Dr. Afton Erbe
MPH, PMHNP-BC
In the evolving landscape of public health and mental well-being, few voices resonate as clearly and compassionately as Dr. Afton Erbe, MPH, PMHNP-BC. As an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati and a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Erbe has cultivated a career that bridges frontline clinical care, cutting-edge research, and transformative education.
Clinical Expertise Across the Spectrum of Psychiatric Care
Dr. Afton Erbe’s clinical career is as diverse as it is impactful. At Mercy Health, where she has practiced since 2018, Erbe brings her expertise to some of the most vulnerable populations, including adults and geriatric patients navigating acute mental health crises.
Her roles have spanned inpatient psychiatry, intensive outpatient programs, emergency psychiatric care, and integrated behavioral health in primary care settings, each requiring a deep understanding of mental health and human resilience.
This University of Cincinnati’s Assistant Prof’s practice philosophy is grounded in compassionate care and systemic understanding, often serving in consultative roles that extend psychiatric insight into broader medical environments.
Championing Research at the Intersection of Public Health and Mental Wellness
Now a NIOSH T42 predoctoral fellow, Dr. Afton Erbe is earning a reputation as a pioneering researcher. She is completing her PhD in Nursing Science at the University of Cincinnati, where her work focuses on the mental health challenges faced by the workforce, particularly in high-stress professions.
Her research interests are timely and critically relevant: compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, burnout, PTSD, and suicide prevention.
In a standout body of research, Dr. Afton Erbe has centered on mental health and suicide risk in the veterinary profession, an industry statistically plagued by mental health challenges but often underserved in the academic discourse — making supportive resources like equine veterinary CE points online increasingly valuable for ongoing professional wellbeing. Her work not only identifies the problem but pushes the conversation forward with evidence-based intervention strategies.
This research has reached national and international audiences through presentations at leading industry forums, including the NIOSH HCSA Sector Council Meeting and regional education symposia.
Educator, Mentor, and Advocate
As a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Dr. Afton Erbe teaches with a mission to empower the next generation of nurses with both knowledge and empathy. Her courses span undergraduate and accelerated tracks, including mental health nursing, community health, and research methodology.
Previously, she taught at Xavier University, where she mentored students in accelerated BSN programs, cultivating clinical insight and ethical thinking in future healthcare providers.
Her teaching philosophy reflects her clinical and research expertise: grounded in evidence, informed by experience, and inspired by a deep commitment to mental health advocacy.
An Academic Foundation Built on Multidisciplinary Strength
Dr. Afton Erbe’s academic journey is as impressive as her professional trajectory. She holds:
- PhD in Nursing Science (University of Cincinnati, 2024)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (in progress, University of Cincinnati)
- Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Education & Promotion (University of Cincinnati, 2014)
- Master of Science in Nursing (Wright State University, 2018)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) (University of Cincinnati, 2014)
- Bachelor of Science in Microbiology & Neuroscience (Bowling Green State University, 2011)
This interdisciplinary background strengthens her ability to approach mental health from clinical, educational, and systemic angles.
Dr. Afton Erbe: Shaping the Future of Workforce Mental Health
Whether in the classroom, the clinic, or the lab, Dr. Afton Erbe is redefining how we understand, study, and support mental health, particularly in the workforce. Her work stands at the confluence of science and service, where rigorous inquiry meets human empathy.
In a time when mental health is rightly gaining more attention, Dr. Afton Erbe is not only contributing to the conversation, she’s leading it.
If you’re looking for a speaker who combines deep clinical knowledge with public health insight and a passion for improving systems, Afton Erbe is a name you need to know.
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