Deena Brissett

I am a family nurse practitioner (FNP) with over three decades of nursing experience. I felt called to care for others at an early age, modeled by my mother, who was a nurse. Growing up on our family dairy farm, where every family member shared daily responsibilities, taught me that success requires a coordinated team. This philosophy directly shapes my collaborative approach to patient care and healthcare teams today. Driven by my early calling to care, I began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at age 15, continuing throughout high school and college.

My professional nursing journey began at Goshen College, where I majored in nursing and minored in Spanish, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in 1995. Following graduation, I spent a transformative year in Brownsville, Texas, with Mennonite Voluntary Service. My early clinical roots in South Texas shaped my commitment to community health, working as a registered nurse (RN) in a local birthing center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), and as a nursing supervisor at a pediatric home health agency for chronically ill children. In 2001, I completed my Master’s of Science degree at the University of Illinois, Chicago, to become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

As a FNP, I have focused my career on providing comprehensive care to diverse and underserved populations. My advanced practice experience includes serving communities at an FQHC in Gary, Indiana, and working in both community clinics and school-based clinics in Houston, Texas. In 2007, I joined the team at Goshen Family Physicians, where I proudly continue to practice today.

Alongside my clinical work, I am passionate about mentoring future nurses. I spent two years teaching in the FNP program at Texas Woman’s University, and I have valued the opportunity to precept FNP students from Goshen College since the inception of the MSN program. Precepting these advanced practice students ultimately inspired me to pursue my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. I was thrilled to graduate in 2020 with the very first cohort of DNP students from the collaborative program between Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University. In addition to precepting, I have served the Goshen College Master of Science FNP program for three years as adjunct faculty and three years as part-time faculty.

Credentials: Deena Brissett, DNP, FNP-BC

Credentials: DNP, FNP-BC

• Certified as FNP with ANCC
• Indiana Board of Nursing
• Indiana CSR
• RN since 1995, graduated Goshen College with BSN.
• FNP since 2001, graduated MS from University of Illinois at Chicago.
• DNP since 2020, graduated from Goshen College.

• DNP Project: Mental Health Course for Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioners

Community Engagement: I regularly volunteer at my church, North Goshen Mennonite Church, where I help nurture our youngest members in the nursery and have taught Sunday School and Children’s Church. I also assist in church services by leading worship and reading scripture. Additionally, I serve as a co-chair of the Congregational Life Ministry.