Diane Caruso is a clinical professor in the Department of Nursing and has been an actively practicing nurse practitioner since 1983, devoting her entire career to ensuring equitable care for vulnerable populations in New York City and communities across North Carolina. She advocated for fewer practice restrictions in the 1980s and established one of the first nurse practitioner-managed maternal-child health clinics serving HIV positive women and children in Harlem.
Dr. Caruso earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Biology from Wagner College (1981), Master of Science with a Family Nurse Practitioner concentration from the State University of New York Stony Brook (1983), Doctor of Nursing Practice from Duke University (2010), Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate from East Carolina University (2021), and a Certificate of Professional Achievement (CPA) in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University, Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics (2025).
Dr. Caruso has been involved in teaching nurse practitioner students for over 35 years, holding several leadership positions including BSN to DNP Program Director, lead faculty for curriculum development, and writing several documents for program accreditation. She enjoys writing and has published a variety of quality improvement initiatives in clinical practice.
Dr. Caruso lives near Winston-Salem with her husband. They have three married children (one who is an AppState alum) and six joyful and amazing grandchildren. She is a professional pianist and choir director and had the distinct honor of playing piano at Carnegie Hall. Dr. Caruso is fond of all creative endeavors in the academic environment and promotes freedom of expression to enhance the professional and personal development of students seeking careers as competent, passionate, and empathetic nurse practitioners.
