Two assistant teaching professors join UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing

The UCLA Joe C. Wen School of Nursing welcomed two new assistant teaching professors in 2026; Dr. Kamala Gipson McElroy and Dr. Mayumi Saiki. As part of UCLA Nursing’s newest faculty track, teaching professors play a vital role in advancing educational excellence through innovative teaching, curriculum development, and student mentorship.

Kamala Gipson-McElroy, DNP, APRN, PHN, CPNP-PC, joined the Joe C. Wen School of Nursing in March 2026 as an Assistant Professor of Teaching. She is a board-certified pediatric primary care nurse practitioner whose scholarship focuses on pediatric primary care education, competency-based preparation of advanced practice nurses, and advanced practice workforce development. Prior to joining UCLA, she served in advanced practice leadership at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, culminating in her role as Interim Director of Advanced Practice, where she led clinical practice, workforce development, and advanced practice integration for more than 200 nurse practitioners and physician assistants across more than 50 pediatric subspecialties. Her scholarly work emphasizes student-centered, evidence-based teaching innovations, clinically grounded curriculum development, and transition-to-practice models that prepare advanced practice nursing students to enter the pediatric workforce with strong diagnostic reasoning, pediatric physical assessment, and clinical decision-making skills.

Mayumi Saiki, PhD, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, began at UCLA Nursing in July 2026 and is an experienced occupational health nurse practitioner dedicated to serving healthcare workers. Most recently, Saiki completed her postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she explored the challenges faced by employed caregivers and how balancing work and caregiving responsibilities impacts health outcomes. Currently, her research focuses on nursing education, with a particular interest in supporting working students as they navigate the dual demands of employment and academic preparation. Leveraging her background in occupational health, she examines approaches to enhance learning experiences, promote well-being, and strengthen academic success among nursing students.