School
Dr. Salomé Loera joined the Conway School of Nursing as a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor and Conway Scholar Faculty Mentor in 2024, bringing over a decade of nursing experience and specialty certification in critical care, progressive care, cardiac medicine, and neuroscience. She is an Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist with advanced practice certification and maintains active clinical practice as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus, where she leads system-level quality improvement and practice initiatives to advance patient outcomes and nursing excellence.
Dr. Loera’s academic work is grounded in evidence-based practice, curricular innovation, and student-centered learning. She serves as a professor and clinical course coordinator, contributing to curriculum development and evaluation of student learning outcomes. She has taught both undergraduate and graduate-level nursing coursework and brings prior academic experience, including serving as an award-winning clinical instructor at the University of Washington School of Nursing.
Dr. Loera is published in peer-reviewed journals and has presented her work at local, regional, and national conferences, with a focus on neuroscience nursing, quality improvement, and nurse well-being. Her contributions to practice and innovation have been recognized through multiple honors, including the Virginia Nurses Foundation’s 40 Under 40 Award and the Iams Memorial Quality Leadership Award.
Dr. Loera earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northern Michigan University and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Johns Hopkins University, where she specialized as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in adult-gerontology acute care.
Dr. Loera is deeply committed to advancing the nursing profession through the preparation of clinically excellent, compassionate nurses who embody moral, intellectual, and professional leadership. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes clinical relevance, critical thinking, and holistic, patient-centered care grounded in respect for the dignity of every individual. She is passionate about mentoring students and supporting their professional development, including preparation for clinical practice, postgraduate opportunities, and leadership within the profession.