Heather Bollinger headshot

Heather Bollinger

Assistant Professor

Full-Time Faculty

Biography

Heather’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Master’s degree in Health Care Systems Leadership. After obtaining a Nursing License in 2006 Heather worked for 2 years in maternal child health before transitioning to a Level One Trauma center where she has been serving the public for 16 years.

Serving vulnerable populations in public health has provided Heather with multiple opportunities for growth. Public health patients in a diverse urban environment provide unique challenges to healthcare professionals. From navigating language barriers in complicated triages to directing the flow of a 60-bed trauma center on busy weekend nights, Heather has needed to expand her skillset and is continually learning. During the COVID pandemic an opportunity to serve on her city’s COVID response task force provided additional knowledge and skills in disaster relief and program development.

The desire to share these experiences has led Heather to the classroom where she discovered a love for both clinical training and didactic educating. Her hopes as a Nursing faculty member are to combine her respect for the profession as well as her passion for advocacy together. To encourage students to embark on this increasingly challenging, but imminently rewarding career with the skills they need to provide excellent patient centered care and the confidence they need to advocate for better systems to support both nurses and patients in the future.

Expertise

  • BLS; ACLSEP; ENPC/TNCC
  • Disaster preparation and management
  • Labor organizing and contract bargaining

Appointments

  • RN Chapter President, Service Employees International Union Local 1021
  • Steering Committee Member, SEIU California Nurses Alliance

Education

  • University of San Francisco, MSN in Healthcare Systems Leadership, 2006
  • University of Colorado at Boulder, BA in Philosophy, 1997

Prior Experience

  • Registered Nurse, San Francisco General Hospital Emergency Department and Trauma Center (2007 - present)
  • Part Time Adjunct Clinical Faculty, University of San Francisco

Awards & Distinctions

  • Steering Committee Member; CA Nurse Alliance, 2023 – 2024
  • RN Chapter President; SEIU 1021 Local, 2021 – 2024
  • Woman of The Year; CA 11th Senatorial District, 2021