A nationally recognized nurse educator, certified registered nurse anesthetist, academic leader, and health care advocate, Lonar Anthony “Tony” Umadhay brings more than 30 years of experience advancing nursing education, developing future health care leaders, and strengthening the nursing workforce through education, scholarship, clinical practice, and service.
“We are delighted to welcome Tony Umadhay to the School of Nursing and Health Studies,” said Dean Hudson Santos. “His exceptional record of leadership, commitment to academic excellence, and passion for preparing the next generation of nurses align perfectly with our mission to transform lives and health care through education, research, innovation, and service. His expertise will further strengthen our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and BSN-to-DNP Nurse Anesthesia programs and clinical education while advancing the school’s impact throughout South Florida and beyond.”
Before joining the University of Miami, Umadhay served as dean of the Barry University School of Nursing from 2022 to 2025 after nearly two decades of progressive academic leadership at the institution. During his tenure, he also served as associate dean of academic affairs, interim director of Barry’s Ph.D. in Nursing and Clinical Biology programs, director of its nurse anesthesiology programs, and founding director of the university’s post-graduate Doctor of Nursing Practice program in anesthesiology. Throughout his leadership appointments, he continued teaching across nursing and health science disciplines while mentoring graduate students, developing innovative academic programs, and helping prepare advanced practice nurses to meet the evolving needs of today’s health care system.
He is also accomplished as a clinician, having spent nearly 20 years as a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he cared for patients at one of the nation’s busiest academic medical centers. His extensive clinical experience has informed both his teaching and scholarship, emphasizing evidence-based practice, patient safety, interdisciplinary collaboration, and excellence in advanced nursing education.
Tony Umadhay’s research addresses many of nursing’s most pressing challenges, including health equity, workforce development, simulation-based education, anesthesia practice, and health disparities affecting underserved communities. His scholarly work has examined topics ranging from diabetes prevention among Haitian American women and suicide trends among Hispanic populations to perioperative patient safety and the expanding role of advanced practice nurses in improving access to care. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters and has presented his work at regional, national, and international conferences.
A proven builder of academic partnerships and workforce initiatives, Umadhay has secured more than $2.5 million in federal, state, and private funding supporting nursing education, simulation training, workforce development, and student success. Most recently, he directed RISE-RN (Recruit, Inspire, Support, & Educate Registered Nurses) initiative through the state-funded Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) program, helping expand educational opportunities and strengthen Florida’s nursing workforce at a time of unprecedented demand for highly qualified nurses.
His leadership has extended well beyond the classroom. Umadhay has served in numerous elected leadership roles within state and national professional organizations, including president of the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, chair of the Florida Association of Colleges of Nursing, and, most recently, as a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Nominating Committee, helping identify future leaders of academic nursing nationwide.
Tony Umadhay’s contributions have earned some of nursing’s highest professional distinctions. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), a Fellow of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (FAANA), and a Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (FNAP), all honors recognizing sustained excellence in nursing leadership, education, scholarship, and clinical practice. He has also received Distinguished Alumni Awards from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Barry University, and Florida International University, as well as the Excellence in Nursing Education Award from the University of Santo Tomas Nurses Association International.
Originally from the Philippines, Umadhay earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila before pursuing graduate education in South Florida, where he earned a Master of Science in Nursing in nurse anesthesiology from Florida International University and a Ph.D. in Nursing from Barry University. As associate professor of clinical and director of the DNP program at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, he will lead the continued growth and excellence of the school’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program while bringing his passion for academic excellence, innovation, and service to educating the next generation of advanced practice nurses and nurse leaders.
“I am truly honored to join the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies,” said Umadhay. “Throughout my career, I have been passionate about developing nurse leaders who are prepared to transform health care through clinical excellence, scholarship, innovation, and compassionate service. I look forward to working alongside the outstanding faculty and students at the School of Nursing and Health Studies to build on this school’s remarkable accomplishments and continue advancing the Doctor of Nursing Practice program as a national leader in advanced nursing education to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”