Esther I. Bernhofer PhD, RN-BC, CPE

Esther I. Bernhofer, Ph.D., RN-BC, is a nurse researcher for Cleveland Clinic’s Office of Research and Innovation. Dr. Bernhofer’s program of research is in acute and chronic pain management, pain management education, stress, and rest. With more than 30 years in the nursing profession in a variety of clinical roles, many of her accomplishments have ultimately been centered on caring for patients who are struggling with pain and helping them to manage it. Prior to her current position, Dr. Bernhofer worked throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system as a pain education specialist within the nursing quality and safety team, a pain management and education coordinator within the areas of inpatient medicine and digestive disease, and as a pain resource nurse within general medicine.

Before joining the Cleveland Clinic organization in 2005, Dr. Bernhofer fulfilled roles in-home care and medical/surgical nursing, and Lamaze and child birthing. She has worked for organizations such as Kelley Homecare Services in Independence, Ohio, Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, Ohio, and the Visiting Nurse Association in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Bernhofer has a passion for continuing education and professional development, and as a researcher, is always in pursuit of new knowledge. In 2012, she was honored with the Clinical Practice Award from the American Society for Pain Management Nursing.