Tori Boyer, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC
For Tori Boyer, advancing nursing means bringing together clinical practice, education, and research to improve the care patients receive every day. Throughout her career, she has intentionally built a path that bridges bedside care with scholarship, preparing future nurse practitioners while advancing evidence-based practice and patient safety. As a 2026 Illinois Nurses Foundation 40 Under 40 Awardee, Tori continues to shape the future of nursing through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning.
Building a Foundation for Innovation
Tori’s dedication to nursing excellence began early. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at just 20 years old and completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice by the age of 25, laying the foundation for a career that integrates advanced clinical practice, education, and research.
Now, with a decade of experience as a registered nurse and five years as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, educator, and emerging nurse leader, Tori has remained committed to advancing nursing through evidence-based care, innovation, and continuous professional growth. Her career reflects a deliberate pursuit of opportunities that strengthen both patient outcomes and the nursing profession.
Bridging Practice, Research, and Education
Throughout her career, Tori has maintained an active clinical practice because she believes the strongest educators, researchers, and healthcare leaders remain closely connected to patient care. That perspective has shaped her work as nurse practitioner faculty and guided her scholarly interests in implementation science and pediatric patient safety.
She has contributed to multicenter research initiatives, collaborated across disciplines, and helped translate evidence into meaningful improvements in clinical practice. By connecting research with real-world care, Tori works to ensure that innovation leads to sustainable change for patients, families, and healthcare teams.
Advancing the Profession Through Mentorship
For Tori, one of the greatest privileges of her career has been mentoring future advanced practice nurses. She is passionate about helping students strengthen their clinical reasoning, develop professional confidence, and embrace a mindset of lifelong inquiry.
Whether practicing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, educating future clinicians, leading quality improvement initiatives, or contributing to nursing scholarship, Tori approaches every opportunity with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to service. She believes meaningful leadership is built through collaboration, mentorship, and a shared dedication to advancing nursing for future generations.
The Illinois Nurses Foundation proudly recognizes Tori Boyer as a 2026 40 Under 40 Awardee for her dedication to pediatric advanced practice nursing, nursing education, research, and evidence-based innovation. Through her commitment to bridging clinical practice with scholarship, she continues to strengthen the nursing profession and improve healthcare for patients, learners, and communities.
Support the future of nursing leaders like Tori. Donate to INF to help us continue empowering nurse leaders across Illinois. Donate today!