March/April Newsletter

Newsletter March/April, 2023

National Nurses Week is celebrated every year from May 6th to 12th, nurses are recognized for their service and dedication to caring for others and improving the health of patients nationwide through National Nurses Week. Throughout the week, healthcare organizations celebrate their teams, and you'll even see nurses featured on the news. People across the nation thank the nurses that have made a difference in their lives.

Nurses Week celebrates the effort, dedication, and sacrifice nurses make every day. Nurses are essential members of America's healthcare workforce who provide care through every stage of life, working with patients at their most intimate and vulnerable moments. Nurses Week offers a chance to highlight and celebrate nurses for all we do.

UMass Chan Medical School celebrates the students, faculty and alumni of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing who are keeping our community healthy and create health policy change through research.

Learn more about our faculty Mary Lou Siefert, DNSc, MBA, AOCN® Associate Professor DNP Program Join the faculty December 2022 Do you also work in a clinical atmosphere?

I have a role as a nurse scientist/clinical inquiry specialist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in the Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services. With my colleagues in the Cantor Center and other advanced practice clinicians we are currently working on projects to create and implement evidence-based symptom management practices and strategies targeting clinician, patients and families.

What do you like most about your job(s)?

There are many things I like “most” about my job(s). I love being an oncology nurse, all aspects of it, and am privileged to be able to assist patients and families, directly and indirectly, with managing their symptoms to improve their quality of life during their illness experiences currently at DFCI. And in my role at Tan Chingfen GSN, I especially enjoy advising, educating and mentoring nurses and those who will become nurses so that they will be able to better understand the importance of and apply evidence-based practices in their specialty areas to improve the experiences of patients and families. It is very rewarding to see our learners move from novice to expert in their journey here and it is humbling to think that we have played a part in that journey. I am very thankful for and humbled by the opportunities that the nursing profession has afforded me including directly and indirectly caring for patients with cancer and their families, as an educator and nurse scientist, and currently as a member of the faculty and larger team here at Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing.

What do you enjoy doing on your days off?

I love spending time in the outdoors, and especially during the fall and winter seasons, yes I love cooler weather and snow! Spending time outdoors is joyful, invigorating and contemplative. But I also love reading, especially historical fiction and non-fiction, and just relaxing and visiting with friends and family.

Do you have a hobby or a special talent you can tell me about?

I don’t really have anything that I consider a special talent or hobby, but I do enjoy cooking and trying new recipes to share with family and friends.

Anything else you would like to share?

I have always enjoyed the company of dogs, and currently have a good old rescue pal living with me, a dog named Olive. And thankfully, she is also very popular with the neighbors, who come to visit her when I am on campus or otherwise away for more than a few hours.

Olive

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Susan Feeney

Dr. Mechelle Plasse

Dr. Shari Harding

Promotions - Congratulations Dr. Susan Feeney as she is being promoted to serve as the Associate Dean for Advanced Practice Programs.

Dr. Mechelle Plasse will be the Director of Nurse Practitioner Tracks and Mental Health Programs.

Dr. Shari Harding will be the Coordinator of the DNP Programs.

Sullivan-Bolyai, S., O’Neil, W., Boucher, J., Coco, An., Dowd-Foley, D., Dumas, V., Gravlin, G.& Pellegrini, L. (2023). Intraprofessional nursing students coming together through an academic interprofessional practice partnership experience: Are you a caregiver? Teaching and Learning in Nursing, https:// bit.ly/3nMAfYR (Article in press April 2023)

Pictured left to right: Dr. Amanda Cornine, Dr. Thin Malatesta, Dr. Danielle Hebert and Dr. Rita Amoah presenting their poster at the MA/RI League for Nursing Conference titled "Measuring Outcomes Through an Escape Room: 'Escape a Night of Rapids'".

Aronowitz, T., Amoah, R. K., Fisher, M. A., Manero, C., Peterson, K., Terrien, J. M., Wassef, M. E., & Morris, N. (2023). Facilitating diversity of thought in learning environments for nursing students. Journal of Professional Nursing, 46, 141-145. https://bit.ly/3pkN90R

Faculty Spotlight Cont.

Dr. Akwasi Duah, Dr. Thin Malatesta, Dr. Rita Amoah, and Dr. Amanda Cornine along with PhD student Carol McLaughlin attended the NLN’s Nursing Education Research Conference

Dr. Teri Aronowitz, professor and two PhD students Chyla Bingham-Hendricks and Autaquay PetersMosquera presents about “Indigenous Students Speak: Experiences and Perspectives” at the Structural Determinants of Health: Trauma of the Indigenous People in North America a one day virtual symposium at Boston College. This symposium endeavors to examine and shine a light on the Structural Determinants conditions among Native American and Indigenous (NAI) peoples.

Chyla and Auta, with Dr. Margaret Moss professor at University of British Columbia

Dr. Thin (Aung) Malatesta, Assistant Professor in the Graduate Entry Pathway Program (GEP) contributed to an article entitled “Bankrupting the system: High utilization of travel nurses still causing financial strain” in the Worcester Business Journal. Thin talks about her experience as a traveling nurse. Read the whole article here: https://bit.ly/3APlMhM

Dr. Dawn Carpenter, Associate Professor has three presentations to give May 22-25 at the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) National Teaching Institute (NTI). We will have more Information next month about these presentations.

• Ace the Certification Exam: Test-Taking Strategies to Build Confidence • Sepsis Imposters - Don't be Fooled!

• Volunteering for AACN: Who, What, Where and Why?

Student Spotlight

L to R: Dr. Jean Boucher, Dr. Dani Hebert, Sam Reaves and Monica Mbugua

Congratulations Monica Mbugua, DNP 3 student for being the poster winner in poster set C at the NONPF Annual Conference this past weekend. The poster winners were celebrated at the Annual Awards Celebration Saturday night.

Monica presented her DNP Scholarly Presentation “Screening for and Addressing Transportation Barriers to Healthcare as a Social Determinant of Health” April 25th and will graduate this June from the AdultGerontology Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Track.

Samantha Reaves

Monica Mbugua

Samantha Reaves, MS, AGACNP-BC and Monica Mbugua, MS, AGPCNP-BC both DNP 3 students presented posters at the 2023 NONPF 49th Annual Conference April 26-30, 2023 in Orlando, Florida.

Monica’s poster is titled “Access to Healthcare: Screening for and Addressing Transportation Barriers to Healthcare as a Social Determinant of Health” and Samantha is titled “Operation Conversation: Bridging the Gap between the Veteran Community and Future Health Care Providers”

Student Spotlight Cont.

Dean Joan Vitello accompanied Liz DelSignore, PhD student and Jenny Konjoian, DNP student to the 2023 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Student Policy Summit held in Washington, DC March 26-27.

Liz DelSignore, Dean Joan Vitello and Jenny Konjoian

Liz DelSignore and Jenny Konjoian at Arlington National Cemetery

Liz, Jenny and Dean Vitello picture with Deans who attended the conference.

Jenny Konjoian, Rear Admiral Aisha Mix, Liz DelSignore

Students help hand out information at a table for the Employee Colonoscopy Screening Program.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Second-year Doctor of Nursing Practice students are participating in an educational escape room this spring, a collaborative activity that requires problem solving, decision making and mimicking efficient patient workflow to be successfully completed. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3LODok0

Dr. Thin (Aung) Malatesta and Dr. Rita Amoah Assistant Professor’s in the Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) Program took GEP students to an "Out of the Classroom" experience at Boston MedFlight. Students had a very positive experience and learned a lot from the two flight nurses who were welcoming and accommodating to our students.

GEP End of the Semester Luncheon. What a great end to the semester!

Student Spotlight Cont.

First year PhD students in the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing with the support of the UMass Chan library will be installing a meditational labyrinth (canvas on floor, wheelchair accessible path) with accompanying finger labyrinths (sculptural models with labyrinths which can be traced with a finger) and audio files and materials supporting this multicultural meditational approach.

The installation dates were 4/24-4/25 in the library. Following the installation, the labyrinth will remain in the library's collection with its own catalog number and can be checked out by individuals or groups for a week at a time.

The students involved: Wendy Arena, Liz DelSignore, Caitlin Healy, Beth Terhune, Ameilia Toye.

This is part of a project they are working on for Donna Perry's N803 Theory: Critical Analysis and Application class this spring. https://bit.ly/419PfxP

During the Annual induction of Iota Phi at-Large chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International on April 23, 2023, nineteen of our students were inducted. One of our faculty members, Dr. Jesica Pagano-Therrien, received the 3rd Memorial Marsha Williams Leadership Award for her outstanding leadership. Two doctoral students from Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, Katrina Michaela Del Mundo and Elizabeth Vequist were also awarded this year's Research Grant from the Iota Phi at-Large.

The 2023 inductees include: Israh Abdeljaber, Badu Adjei, Jeannece Batista, Alivia Cove, Karina Michaela Del Mundo, Andrea Ferland, Danielle Garrity, Janet Haas, Madeline Hayes, Jennifer Konjoian, Kourtney Mantyla-Murphy, Olga Markushova, Eileen Monagle, Bethany Morrill, Sarang Raj, Sarah Romain, Rachel Stroh, Sophia Webb and Robin Young.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Soon to be DNP graduates from UMass Chan Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing in Worcester. These students assisted in the planning of our Annual MCNP Health Policy Event as part of their semester long Health Policy Leadership Practicum. We are grateful for their advocacy on behalf of the health and well being of patients and families.

Ian A. Lane, RN, is a pediatric intensive care nurse at Connecticut Children's and a podcast host, earning his PhD in nursing from UMass Chan. He comes from a family of nurses; discover why he chose to enter the field. Read more here: https://direc.to/jeDn

We had an inspiring afternoon at the inaugural NP student leadership summit hosted by Cathy McKinnon at MCNP. Susan Feeney and our students from UMass Chan Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing brought together NP students from around the state as part of their leadership practicum to strategize about advocacy and policy to improve care to patients.

Students in the CRC group helped with a display table March 28.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Dominican Republic Batey Health Initiative (DR BHI) is an interprofessional comprehensive global health experience.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Seven nursing students from UMass Chan took part in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Health Policy Conference. They met with health policy advisors for U.S. Rep James McGovern, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren to discuss issues that could improve access to timely and effective care.

Congratulations Dr. Alaina Filiau on the successful defense of her dissertation, “Hope for the Future: Key Informants’ Perspectives on HIV Prevention in Dominican Republic Batey Communities” The focus of her study on HIV prevention among the people living in the Batey’s in the Dominican Republic is noteworthy and of great importance.

We look forward to reading the details of her study once it is in print! The results of her study provide data necessary to move this important work forward.

Thank you to her Dissertation Chair, Dr. Jean Boucher, and Committee Members, Dr. Tara Casimir and Dr. Michele Pugnaire for their efforts and help in guiding Alaina through the dissertation process.

Amanda Hazeltine, DNP 3 student presented at the 2023 Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care in Montréal, Canada March 22-25.

Some of her MGH NP colleagues came to support her.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Amelia Toye is the first NURSING student elected as Student Trustee!

UMass Chan Office of Student Life is thrilled to announce that Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing student Amelia Toye as your Student Trustee for the 2023-2024 Academic Year!

Amelia is a current PhD in Nursing student. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from Quinnipiac University, where she served in numerous leadership roles. She has served on the GSNO for Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing for 2 years, initially as the secretary and ultimately as a co-president. She believes it will be an honor to serve the greater UMass Chan community as the Student Trustee, working to improve the educational, social, and cultural experiences for all learners.

A beautiful podcast that was conducted with our PhD student Jen Costa.

Jen talks about her career which has involved Pediatric Oncology Nursing at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, and the new nursing focus which she been working on over the last 2 years.

Listen to the whole podcast here: https://bit.ly/424Uik5

A few of our current Graduate Entry Pathway (GEP) students participated, playing victims at the Disaster Medicine Interstitial Friday April 21.

Back row l to r: Nopporn, Israh, Daniel; Front l to r: Conor, Julia, Olga

DNP student nurse Sarang Raj was drawn to health care after his grandmother became sick. Now, he’s helping expand the curriculum for other aspiring nurse practitioners at UMass Chan.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3NRylkm

This group of DNP year 1 students worked with the UMass Memorial Medical Center Care Pathways team to raise awareness and promote health equity for the detection of Colon Cancer. For Colon Cancer awareness month which was March 2023, the students operated a booth at the Remillard Pavilion visitors entrance to engage, educate and refer patients for colon cancer screening and information. Guidelines now recommend screening for the population of average risk at age 45. This previously had been age 50. On April 13th, the students created and delivered a webinar to UMass Memorial Medical Center patients with Dr. Karim Alavi, a colorectal surgeon. The webinar reviewed the current guidelines, options for screening and was followed by a live question and answer period. The webinar was well attended and received. This group of 6 students worked tirelessly, were flexible, professional and emulated a true team approach. This project was their population health and community service-learning practicum; course 603B.2. This group was coordinated by Dr. Jill Terrien and the overall course co-coordinated with Dr. Janet Hale. We are very proud of their work and their impact on healthcare. Students include: Israh Abdeljaber, Daniel Appiah, Julia Hebert, Olga Markushova, Conor Saleeba, Nopporn Thangthaeng

Students and Faculty presented at the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (MCNP) 2023 New England Regional Nurse Practitioner Conference in Newton, MA.

Dr. Jean Boucher, Dr. Jill Terrien, Dr. Susan Feeney, Dr. Pat White, Diane Brescia with 2022 graduates Tina Vo and Zeke DeLeon

Elizabeth Vequist, DNP 3 Student

Emily Everett, Danna Maria, Sophia Mirageas, Matthew Tsianco, Elizabeth Vequist and Casey Gallagher.

Dr. Teri Aronowitz, Dr. Pat White, Diane Brescia, Dr. Susan Feeney, Dr. Jill Terrien and Dr. Jean Boucher handing out information.

Lisa Abbondanza, Post Masters DNP Student.

Dr. Shari Harding, Associate Professor presented on “Suicide Assessment and Prevention”.

Christine Touhy and Kathryn Liziewski, DNP 3 students.

Monday April 24, 2023 The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing hosted more than 100 high school students & their families for the Nursing Expo. It was the first time since 2019 that the expo was in person, this year more then 13 nursing school were in attendance providing info about various types of nursing careers & educational programs.

Thank you to the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing DNP Year One students for helping with the Nursing Expo, answering any questions from high school students and their family members.

Rose Marie Nyakako, graduating PhD student

Ian Lane, current PhD Student

Autaquay Peters-Mosquera and Chyla Bingham-Hendricks, current PhD students

Faculty and students attended the Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) 35th Annual Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia PA this past March.

Maria Danna and Helen Tsiagras, DNP 3 students

Dr. Rachel Niemiec, Coordinator of Family Nurse Practitioner Track

Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing celebrated the U.S News & World Report ranking the Nurse Practitioner role first on the “2023 Best Jobs That Help People” list. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3JsAm2M

NPs provide high-quality care in many types of settings, including clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care sites, nursing homes, schools and public health departments.

The annual Lillian R. Goodman Lecture was held April 11. Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, Professor and Dean of the College of Nursing at the Ohio State University gave the keynote presentation entitled “Battling Burnout and Enhancing Nurse/Clinician Well-Being Through Character-Building Times: Evidence -Based Tactics That Work!”

The 2023 UMass Chan Medical School Educational Recognition Awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 2 honored achievements by faculty of the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and T.H. Chan School of Medicine.

Watch the full awards ceremony and Last Lecture on the UMass Chan Medical School YouTube channel.

Dr. Jim Fain has many gifts and talents which he has shared in his over 4 decades of faculty work. He first came to our school in 1994 as an Associate Professor and then was promoted as the Associate Dean for Academic Programs. His numerous scholarly activities, awards and recognitions would keep us here for a solid hour as I tried to list them. When I asked our learners to describe Jim I often hear, Dr. Fain is dedicated to our learning, makes statistics somewhat enjoyable and understandable, he is an excellent educator and mentor.

Dr. Koul is a valuable member of the GEP faculty.

Student Comments: Every student in the program appreciates him. Very kind and straightforward. He has an unending knowledge of medical science. Dr. Koul goes above and beyond to be available to students and devote time to helping us understand the material. I feel as though I know him personally, despite only ever engaging with him over Zoom and e-mail. He is extremely knowledgeable, dedicated to teaching, and very accessible. Every so often you cross paths with someone who clearly found the career that they were meant to do and Dr. Koul is a glaring example of this.

Dr. Dani Hebert and Dr. Rachel Niemiec have been recognized by their students for educational excellence.

Student Comments: Dr. Hebert and Dr. Niemiec have been phenomenal professors and I cannot imagine the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing program without them. Dr. Hebert has been an incredible support during the difficult DNP clinical year, she is incredibly encouraging and believes in all of her students. She spends ample time outside of class doing everything she can to make her course the best it can be, using feedback she receives directly from the students. I would not be where I am today without Dr. Niemiec. She stands out from the rest. She is open minded, eager to help students think through problems, and has an abundance of knowledge that she is gifted at sharing. Rachel deserves to be celebrated every day.

Dr. Teri Aronowitz is an exemplary nurse educator, mentor, colleague, and individual highly regarded within the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing.

Sought out by students and faculty for her wisdom and experience in research and publications.

Student Comments: Teri is a fierce advocate for predoctoral nurse scientists and is a wonderful addition to our faculty. She brings a wealth of experience and is a dedicated teacher and mentor. Dr. Aronowitz has a true gift in guiding critical thinking in her students and in engaging us both with the wonderment of a fellow learner and with the carefully cultivated classroom experiences she creates.

Dr. Kevin Whitney, Dean’s Advisory Board Member has been named Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer for Mass General Brigham (MGB) Healthcare at Home. Whitney previously served as Associate Chief Nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital since 2011 and has been responsible for the Surgical, Orthopedics and Neurosciences Services.

As COO & CNO, Kevin has clinical and operational responsibility for traditional MGB Home Care and implementing the MGB Home Hospital (HH) Service through the CMS HH Wavier program.

A Nationally Registered Paramedic and RN, Kevin has over 33 years experience as a clinician and leader. He been part of the MGB team for over 12 years and most recently served as Senior Vice President (SVP) of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at MGB Newton Wellesley Hospital (NWH) in Newton, MA. Prior to NWH, he served six years as Associate Chief Nurse for Surgical, Orthopedics and Neurosciences at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and dedicated 20 years to Emerson Hospital, Concord, MA, where he held several leadership roles including Nurse Manager of Emergency Services, Director of Inpatient Nursing, and Vice President of Patient Care Services and CNO. Kevin has published and presented locally and internationally on topics related to improving the patient and family experience, patient flow enhancement, nursing peer review, professional practice models, and the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing; Leading Change, Advancing Health report recommendations. In September of 2016, he presented on nursing’s role in improving quality and safety at the 7th Shanghai International Nursing Forum held at Huashan Hospital & Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

Kevin’s primary areas of focus include improving systems that enhance quality and safety of patient care, the patient and family experience, and promoting a positive, professional practice environment for staff and leadership. Additionally, he is committed to advancing nursing peer review among the profession to continuously improve nursing practice, quality and patient safety.

Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing Alumni Kerri Ellis a 2006 DNP alumni received the MCNP Lifetime Achievement Award. Kerri’s son Henry (left) is a 2020 graduate of the Acute Care Track and Sam (right) is a current student in the Family NP Track.

2023 Alumni Award Congratulations Dawn Carpenter, DNP,ACNP-BC alumni class of N ‘03 and DNP '10 on receiving the 2023 Alumni Award, which was given at the annual UMass Chan Alumni Dinner Saturday evening.

Dawn is an expert clinician in critical care, if you are a trauma patient you want her in charge of your care and part of the team.

She was the former coordinator of our Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP program, making it into a highly sought after track. She now continues to work with us remotely mentoring our acute care NP students in their Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects.

Announcements This year we celebrate UMass Chan’s 50th commencement exercised Sunday June 4, 2023.

Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing has 1 Post Graduate Certificate, 8 Post-Masters DNP, 48 DNP and 5 PhD students graduating this year.

Honorary Degree Recipients • Katie Couric, Journalist and Founder, Katie Couric Media - Keynote Speaker • Tania Issa Semaan, Chair, Bluestone • Luke O’Neill, PhD, Chair and Professor of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin

The DRIVE Initiative is a shared effort across the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, T.H. Chan School of Medicine, Diversity and I nclusion Office, Lamar Soutter Library,Continuing Medical Education, andGraduate Medical Education.

Contact us at DRIVE@umassmed.edu to get involved! DRIVE resources are available on our website: https://www.umassmed.edu/drive

Recipe of the Month GRILLED LEMON CHICKEN • 4 (6 oz) boneless skinless chicken breast halves • 1/3 cup olive oil • 1 tbsp lemon zest • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tsp oregano • 1⁄2 tsp dried thyme • 1⁄2 tsp dried basil • 1⁄2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed • Salt and freshly ground black pepper DIRECTIONS • If necessary, pound the chicken breasts out to make even.

• Prepare the marinade in a small mixing bowl, by combining the olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary and desired salt and pepper.

• Place chicken and marinade in a 1-gallon resealable bag, mix and refrigerate for 2-5 hours to marinate.

• When ready to cook, preheat the grill over medium-high heat. If desired, brush the grill with olive oil.

• Cook the chicken with the lid closed for about 4 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reads 165°. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes. Serve while hot.

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For the May/June newsletter have your submissions in by June 15th.

Send in your submissions today using the submission form or e-mail susan.collette@umassmed.edu