M. Rebecca O’Connor, Associate Professor at the University of Washington, works to combat the impact of assumptions made by nurses that contribute to clinical errors, disparities, and harm in nursing and beyond. As an inaugural Betty Irene Moore Nurse Leaders and Innovators Fellow, she developed AWARE™ (Assumption Watch to Actively Reduce Errors) an innovative patient safety program that equips nursing students with evidence-based skills to interrupt assumptions during patient encounters. This nationally recognized program has been implemented across multiple institutions, training 800+ students, faculty, and nurses, with demonstrated success in improving how students provide nursing care. Dr. O’Connor’s research also led to the development of the Inclusive Research Model and Best Practices for Equitable Research guide, used by interdisciplinary research teams across five Western states, and has trained 250+ health sciences students and researchers in equitable research practices. Her work was recently featured in the award-winning documentary "Everybody's Work: Healing What Hurts Us All," reaching more than 6,000 healthcare professionals nationally. She has received multiple excellence in teaching awards including the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action’s 2024 Equity-Minded Nurse Educator Award. Dr. O'Connor earned her BA in Philosophy and PhD in Nursing Science from the University of Washington and her BSN from New York University.