Rachael Rafferty McCurdy, DNP, RN, AGACNP-BC, recently joined the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery as the new trauma performance improvement (PI) coordinator. In this role, McCurdy will oversee performance improvement initiatives, coordinate case reviews, and collaborate with faculty, nurses, and staff to ensure that UAB continues to deliver the highest standard of trauma care.

McCurdy brings extensive clinical and academic experience to the role. She previously served as a trauma nurse in the trauma bays for five years, with roles on the trauma core team and as a trauma nurse team lead before becoming a nursing professional development specialist (NPDS). She also serves as adjunct faculty at the UAB School of Nursingfor the critical care class, mentoring future nursing professionals.

She holds the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) certification and serves as a TNCC instructor, sharing her expertise in trauma nursing with peers and trainees. In addition, McCurdy is board-certified as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner. She earned her doctorate with a capstone project focused on quality improvement in the acute care setting, where she developed evidence-based strategies to enhance patient outcomes and streamline performance improvement processes. This experience reflects her commitment to equity and improving outcomes for vulnerable patients values that align closely with UAB’s mission.

“I am excited for my new role with the trauma team,” McCurdy said. “My goal is to ensure that every patient benefits from high-quality, data-driven care, and I look forward to contributing to the division’s strong culture of excellence.”