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Academic Degrees
BSN, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
MSN, Marymount University, Arlington, VA
DNP, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Email: dkolakowski@cc.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-6186
Biosketch:
Dr. Deborah Kolakowski, DNP, MSN, RN, is currently the Nursing Service Chief for Oncology and Critical Care at the NIH, Clinical Center. She provides oversight of the operations, planning and advising of the inpatient, ambulatory and Day Hospital Oncology and Transplant Services, Procedure Service, Dowling Apheresis and Blood Donor Programs within the specialty practice of oncology and critical care.
Dr. Kolakowski earned a BSN from the University of South Carolina in 1979 and began her career as a critical care fellow at the George Washington University Medical Center (GWUMC). In 1982 she was the primary nurse for President Regan after the assignation attempt while he was in the Intensive Care Unit. She began her leadership career as the Neuroscience Nurse Manager at GWUMC while completing her MSN. In 1992, as the Executive Administrator for Patient Care Services she was responsible for the Oncology Program of Care, Neuroscience Centers of Emphasis, Neurological Institute and Sleep Disorders Program, General Surgery and Critical Care. In 1995, she led the American International Health Alliance initiative for GWUMC in Tallin and Mustamae Hospitals in Estonia. In 1996, Dr. Kolakowski served as the Interim Chief Nurse Executive providing strategic direction and oversight during the sale and partnership of GWUMC with Universal Health Services.
In 2000, Dr. Kolakowski began her career at the NIH CC as the Nurse Manager for Critical Care. Prior to assuming the responsibilities as Program Director for Advanced Practice and Outcomes in 2009, she led the strategic plan for implementation of the AcuityPlus Patient Classification System. She completed her DNP in 2013 with a research focus on identifying clinical based research nursing intensity measures that contributed to nursing workload. In 2013, she was selected as the Service Chief for Oncology and Critical Care Services. She is responsible for nursing services that support the research agendas for multiple Institutes including the National Cancer Institute and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Dr. Kolakowski has held faculty appointments at the George Washington University Department of Health Services Management and Policy and recently as an adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing teaching a DNP Leadership Course and Practicum.