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Cathy Lalley, PhD

Associate Dean

College of Doctoral Studies

About Lalley

Dr. Lalley is a trailblazing leader. She helps shape the future of healthcare education. With a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Lalley fosters a culture of continuous learning and excellence. Actively engaging clinicians, doctoral faculty and students, she champions ongoing professional development and pursues research excellence to transform healthcare.  

With experience since 2009 in clinical and online higher education, Dr. Lalley seamlessly blends theoretical knowledge with practical application. Her journey from a registered nurse to a leader in clinical hospital care and electronic health record implementations showcases her commitment to advancing healthcare using technology. 

As a mentor to students, Dr. Lalley guides their exploration into a realm where ideas come to life. Recognizing innovation as the heartbeat of higher education, her leadership intricately guides the design of our courses and programs. Dr. Lalley’s research includes nurses’ use of health information technology and how they work-around it to meet the needs of patients.  

Dr. Cathy Lalley is dedicated to nurturing excellence in doctoral students through meaningful and supportive mentorship relationships.  

Dr. Lalley’s expertise transforms education into a dynamic and transformative experience where innovation thrives, and excellence is the norm. Dr. Lalley takes pride in her inclusive approach to faculty development. Dr. Lalley actively recruits, mentors and trains interdisciplinary tenure, tenure-track and doctoral faculty creating a diverse and interprofessional academic community. 

Dr. Lalley is the dissertation chair for multiple healthcare administration research projects. She role models for faculty the pivotal role they play in guiding and supporting students to achieve success in their academic endeavors. As the Associate Dean of the Doctor of Health Administration program, Dr. Lalley believes in the power of mentorship to shape the next generation of scholars. She is dedicated to nurturing excellence in doctoral students through meaningful and supportive mentorship relationships.  

  • PhD, Healthcare Innovation Leadership, Arizona State University  
  • Master of Healthcare Innovation, Arizona State University  
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Arizona State University

Dr. Cathy Lalley is dedicated to nurturing excellence in doctoral students through meaningful and supportive mentorship relationships.  

Peer reviewed journal articles: 

  • Lalley, C. (2014). Workarounds and obstacles: Unexpected source of innovation. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 38(1), 69-77. 
  • Krahe, J.A.E., Lalley, C., & Solomons, N.M. (2014). Beyond survival: Fostering growth and innovation in Doctoral Study – A concept analysis of the Ba space. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship, 11(1), 1-8. 
  • Lalley, C. (2013). Work-Arounds: A matter of perception. Nurse Leader, 11(2), 36-40. 
  • Lalley, C. & Malloch, K. (2010). Work-arounds: The hidden pathway to excellence. Nurse Leader, 8(4), 29-32. 

Book chapters:

  • Lalley, C. & Clouthier, K. (2021). Emergence and disruption: Working on the edge of evidence. In S. Davidson & D. Weberg (Eds.), 2nd Edition.  Evidence and Innovation: Using the known to lead into the unknown (pp. 55-75). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. 
  • Lalley, C. & Clouthier, K. (2017). Emergence and disruption: Working on the edge of evidence. In S. Davidson, D. Weberg, T. Porter-O’Grady, & K. Malloch (Eds.), Evidence and Innovation: Using the known to lead into the unknown (pp. 217-240). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. 

Presentations

  • How To Make the Doctoral Degree Work For You. Plenary Topic, Doctoral Journey Colloquium, 2023.  
  • Vulnerability Principles in Doctoral Education: Creating a Safe Student Networking Space. Workshop, Knowledge Without Boundaries, 2021.
  • Using Mindmaps to Advance Healthcare Innovation. Workshop, ASU Executive Fellowship in Innovation Healthcare Leadership, 2018.
  • Mindmapping for Healthcare Innovation. Workshop, ASU Executive Fellowship in Innovation Healthcare Leadership, 2017. 
  • The ASU-CONHI Innovation Journey. Podium, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Doctoral Education Conference, 2017. 
  • Healthcare Innovation in a Relational Key: Forming and Being Formed by Relational Leadership Practices in Healthcare. Workshop, Relational Practices in Health and Healthcare, 2016.
  • Meaning Making, Research and Identity. Symposium, Qualitative Health Research Conference, 2016.  
  • Student Perspectives in Interprofessional Development. Poster, Collaborating Across Curriculum Boarders III, Education (IPE), 2012. 
  • Beyond Survival: Fostering Growth and Innovation in Doctoral Study. Podium, Western Institute of Nursing Annual Conference, 2011. 
  • Factors that Influence Use of Electronic Health Records in Hospitals. Poster, Western Institute of Nursing Annual Conference, 2010. 

Collaborations:

  • Reviewer for Nursing Administrative Quarterly, 2015–Present  
  • Reviewer for American Medical Informatics Association, 2013–Presen

Teaching experience:

Dr. Lalley has taught and teaches many courses using theories of innovation and system design to explore access to care, health of populations and cost of care. 

Courses:

  • Introduction to Health Administration in Doctoral Study 
  • Risk Management in Complex Health Organizations  
  • Creative and Critical Thinking 
  • Innovation and the Individual  
  • Master of Health Innovation Capstone  
  • Understanding and Applying Principles of Evidence-based Practice  
  • Systems Thinking in Complex Environments  
  • Technology in Healthcare Innovation  
  • Innovation in Communication  
  • Policy and Regulation in Health Care 
  • Evaluation of Health Care Programs 
  • Contemporary Leadership Issues 
  • Dissertation Progression courses 

Credentials:

  • Holds an active and in good standing Arizona Registered Nurse License, Multi State Privileges

Active professional memberships: 

  • American Nurses Association (ANA) 
  • American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) 
  • American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) 
  • American Association of University Administrators (AAUA)