Dr. Hilliard holds graduate degrees in maternal-child health nursing, religious studies, canon law and professional higher education administration (former tenured Division Chair in Catholic Higher Education). She has an extensive professional background in medical ethics and public policy and advocacy (former Director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference). She is a registered nurse who has been substantially involved in health care regulation at the state and national levels for twelve years (former Executive Officer, Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing; Area IV Director, The National Council of State Boards of Nursing). In addition, she is a canon lawyer and serves as a resource for the United States bishops on the implementation of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services as well as Church-state relations.
