Connell School of Nursing

Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc, RNCS, FAAN

professor - psychiatric/mental health

ann burgess

Office

Cushing Hall 414
617-552-6133
ann.wolbertburgess.1@bc.edu



educational history

  • DNS Boston University
  • MS University of Maryland
  • BS Boston University

recent publications

Books
  • Hazelwood, R.R. and Burgess, A.W. (Eds). Practical Rape Investigation. (New York: Elsevier), 1987. Second ed. published by CRC Press, Inc. Boca Raton, FL, 1995; Third ed. 2001, 4th ed. 2009.
  • Roberts, AR & Burgess, AW. Victimology: Past, Present and Future. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc. (est. 2008).
  • Ledray, L.,  Burgess, AW  & Giardino, A. (eds.) Medical Aspects of Adult Sexual Assault . GW Medical Publishing. (est. 2008)
  • Burgess, A.W. Violence Through a Forensic Lens. King of Prussia, PA, Nursing Spectrum, 2000.  Received the 2000 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award. 2/edition 2002.
Book Chapters
  • Burgess AW. (2005) Putting Trauma on the Radar Screen. . In C.R. Figley (ed.) Mapping the Wake of Trauma: Autobiographical Essays by the Pioneers of Trauma Research. New York: Routledge
  • Shindul-Rothschild, J. & Burgess, A.W. Psychiatric Nursing.  In Mental Health Experts: Roles & Qualifications for Court, (Eds.) F.M. Dattilio & R.L. Sadoff. Mechanicsburg, PA: Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2002.
Articles
  • Lewis-O’Connor, A., Burgess, A. W., Nugent-Borokove, E., & Fanflik, P. (2008 accepted for publ). The Evolution of SANE/SART- Are there Differences? Journal of Forensic Nursing
  • Dowdell, E.B., Cavanaugh, D.J., Burgess, A.W., & Prentky,R., (2008 accepted for publ).  Children in the Foster Care System: Vulnerable Girls and Foster Care Placement Instability.  MCN:  The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing.
  • Burgess, A.W., Mahoney, M., Visk, J. & Morgenbesser, L. (2008) Cyber Child Sexual Exploitation.Journal of Psychosocial Nursing. 46(9), 1-8.
  • Burgess, A.W., Ramsey-Klawsnik, H. & Gregorian, S.B. (2008) Comparing Routes of Reporting in Elder Sexual Abuse Cases. Journal of Elder Abuse and Neglect. 20(4), 1-17
  • Burgess, A.W., Carr, K.E., Nahirny, C., & Rabun, J.B. Non-Family Infant Abductors: 1983-2006,(2008)American Journal of Nursing. 108(9), 32-38.
  • Morgenbesser, L.I., Burgess, A.W. & Safarik, M.E. (2008) Motives in a Triple Spree Homicide. Victims & Offenders, 3(1), 114-125.
  • Brewer-Smyth, K. & Burgess, A.W. (2008) Childhood Sexual Abuse by a Family Member, Salivary Cortisol, and Homicidal Behavior of Female Prison Inmates, Nursing Research, 57(3).
  • Fox, J.A., Burgess, A.W., Levin, J., Wong, M. & Burgess, A.G. (June 2007) Seattle’s Capitol Hill Mass Murder. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention.
  • Burgess, A.W., Commons, M.L., Safarik, M.E., Looper, R.R., & Ross, S.N. (June 2007) Sex Offenders of the Elderly: Typology and Predictors of Severity of Crime. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 582-597.
  • Burgess AW (2007) How many red flags does it take? Am. J. Nursing, 107(1):28-31.
  • Burgess, A.W. and Stevens, S.L. (2006)Sexual abuse, trauma and dementia in the elderly: A retrospective study.Victims and Offenders, 1(2),193-204.
  • Burgess, A.W. & Clements, P.T. (2006) Information processing of sexual abuse in elders. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2(3):113-120.
  • Burgess, A.W., Lewis-O’Connor & Nugent-Borakove, M.E. (2006) SANE/SART services for sexual assault victims: Policy implications.Victims and Offenders, 1:215-212.
  • Burgess AW, Watt ME, Brown, KP, Petrozzi D. (2006) Management of Elder Sexual Abuse Cases. Critical Care Settings.  Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America 18(2006)313-319.
  • Burgess, A.W., Burgess, A.G., Kohler, S, Dominick, J, & Wecht, C. (2005) Age-Based  Factors in Femicide. Journal of Forensic Nursing51-157.
  • Burgess AW, Brown K, Bell K, Ledray L,Porch JC (2005) Sexual Abuse of the Elderly: Am J Nursing.  105(10):66-71 133.
  • Burgess AW, Garbarino C. & Scanlon M. (2005) Pathological bullying turned deadly.: Shooters and suicide Victims and Offenders, 1(1):1-14.. 132.
  • Alexy, EM, Burgess, AW, Baker, T & Smoyak, SA (2005) Perceptions of cyberstalking among college students. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 5(3)279-289.131.
  • Burgess AW & Hartman CR (2005) Child abduction. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing. 43(9): 23-28
  • Alexy EM, Burgess AW & Baker T (2005) Internet offenders. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 20(7(: 804-811
  • Burgess AW & Hartman CR (2005) Children’s adjustment 15 years following daycare abuse. Journal of Forensic Nursing 1(2): 5-9
  • Burgess AW (2005) Death by catheterization. American Journal of Nursing, 105(4):56-9
  • Burgess AW and Morgenbesser LI (2005) Sexual violence and seniors.Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 5(2):193-202
  • Hanrahan NP, Burgess AW and Gerolamo A (2005) Core data elements tracking elder sexual abuse. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine21(2):413-427. 
  • Burgess AW, Hanrahan NP and Baker T (2005) Forensic markers in elder sexual abuse. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine 21(2):399-412

Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess is an internationally recognized pioneer in the assessment and treatment of victims of trauma and abuse. She has received numerous honors including the Sigma Theta Tau International Audrey Hepburn Award, the American Nurses’ Association Hildegard Peplau Award, and the Sigma Theta Tau International Episteme Laureate Award. Her courtroom testimony has been described as “groundbreaking,” and she has been called a “nursing pathfinder.”

Her research with victims began when she co-founded, with Boston College sociologist Lynda Lytle Holmstrom, one of the first hospital-based crisis counseling programs at Boston City Hospital. She then worked with FBI Academy special agents to study serial offenders, and the links between child abuse, juvenile delinquency, and subsequent perpetration. Her work with Boston College nursing colleague Carol Hartman led to the study of very young victims and the impact of trauma on their growth and development, their families and communities. Her work continues in the study of elder abuse in nursing homes, cyberstalking, and Internet sex crimes. She teaches courses in Victimology, Forensic Science, Forensic Mental Health, Case Studies in Forensics and Forensic Science Lab.


research interests

Psychiatric/Mental Health Response patterns of crime victims; internet crimes against children


appointments & awards

  • Interim Editor, Victims & Offenders, 2008
  • Editorial Board: Journal of Family Violence
  • University Distinguished Teaching Award. Boston College. May 2007
  • Member, US Surgeon General Richard Carmona's Workshop, "Making Prevention of Child Maltreatment A National Priority," March 31, 2005.
  • Cardinal's Commission on Protection of Children, Boston Archdiocese, 2002-2003
  • Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary): 2001, University of San Diego