Dr. Carol Lynn Cunningham is an Assistant Adjunct Professor, Assistant Clinical Professor and Faculty associated with both the Acute Care/Adult/Gerontology and Family Nurse Practitioner Specialties in the UCLA School of Nursing APRN program. Dr. Cunningham taught this past summer in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. She works in advanced practice nursing for over 15 years and in academia since 2015. Carol received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Azusa Pacific University and worked at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California in Burns ICU and at Boston Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital PACU and SICU. After earning a Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner specialty, at UCLA, she worked in emergency medicine for over 15 years and is currently working in pediatric orthopedic surgery for 8 years.

In 2022, Dr. Cunningham earned her doctorate degree, Doctor in Nurse Practice (DNP). She serves on the Leadership Succession Committee Board with Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Upsilon Beta Chapter. In July 2023, she presented and moderated conference sessions at the 34th Sigma Nursing Research Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Cunningham is a Reviewer for the Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal. She is a member of professional organizations which include the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the California Association for Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. In 2023, she served as a board member of CANP Health Policy and Practice Committee.  In June 2024, Dr. Cunningham was elected as the AANP California State Liaison. In addition, Dr. Cunningham serves as a faculty advisor for the UCLA School of Nursing Asian and Pacific Islander Nursing Student and Alumni Association (APINSAA).