Forensic Nursing Director
International Association of Forensic Nurses
Elkridge, MD
Pamela Holtzinger is currently serving in the role of Forensic Nursing Director at IAFN. She has
earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a Master of Science in Nursing with a Public Health
concentration, and completed a teaching certificate in nursing. She holds national certifications
including CEN, SANE-A, SANE-P, and AFN-BC. She has over 35 years in nursing with over 25
years serving as a Forensic Nurse Examiner. She has extensive experience managing and developing hospital-based and communit-based forensic nursing programs to expand the care response for
individuals impacted by sexual assault, domestic violence, child maltreatment, human trafficking
elder abuse, and nonfatal strangulation. Her work includes multidisciplinary
collaboratives such as the development of Frederick Maryland’s Child Advocacy Center, the
Frederick County Human Trafficking Response Team, and the Domestic Violence Coordinating
Council of Frederick County. She is a faculty member of the Maryland Child Abuse Medical
Professionals and has served on numerous workgroups and committees to address critical
issues related to child abuse, human trafficking, access to sexual assault services, and intimate
partner violence. She has held leadership roles as the Past President of the Maryland/DC
Chapter of the IAFN, Chair of the Commission on Forensic Nursing Certification, and Chair of
the Maryland Board of Nursing Standards and Practice task force. Dr. Holtzinger has extensive
training experience designing and conducting forensic nurse training including advanced
training topics and clinical skills lab experiences. Dr. Holtzinger is the recipient of the Outstanding Professional Award from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children in 2019, and the Virginia A. Lynch Pioneer in Nursing Award from the IAFN in 2021.
