Daihnia Dunkley, PhD, RN
Lecturer, Graduate Entry Pre-Specialty in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing Programs, Yale School of Nursing
Black/Minority Maternal Health Disparities
Freeport, NY
Dr. Daihnia Dunkley, also known as "Dr. D" is originally from Jamaica and has resided in New York since the early '90s. In the span of her nursing career, Dr. Dunkley has worked extensively in the arena of maternal-child health in hospital and community health care, and in academia. She is currently serving in a full-time academic role as a lecturer in the Graduate Entry Pre-Specialty in Nursing (GEPN) and Master of Science in Nursing programs at Yale School of Nursing. She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Hampton University, and a master's in nursing education and doctorate of nursing from the University of Phoenix.
As she transitioned from bedside nursing to leadership roles, Dr. Dunkley became aware of the inequities within the healthcare system and their impact on patients and practitioners, especially those of color. Having spent the formative years of her career doing the work to understand these complex problems, her focus shifted toward serving as a change agent by advocating for systematic improvement in matters of diversity, equity and inclusion within the nursing profession and eradicating racial health disparities. Her dissertation research focused on the experiences of Black female executive nurse leaders and created the inspiration for founding The League of Extraordinary Black Nurses, a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting current and future Black nurses through the guiding principles of leadership, mentorship and scholarship.
Additionally, through her newly formed organization, Daihnia's Joy, a New York-based consulting firm working to effect positive change in healthcare, Dr. Dunkley serves as a consultant, applying strategy to passion in her efforts to diversify nursing representation, empower minority nurse leaders and improve maternal health outcomes. She actively provides nursing career development services and creates various education and advocacy materials for expectant families, including a video podcast series centered around various pregnancy and childbirth topics. Dr. Dunkley is a well-respected and sought-after speaker whose work and reputation have attracted invitations to several international and domestic conferences and other engagements, including the University of Oxford Women's Leadership Symposium in London, England, and an appearance on the recently aired BET network documentary, "High Risk."
