David Silva is a nurse manager and researcher at Oregon Health and Science University whose DNP work focused on interprofessional shared governance.

Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Dr. David Silva came to the US in the late 1990s. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Linfield College in 2004, he received an internship position at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in early 2005. This opportunity set the stage for a staff nurse position at its Portland campus. He has been at OHSU ever since — first as clinical team leader and staff nurse in the inpatient surgical unit and, since late 2012, as a nurse manager in ambulatory surgery. Additionally, he holds a Master of Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from OHSU.

Previously, David served a two-year term as co-chair of OHSU’s Nurse Staffing Committee. He also served as a member of the Oregon Nurse Staffing Collaborative, established by the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems. Currently, he is a member of OHSU’s Coordinating Council and General Medical Value Analysis committee.

In broadening his education, David always wanted greater challenges. His Bachelor’s gave him the basics of nursing, while his Master’s further expanded his knowledge of health systems and organizational leadership complexities. For his DNP research, David focused on augmenting the positive core attributes of a top performer interprofessional shared governance. Through this work, governance groups wishing to evolve towards professional governance could apply lessons learned into current structures and processes.

David believes nurses’ voices serve as a powerful catalyst for change and a critical step in improving patient outcomes in complex healthcare systems. This is particularly true when nurses exercise their autonomy and professional obligation to the full extent via strong interprofessional relationships.