She leads as Director of the Center for Nursing Informatics and coordinates the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program's Nursing Informatics specialty. With over 20 years of clinical healthcare experience, Dr. Austin has transitioned from a chiropractor and nurse to a nurse scientist focused on patient-centered technology and leveraging data to promote whole-person health care.

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Early in her career as an operating room nurse, she recognized the transformative role of technology in clinical care. Her research consistently seeks to empower individuals to actively manage their health. Aware of technology’s expanding influence in healthcare, Dr. Austin blends her clinical knowledge with informatics methodologies to explore the biopsychosocial aspects of patient care.

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As the co-developer of the MyStrengths+MyHealth application, she has served as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI in studies examining its impact. This innovative tool enables users to self-report their strengths, health challenges, and needs using a whole-person approach offering a more complete view of their well-being. Dr. Austin’s research aims to harness technology to advance person-centered care, improve health outcomes, and enhance overall well-being.

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Dr. Austin is currently a member-at-large for the Alliance for Nursing Informatics and has served as a member-at-large for the AMIA Nursing Informatics Working Group and past-chair for the AMIA Consumer Health Informatics Working Group.

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Dr. Austin earned her PhD in nursing from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, DNP in Nursing Informatics from Loyola University Chicago, master’s degree from Excelsior College in Albany, NY, Doctor of Chiropractic, Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minneapolis, MN, and undergraduate degree from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN.