Research Professor, Professor Emerita
Vanderbilt University School 0f Nursing
Dr. Ridner is a native of Fordsville, Kentucky. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Kentucky in 1978. After graduation she began her career as an oncology nurse. In 1988 she completed a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from the College of St. Francis. For the next 11 years she worked in various administrative positions. In 1999 she resigned her position as a Chief Executive Office for a mental health hospital to further her education. In 2000 she received an Master of Science in Nursing and in 2003 a PhD in Nursing Science, both from Vanderbilt University.
She then became an inaugural Post-Doctoral Fellow at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing for two years. During that time, she further crafted her grant writing and research skills and joined Vanderbilt School of Nursing as research faculty. Dr. Ridner remained as full-time faculty at Vanderbilt School of Nursing until December 2020. She quickly advanced through the tenured academic ranks and was awarded an Endowed Chair by Vanderbilt University in recognition of research contribution to the University. During that time, she was continually funded for research, published well-over 100 scientific manuscripts, became internationally known for her pioneering work in lymphedema, and received numerous local, national, and international awards for her research. She was the Director of the Vanderbilt University PhD in Nursing Science Program for four years, and left that position in 2020 when she ceased full-time employment at the University. Dr. Ridner remains a funded researcher, and as a part-time faculty member at Vanderbilt University, she is the Co-Primary Investigator for a multisite, national study that is testing a new treatment approach for head and neck cancer patients who develop lymphedema after their cancer treatment. She continues to publish her research and mentor others.
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