Background

Dr. Liam C. Hein is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of South Carolina and Chair of the Faculty Senate. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, where he chaired several committees and currently serves on the Fellow Selection Committee. He serves as Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board for Ethics and Human Rights of the American Nurses Association. He is a former board member of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality; and of OutCare Health. As Chair of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Hein is an ex-officio member of the USC Board of Trustees.

Dr. Hein is experienced as an ER RN and NP. His current work focuses on improving LGBTQ health equity through education, advocacy, and health policy. He is a senior Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity (GWU/Oxford) and a senior fellow of the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program. 

Teaching

• NURS 700 - Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations of Nursing;
• NURS 779 – Health Policy
• NURS 791 – Seminar in Clinical Nursing Research
• NURS 801 – Theory Analysis in Nursing Science

Research

• Health Equity
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) experience
• Health Policy

Dissemination

Dr. Hein’s dissemination activities have included presentations at local, regional, national, and international professional conferences as well as to collaborating agencies and community stakeholders. 

Professional Service

• University of South Carolina, Chair – Faculty Senate (2025-2027)
• American Nurses Association. Vice-Chair of the Ethics and Human Rights Advisory Board (2026)
• OutCare Health. Board of Directors (2022-2024)
• American Academy of Nursing - Chair, LGBTQ Expert Panel (2017 & 2018); Chair, Diversity & Inclusion (2018 & 2019)
• National League for Nursing – Diversity Strategic Action Group (2014)
• International Society for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Chair, Research Council (2010-2013)
• GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
  • Vice President – External Affairs (2015-2016)
  • Board of Directors (2012-2018)  

Professional Practice

ER practice as an RN and NP (levels I to III, rural/ urban, public and private).

Research Studies (selected)

• Accelerated biological aging among sexual and gender minority individuals with disorders of gut-brain interaction; A pilot mobile mindfulness intervention to attenuate pain, stress and telomere attrition.  ASPIRE I. 2024-2026. Hein – Co-I.
• LGBT Health Surveillance via Mining Social Media Big Data. ASPIRE I. 2021-2022. Hein-Co-I
• The Partners in Advocacy for Transgender Health (PATH) study. USC Nursing. $6,500. 5/2019-5/2020. Hein -PI
• Support groups and the sexual orientations - together or separate? The consumer perspective. USC Provost – Clinical Incentive Grant - $14k. 4/12-5/13. Hein –PI.
• Where Did you Sleep Last Night? - Survival Strategies of Female Homeless Adolescents. Hein - PI. Lesbian Health fund - $8k. 11/07-6/10. Hein –PI.
• Transitions from Homelessness: LGBTQ Adolescents. NINR 1T32NR007964-01 -$2k. 4/07-7/07. Hein - Study PI; Dancy - T32 PI.
• Survival Among Male Homeless Adolescents. Sigma Theta Tau, Iota. $2k. 2005. Hein - PI.

Publications (selected)

*Miles, H. S., Wickersham, K. E., & Hein, L. C. (2026). A qualitative exploration of sexual and gender minority women survivors of breast and ovarian cancer during the COVID-ID pandemic. Oncology Nursing Forrum, 53(3), 1-8. 10.1188/26.ONF.e2653xxxx

Hein, L. C., Mulkey, M. A., Weaver-Toedtman, K. R., & May, J. T. (2025). Best Practices for Person-Centered Nursing Care of LGBTQ+ Adults. American Journal of Nursing (AJN), 125(9), 28-36. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJN.0000000000000135

Phillips, C., Cornelius, J. B., Neira, P. M., Hein, L. C., Ducar, D., Rose, C. D., Rosa, W. E., Ballout, S., Nagel, D. A., Millender, E. I. F., Neft, M. W., Jablonski, R. A., Murray, T. A., Stamps, D. C., Brous, E. & Keepnews, D. M. (2025). Advancing Human Rights, Health Equity, and Equitable Health Policy with LGBTQ+ Peoples: An AAN Consensus Paper.  Nursing Outlook, 73(5). doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102496.

Hein, L.C. (2025).  2025 Code of Ethics for Nurses. ANA Writing Panel 9/23-10/24.

*Clement, S., Hein, L. C., Herbert, L., *Beecroft, J., *Harding, K., *Taylor, A., & Andrews, J. (2024). A Pilot Faculty Fellows Pipeline Program: Developing Nurse Educators in South Carolina. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(12). doi: 10.3928/01484834-20240731-01

*Miles, H. S., Wickersham, K. E., & Hein, L. C. (2024). Beyond survival: A Scoping Review on the sexual health of sexual and gender minority women following curative cancer treatment. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 00(00), null. doi: 10.1177/10436596241253863

Cegelka, D., Wagner-Greene, V.R., Smallwood, S., Spencer, M., & Hein, L. (2024). An exploratory look at perceptions of southern LGBT older adults on three long-term care services. Journal of Sexual and Gender Diversity in Social Services. 00(00), null. doi: 10.1080/29933021.2024.2317711.

*Dickson, L., Bunting, S., *Nanna, A., *Taylor, M., Spencer, M., & Hein, L. C. (2021). Older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) adults’ experiences with discrimination and impacts on expectations for long-term Care: Results of a survey in the Southern United States.  Journal of Applied Gerontology, 00(00), null. doi:10.1177/07334648211048189

Chappell, K. K., Hein, L. C., & Andrews, J. O. (2021). Can we ask everyone? Addressing sexual abuse in primary care. JNP: The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(5), 594-599. doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.01.017.

*Dickson, L., Bunting, S., *Nanna, A., *Taylor, M., Hein, L., & Spencer, M. (2020). Appointment of a healthcare power of attorney among older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) adults in the southern United States. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 0(0), 1049909120979787. doi:10.1177/1049909120979787

Jones, K., Hein, L. C., & James, L. (2020). A nursing leadership practicum in the time of COVID19: A southwestern university experience. Nurse Leader, doi: 10.1016/j.mnl.2020.06.010. Advance online publication.

Hein, L. C., *Stokes, E., Greenberg, C. S. & Saewyc, E. M. (2018). Policy Brief: Protecting vulnerable LGBTQ youth. Advocating for ethical health care. Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 505-507. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2018.08.006

Hein, L. C., *Stokes, E., & Keepnews, D. (2018). Position Statement. The American Academy of Nursing opposes prevention and limitation of transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military.  Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 508-511. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2018.08.005.

Hein, L. C., & Winn, R. (2018). SBM Recommends Policy Support to Reduce Smoking Disparities for Sexual and Gender Minorities. Translational Behavioral Medicine. e-first 27 January 2018  https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibx017

AAN LGBTQ Expert Panel.  (2015). Reparative Therapy Position Statement. Nursing Outlook, 63(3), 368-369.

Hein, L. C., & Scharer, K. M. (2015). A modern history of psychiatric-mental health nursing. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 29, 49-55. doi: 10.1016/j.apnu.2014.10.003.

Hein, L. C., & Levitt, N. (2014). Caring for transgender patients. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 12(6), 28-36. doi:10.1097/01.NME.0000454745.49841.76. [Awarded the Bronze Award for “Best Feature Article” by the American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors].

Hein, L. C. & Scharer, K. M. (2013). Who Cares If It's a Hate Crime?   LGBTQ Hate Crimes - Mental Health Implications. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 49(2), 84-93. Early View 12 Sept. 2012. 

Damas, T., Hein, L.C., Powell, L. C., and Dundon, E. (2012). Child & Adolescent Sexual Development and Sexual Identity Issues. (E. Yearwood, G. Pearson, & J. Newland, Eds.) Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health: A Resource for Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Primary Care Practitioners in Nursing (peer reviewed). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. Chapter 5.

Hein, L. C. & Berger, K. C. Commentary. Gender incongruence in children: Let’s think this through. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. 25(4), 237-240. doi: 10.1111/jcap.12014

Hein, L. C. (2011). Survival strategies of male homeless adolescents. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 17(4), 274-282.First published on May 4, 2011 as doi:10.1177/1078390311407913.

Hein, L. C. (2010). Where did you sleep last night? Homeless male adolescents: Gay, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual compared. [Electronic Version]. Southern Online Journal of Nursing Research, 10, Article 9 from http://www.resourcenter.net/ images/SNRS/Files/SOJNR_articles2/Vol10Num01Art09.pdf. Available February 17, 2010.

Hein, L. C. & Matthews, A. K. (2010). Reparative therapy: The adolescent, the psych nurse and the issues. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 23(1), 29-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-6171.2009.00214.x