Heather M. Young, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. is a nurse leader, educator, scientist, and nationally recognized expert in gerontological nursing and rural health care, and is a professor and dean emerita at UC Davis. As founding dean and associate vice chancellor for nursing for UC Davis Health, she led the establishment of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and stewarded the $100 million grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation to launch this effort. Accomplishments include five new graduate programs in Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership, the design and construction of the 70,000-square-foot Betty Irene Moore Hall and the formation of a nursing science research program focused on healthy systems and healthy people.

Young researches healthy aging with a focus on the interface between individuals, family, and formal health care systems. She has received funding from more than a dozen foundations for research and program development. She co-leads the Healthy Aging in a Digital World initiative at UC Davis Health and co-directs the Family Caregiving Institute.

She is a UC Davis alumna, with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics. She holds an associate degree in nursing from Sacramento City College, a bachelor's degree in nursing from Southern Oregon State College, and a master's degree in nursing with a specialty in gerontology and a doctorate in nursing science from the University of Washington.