Dr. Mary A. Paterson, Ph.D., R.N., is Professor Emerita at The Catholic University of America Conway School of Nursing. With academic training in health services and policy analysis and a specialization in health finance, she has dedicated her career to advancing healthcare systems through education, research, and practice. She earned her Ph.D. in policy analysis from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in nursing administration from Georgetown University, and a B.S.N. from The Catholic University of America. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, she has contributed to health policy development at the academic, state, federal, and international levels.

Dr. Paterson is a recognized authority in healthcare finance and policy, having authored more than 30 publications and a widely used textbook on healthcare finance for nursing advanced practitioners and interdisciplinary teams. She has taught healthcare finance to medical and nursing professionals across the United States and internationally, delivering workshops and lectures in Russia, the Czech Republic, the Middle East, and Vietnam. Her research has focused on population health, family and community participation in healthcare and health policy, and the application of quantitative methods to population health studies.

In addition to her academic work, Dr. Paterson has served on health system and policy design teams supporting payment reform and system development in Egypt, Albania, and Iraq through USAID contracts during her tenure as an international practice manager for ABT Associates. Her distinguished career reflects a sustained commitment to improving healthcare delivery, shaping policy frameworks, and preparing nurse leaders with the skills to advance equity, efficiency, and effectiveness in global health systems.