Anne Gillespie

Anne Gillespie PhD, MS, RN

Assistant Teaching Professor
  • College of Nursing

Email Address:anne.gillespie@cuanschutz.edu

Mailing Address:
  • CU Anschutz

Education II North

13120 East 19th Avenue

Aurora, CO 80045

Anne Ingalls Gillespie, PhD, RN joined the University of Colorado College of Nursing as an Assistant Teaching Professor in January 2025. Prior to joining the faculty, she was an Assistant Professor at Regis University Loretto Heights School of Nursing. She earned her PhD in May 2023 at the University of Colorado College of Nursing. While completing her PhD, she was concurrently a Doctoral Student Teaching Fellow and completed the Nurse Educator graduate curriculum. She also earned her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Colorado College of Nursing in the i-LEAD program (Innovation in Leadership and Administration in Nursing and Health Care Systems).

Dr. Gillespie specialized in pediatric hematology/oncology nursing for nearly four decades. She created the Youth and Pet Survivors Program™ (YAPS™) in 2001, a pioneer program and novel form of virtual animal-assisted therapy. YAPS allows children with cancer (aged 6 to 18) to engage in virtual visits, through letter writing and pictures, with a dog or cat that has also been treated for cancer or serious medical illness. 

Her research focus is animal-assisted intervention for youth with a life-threatening condition.

Education, Licensure & Certifications

  • 2023 University of Colorado College of Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Science, Biobehavioral track)
  • 2022 University of Colorado College of Nursing, Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education
  • 2019 University of Colorado College of Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing (i-LEAD)
  • 2014-2022 Oncology Nursing Certification Corp (ONCC), Certified Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse (CPHON)
  • 1984 Michigan State University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Awards

  • 2022-23 PhD Distinguished Dissertation Award, University of Colorado College of Nursing
  • 2022-23 Doctoral Student Teaching Fellowship, University of Colorado College of Nursing
  • 2022 Joann Dukes Hess Nursing PhD Scholarship, University of Colorado College of Nursing
  • 2022 Edith Anderson Leadership Education Grant, Sigma Foundation for Nursing
  • 2020 First Place Research Award in New Knowledge, Innovations, & Improvements, Children’s Hospital CO Annual Nurse Excellence Awards
  • 2019 Colleen Goode Research Grant Award, University of Colorado College of Nursing
  • 2016-17 Nurse Research Fellowship, Children’s Hospital CO
  • 2016 Nightingale Luminary Award, State finalist
  • 2016 Children’s Hospital CO Magnet Nurse of the Year: for creating/operating YAPS™

Affiliations

  • 2021 - present: International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ)
  • 2016 - present: Western Institute of Nursing Research
  • 1986 - present: Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)
  • 1984 - present: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

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