the perioperative setting. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 68, 35-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2022.09.021
2023 - Presentations
Kreider, C., Gervase, S., Shirk, H., Bell, T., Buchko, B., Danford, C.A. (4-7 October 2023). Predictability of Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) Assessment in Adults on Medical Surgical Units [Conference presentation]. Podium presentation for APNA 37th Annual Conference, Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses: Novel IDEAS Moving Whole Health Forward Inclusion. Diversity. Equity. Access. De-Stigmatization. Lake Buena Vista, FL
Danford, C.A., Foster, M., Roberts, K.J., Giambra, B.K., Polita, N., Spurr, S., Alvarenga, W., Nascimento, L., Rene, C., Sheppard-LeMoine, D., Smith., L.M., Somanadhan, S., Beierwaltes, P., deMontigny, F., Lerret, S., Polfuss, M., Sullivan-Bolyai, S. (21-23 June 2023). Fathers’ journey when a child in the family has a chronic condition: A meta-synthesis. Podium presentation at the 16th International Family Nursing Conference, Global Innovations in Family Nursing: Advancing Family Health. Dublin, Ireland.
Spurr, S., Danford, C.A., Roberts, K., Darmofal, L., Darrezo-Rodriques Nunes, M., Ersig, A., Foster, M., Rodrigues, F., Giambra. B., Lerret, S., Polfuss, M., Sheppard-LeMoine, D., Smith, L., & Somanadhan, S. (21-23 June 2023). A systematic review of fathers’ experiences when caring for a child with a chronic condition. Poster presentation at the 16th International Family Nursing Conference, Global Innovations in Family Nursing: Advancing Family Health. Dublin, Ireland.
Robert, K., Danford, C.A., & Sheppard-LeMoine, D. (21-23 June 2023). Incubating family nurse scientists across the globe. 3-hour preconference workshop at the 16th International Family Nursing Conference, Global Innovations in Family Nursing: Advancing Family Health. Dublin, Ireland.
Weil, A., Williams, S., Durr, H., Danford, C.A., & Suntharos, P. (28-31 August 2023). Sheath removal guidelines for pediatric and adult congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory to decrease post-procedural bleeding and vascular complications: A quality improvement project. Poster presentation at PICS LIVE and 8th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric and Congenital Interventional Cardiovascular Society, Washington, D.C.
Tripepi-Bova, K., Ball,T., Eberhard, M., Bena, J.F., Danford, C.A. (April 2023). A Survey to Determine Retention Strategies of Nurses. Podium presentation at 18th Clinical Nursing Research Conference.
Kreider, C., Shirk, H., Bell, T., Gervase, S., Seitz-Cooley, A., Buchko, B., & Danford, C.A. (April 2023). Predictability of Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) Assessment in Adults on Medical Surgical Units. Podium presentation at 18th Clinical Nursing Research Conference. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
Kreider, C., Shirk, H., Bell, T., Gervase, S., Seitz-Cooley, A., Buchko, B., & Danford, C.A. (April 2023) Predictability of Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) Assessment in Adults on Medical Surgical Units. Podium presentation at 17th Annual WellSpan Health Collaborative Evidence-Based Practice and Nursing Research Conference, EBP and Nursing Research: Finding a Better Way. (Awarded best podium presentation).
Kreider, C. & Gervase, S., Shirk, H., Bell, T., Buchko, B., & Danford, C.A. (2023). Predictability of Dynamic Appraisal of Situational Aggression-Inpatient Version (DASA-IV) Assessment in Adults on Medical Surgical Units [Conference presentation]. APNA 37th Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
Danford, C.A. (28 March 2023). Embracing Family & Community Context: Minimizing Obesity Risk Through Lifestyle Change with Children and Families. Podium presentation (1-hour) for virtual conference, Public Health: A Gallon of Prevention. Sponsored by Michigan Public Health Association.
Danford, C.A. & Heuer, B. (15 March, 2023). Precepting APRNs: Tools for successful pediatric clinical education experiences. 3-hour workshop presented atNAPNAP 44th National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, Orlando, FL.
Danford, C.A., (24 January 2023). Healthy lifestyle habits and preference for change in families with young children. Podium presentation at Healthy LifeStars: Improving Health Outcomes Through Preventing Childhood Obesity conference. Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy. Virtual.
2022 - Presentations
Danford, C.A. and Heuer, B. (17 March 2022). Preparing the next generation of pediatric nurse practitioners: Precepting. Podcast: Teampeds Talks.
Heuer, B. and Danford, C.A. (22 March, 2022). Introduction to pediatric APRN precepting. Workshop (3 hours) at NAPNAP 43rd National Conference on Pediatric Health Care, Experts in Pediatrics, Advocates for Children. Dallas, Tx.
2021 – Publications
Danford, C.A. and Mooney-Doyle, K. (2021, October). Illuminating Family Research in Planetary Health. International Family Nursing Association. https://internationalfamilynursing.org/2021/10/04/illuminating-family-research-in-planetary-health/
Smith, G.L., Schultz, C.M., & Danford, C.A. (2021). DNP or PhD? Dispelling misconceptions. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(9), 1122-1123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.05.026
2021 – Presentations
Danford, C.A. (9 November 2021). Steps to minimize obesity risk by giving voice to preschool children using event history calendars. Oral poster presentation for Healthy LifeStars 2021 Conference: Improving Health Outcomes Through Preventing Childhood Obesity Conference. Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy. Virtual.
Danford, C.A. (9 November 2021). Environmental context matters: Association between chaos, daily routine, BMI, and weight perception in parent-preschool child dyads from low-income families. Oral poster presentation for Healthy LifeStars 2021 Conference: Improving Health Outcomes Through Preventing Childhood Obesity Conference. Iowa Institute of Public Health Research and Policy. Virtual.
Professional Involvement
- Member, American Nurses Association (ANA)
- Member, International Family Nurses Association (IFNA)
- Co-Chair, Research Committee
- Member, IFN C 16 2023 Conference Planning Committee
- Co-Chair, IFNC 17 2025 Conference Planning Committee
- Member, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
- Past AFPNP Liaison to Research Committee
- Member and Past President, Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP)
- Member, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF)
- Member, National Pediatric Nurse Scientist Collaborative (NPNSC)
- Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Nursing Sciences
Honors & Awards
- Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), 2021
- Outstanding Researcher of the Year, Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (AFPNP), 2020
- Advisory Council, Invited Member, Department of Nursing, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, 2020
- Top 25 Pediatric Nursing Professors, 2014
- Excellence in Nursing Research Award, AFPNP, 2012
