Dr. Christopher Blackwell is a tenured Associate Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida, where he directs the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Programs. A prominent scholar in LGBTQ+ health, his research has been funded; and he’s published over 60 prestigious academic articles and 5 textbook chapters, earning close to 700 citations. Dr. Blackwell has been awarded several University, local, state, and national research and graduate teaching awards. He’s past national recipient of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Outstanding NP Educator Award; and POCN recognized him as one of the Top 10 Nurse Practitioners in the United States. Dr. Blackwell practices in Pulmonary/Critical Care and is nationally certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner through ANCC and Certified Nurse Educator through NLN. He is a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and American Academy of Nursing.