Mary M. Benbenek, PhD, MS, APRN, FNP, PNP

Dr. Benbenek, PhD, MS, APRN, FNP, PNP is a Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota where she coordinates the Family Nurse Practitioner program. Her clinical scholarship focuses on the key areas of: advanced practice nursing education, family-centered primary health care, global health and health promotion in underserved populations. Dr. Benbenek has earned national recognition as a clinical scholar in the area of nurse practitioner education and academic practice partnerships. Dr. Benbenek’s leadership, innovation and recognition as a teacher are evident in the family nurse practitioner specialty area of study in the School of Nursing doctorate of nursing practice program.

University of Minnesota

• Internationalizing Teaching and Learning Mentor Program, 2018-2019
• LEADS program University of Minnesota, 2018
• Minnesota Association of Colleges of Nursing Outstanding Educator Award, 2013
• University of Minnesota School of Nursing E. Louise Grant Award, 2013
• University of Minnesota School of Nursing Alumni Award for Excellent Teaching, 2013
• Daisy Award, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 2012
• Public Service Award, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, 2010
• Distinguished Alumni Award University of Minnesota School of Nursing Summit of the Sages, 2009
• Theresa V. James Award for doctoral education, Center for Child and Family Health Promotion Research, 2007

External Sources

• Fellow National Academies of Practice, 2020
• Fellow American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020
• Teacher Appreciation Award, University of Minnesota, 2005
• Third District Nurses Advanced Practice Nurse Award, 2004
• Recipient Mended Hearts Scholarship, 1984
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1994
• Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, 1994

• ARPN Coalition
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
• Minnesota Nurse Practitioners
• Minnesota Nurse Practitioners, Education Board Member
• National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty

• Center Membership:
  Center for Child and Family Health Promotion Research

Immigrant health; Adolescent health; Bone health.

Investigator status: Investigator
Principal Investigator: Donna Bliss
External Agency: R21 NIH, NINR NATL INST OF NURSING
Project title and dates: Development and Pilot Testing an mHealth Application Supporting Self-Management of Accidental Bowel Leakage, “I’M ABLe”. December 2020-November 2022
Direct Costs: $277,692

Investigator Status: Co-investigator
Co-Principal Investigator: Emily Borman-Shoap MD, Department of Pediatrics
Co-Principal Investigator: Kathryn Cullen MD, Department of Psychiatry and
Behavioral Sciences
Agency: Academic Investment Advisory Committee Tier 3 Funding (UMN College of Medicine and Fairview Health Services).
Project title and dates: A Mental Health Crisis and a Workforce Solution: Improving Mental Health Education for Pediatrics Trainees. Spring 2020-Fall 2022
Direct Costs: $183,026

Investigator Status: Principal Investigator
External Agency: School of Nursing Josten Research Award
Project title and Dates: Driven to Discover: Got Shots? An Exploration of Public Attitudes about Vaccination and Vaccine
Hesitancy: deferred to August 2021
Direct Costs: $2500

Investigator status: Co-investigator
Principal Investigator: Sheila Smith
Project title and Dates: Diagnostic Reasoning Content in Midwest NP and CNM Education programs 2020

Benbenek, M., Dierich, M., Wyman, J., Avery, M., Juve, C., & Miller, J. (2016). Development and implementation of a capstone objective structured clinical examination in nurse practitioner and nurse-midwifery programs. Nurse Educator, 41(6), 288-293.

Benbenek, M. & Garwick, A. (2012). Enablers and barriers to dietary factors contributing to bone health among early adolescent Somali girls living in Minnesota. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 17(3), 205-214. Doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6155.2012.00334.x

Pfeiffer, J., Avery, M., Benbenek, M., et al. (2008). Maternal care during disasters: Thinking outside the hospital paradigm. Nursing Clinics of North America, 43(3), 449-467.

Bata-Jones, B. & Benbenek, M.M. (2003). Problem-based learning in a family nurse practitioner curriculum. National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Monogram.