Biography
Dr. Chris Cleary has been a registered nurse for more than 19 years, with extensive experience across diverse settings. The first decade of his nursing career was dedicated to acute care, specializing in pediatric oncology, the oncology ICU, inpatient case management, and serving as a clinical manager for a nurse advice line. He also managed utilization, risk, and quality management initiatives. Dr. Cleary earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in 2017 from Brandman University, where he completed the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program. His doctoral project, titled “Effect of Intervention on Care Coordination Between Primary Care and Behavioral Health,” laid the foundation for his ongoing work in improving care coordination and ensuring patients successfully navigate the healthcare system. In 2018, Dr. Cleary joined Brandman University as a faculty member, teaching in their DNP program until 2024. He is now a full-time faculty member at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), as part of the University of California collaborative, which brings together schools from UC Davis, UCLA, and UCSF. Beyond academia, Dr. Cleary is an established clinician in private practice, where he specializes in treating ADHD and providing care for LGBTQ+ community members. His professional interests include integrative and holistic approaches to patient care, addressing the needs of underserved populations, and utilizing innovative therapies such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).
Research Interests
Care Collaboration, Shared Decision Making in Mental Health, LGBTQ Health Care Disparities, Neurodiversity, Psychotherapy, and Health Care Systems
Education
DNP, Brandman University, 2017 (Psychiatric Mental Health NP)
B.S., Azusa Pacific University, 2006, Nursing
Honors and Awards
- 2023 University of Massachusetts Global Faculty of the Trimester Award, Marybelle and S. Paul Musco School of Nursing and Health Professionals
- 2018 Brandman University Scholarly Project Musco Inspire Award
Publications
Effect of Intervention on Care Coordination Between Primary Care and Behavioral Health
