Luke Velickoff PhD '30

Luke Velickoff, MSN, RN, AGACNP-BC, is a clinician, nurse educator, and PhD student at the Duke University School of Nursing whose work focuses on advancing health equity and social justice across rural Appalachia. A native of West Virginia, Luke’s scholarship examines nurse-led approaches that cultivate trust and address structural barriers to culturally responsive care in geographically isolated communities.
Luke earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the West Virginia University School of Nursing (16') and a Master of Science in Nursing from Duke University (25'). As a board-certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Luke’s clinical expertise centers on the management of complex and acute health conditions, with a particular focus on improving care for transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) populations.
While serving on the Executive Board of the West Virginia Nurses Association (WVNA), Luke founded and chaired the organization’s first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee. This initiative aimed to amplify underrepresented voices, advocate for inclusive legislation, and promote more equitable approaches to healthcare delivery across West Virginia. Through their doctoral research, Luke seeks to advance multi-level policy innovation and empower nurses to lead sustainable, community-driven health reform.