Birnie, Gatlin Again Named to RBJ’s Health Care Power List

St. John Fisher University is once again well represented in the Rochester Business Journal’s 2026 Health Care Power list, a compilation of individuals who have played a significant role in helping to improve the health of the Rochester community.

Among those featured are Dr. Christine Birnie, dean of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, and Dr. Tricia Gatlin, dean of the Wegmans School of Nursing.  

Dr. Christine Birnie

Birnie was appointed dean of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy in 2017. Prior to being named dean, she served as associate dean for academic affairs and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. A founding faculty member of the School, her primary teaching responsibilities have included pharmacy calculations, pharmaceutics, and the compounding laboratory.

An avid proponent for service and volunteerism both locally and abroad, Birnie developed and taught an elective course, Introduction to Medical Missions, which includes students from nursing and pre-professional disciplines, and has participated in more than two dozen student-based medical mission trips around the world and leads a medical mission trip to India annually. She also continues to precept fourth-year students in clinical rotations related to international medical missions and local community-engaged learning.

In her Power 100 profile, Birnie shared what makes Rochester such a strong community for healthcare and medical innovation:

“Rochester’s network of leading healthcare providers, research facilities and academic institutions positions our city as a hub for outstanding care, cutting-edge discovery and medical advancement. These organizations collaborate to drive growth and advance innovation. Academic and industry partnerships bridge transformative research with practical application, turning theoretical concepts into real-world technological or healthcare solutions while enriching clinical training and education experiences.”

Dr. Tricia Gatlin

Gatlin joined Fisher and the Wegmans School of Nursing as dean in 2020. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to nursing education and research. Gatlin often presents at national and international conferences on nursing topics, and her research findings, primarily focused on diabetes and support for diabetic patients, have been published in peer-reviewed journals. At Fisher, Gatlin has secured grants from the Mother Cabrini Foundation and Health Resources and Services Administration totaling more than $2 million to support efforts to improve nursing education through technology and to diversify the workforce pipeline. Most recently, and in partnership with the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, she established the Fisher Nursing Opportunity Program, aimed at incoming first-year students who benefit from a year-round network of academic, social, and financial support to help them thrive while pursuing their educational goals. 

Gatlin’s knowledge as an educator and dedication to the nursing profession, practical experience as a registered nurse, and international leadership in adopting augmented and virtual reality into nursing education add tremendous value to her influence on the delivery of high-quality health care.

In her profile, she shared the trend impacting healthcare she is watching closely:

“There are many important trends shaping healthcare today, but the one I am watching most closely is the intersection of the nursing workforce shortage and the growing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Healthcare organizations continue to face challenges recruiting and retaining nurses while also integrating new technologies to improve efficiency and patient outcomes. As a nurse, nursing educator, and Dean of Nursing, I am particularly interested in how we prepare future nurses to thrive in this environment, leveraging technology while maintaining the critical thinking, clinical judgment, compassion and human connection that remain essential to high-quality patient care.”

Fisher alumni featured in the RBJ Health Care Power List include John Astles ’09 and Michael F. Stapleton, Jr. ’98, who is also a member of the University’s Board of Trustees.

Visit the Rochester Business Journal website to see the full RBJ Health Care Power 100 list.