COLLEGE OF NURSING A N N U A L R E P O R T 2019
CONTENTS 2.
YEAR IN REVIEW
3.
BY THE NUMBERS
4. STUDENTS 12. FACULTY 18. AWARDS / HONORS 20. RESEARCH / SPECIAL PROJECTS 26. ALUMNI
WHO WE ARE Mission To prepare nurses to excel as outstanding and compassionate clinicians, scholars and leaders who will enhance the health and health care of individuals, families, communities and populations locally and globally.
Vision The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing is a dynamic catalyst for improving health and transforming health care through innovation and excellence in education, knowledge development, discovery and professional practice to meet the needs of a global society.
Values 30. GIVING
• Social justice, diversity, inclusivity and civic engagement • Respectful, ethical, humanistic and compassionate care • Intellectual curiosity, innovation and scholarly inquiry • Leadership, lifelong learning and excellence in practice
URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
DEAN’S MESSAGE In today’s health care environment, nurses are playing an ever-increasing role not just in the delivery of health care, but in the science behind the care they give. Our program offerings continue to expand beyond the traditional care model, and our dynamic faculty members continue to make significant scientific breakthroughs for the benefit of the entire health care community. It has been an extremely productive year in the College, as faculty members have increased their sponsored project proposals and their number of publications in scientific journals. Dr. Mary Sullivan continues to receive federal funding for a now 30-year study of premature birth and the health issues it causes into adult life. Dr. Karen Jennings has received funding to study treatments that would mitigate the negative health effects of early trauma. Dr. Denise Coppa’s latest project is aimed at enhancing the nursing workforce while strengthening the services of community health centers. These are just a few of the projects detailed in the pages that follow. It’s not just professors making important breakthroughs. Students are increasingly playing significant roles in the new scientific discoveries. This year, the College launched an Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, giving undergraduate students the opportunity to learn through experience while helping our talented faculty researchers achieve their goals. This year also saw the addition of Dr. Katherine Hutchinson as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research. An experienced researcher and graduate nursing educator, Dr. Hutchinson plans to help the College grow its research prowess even more, for the benefit of future nurses and the health care community as a whole. The College’s educational and scientific achievement is reflected in an increase of giving, highlighted by a $1 million gift from URI alumna and retired nursing professor Deborah Godfrey-Brown. The gift will fund the Deborah Godfrey-Brown Scholarship to focus on students from diverse backgrounds in Rhode Island. The College also saw a major increase on the annual “Day of Giving,” boosting its intake for the event by 232 percent over last year. I hope you are as excited as I am to read about all the impressive achievements made by our students, faculty members and alumni over the previous year, as we look toward an even more successful, productive year to come. –Dean Barbara Wolfe
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 1
YEAR IN REVIEW Ranked Top 100 Nationally The URI College of Nursing Master’s program is ranked in the Top 100 nationally, according to U.S. News & World Report
_________________________________________________________________ Top 10 Ranking in New England The URI College of Nursing was ranked in the top 10 master’s programs in New England by U.S. News & World Report
_________________________________________________________________ Best Value Program in State The Master’s program was designated best value in Rhode Island by GraduateNursingEDU.org.
_________________________________________________________________ Pychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Launched The URI College of Nursing introduced a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner master’s degree program.
_________________________________________________________________ Research Fellows Program Offers Opportunities The URI College of Nursing launched an Undergraduate Research Fellows Program to increase research opportunities for students, while advancing the work of faculty researchers.
_________________________________________________________________ Numbers on the Rise Over the past year, the College saw an overall increase in: • Faculty publications • External faculty grant proposals • Committed gifts to the College • Number of faculty members in the American Academy of Nursing.
_________________________________________________________________
2 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
THE URI COLLEGE OF NURSING by the numbers
223 UNDERGRADUATE FIRST-YEAR NURSING STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR FALL 2019
80% APPROXIMATE PERCENT INCREASE IN SPONSORED PROJECT PROPOSALS OVER 2017
10
of 31 NUMBER OF FACULTY MEMBERS WHO ARE FELLOWS IN NATIONAL NURSING ORGANIZATIONS.
2536
NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO APPLIED TO UNDERGRADUATE NURSING PROGRAMS FOR FALL 2019
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 3
Students Participate in Experiential Learning in Dominican Republic Trip continues College’s commitment to global outreach Clinical Associate Professor Patricia Stout and six students spent 10 days in the Dominican Republic in January, assisting in providing care to underserved communities in pop-up clinics, senior centers and patients’ homes. Students Amber Guzman, Charlotte Wojcik, Rosemarie Norton, Moulikataou Velazquez, Emily Dillon and Kaitlyn Ryan also presented valuable health information at a high school health fair in the country, teaching local residents about diabetes, hypertension and proper oral care.
Undergrad Research Fellows Assist in Impactful Studies Program boosts research projects, increases student experience Seventeen URI nursing students got a little extra out of their academic studies this year, working with faculty research mentors on various research projects. The program gave them the opportunity to expand their education while making a direct impact on health issues affecting the community. The students supplemented their classroom study by assisting their mentors on various research projects in such topics as neonatal care, asthma management, environmental health and behavioral research.
STUDENTS Motivated to make a difference.
4 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
The research fellows for 2018-19 included Carly McNulty, Wyatt Doyon, Kathryn Gallagher, Savannah Donahue, Julia Kasanovich, Sarah Aboud, Abby Cleland, Jen Pasquariello, Bailey Vogt, Alexis Jackson, Allison Cotter, Madeline Montague, Kelsey Turgeon, Elizabeth McAlvin, Heidi Sakovits, Alexis Tavares and Teresa Graziano.
Sigma Honor Society Inductions Exclusive membership honors excellence in nursing scholarship In the Spring of 2019, 64 nursing students were inducted into the Delta Upsilon at-large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, one of the world’s largest scholarly societies for nursing. The organization is dedicated to advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students, and community leaders, who demonstrate excellence in scholarship. The URI inductees include:
Undergraduates
Lauren Mongeau
Deirdre Miguel
Mary Anderson
Bridget Montle
Melissa Ianotti Murdock
Alyssa Annibalini
Megan O’Connell
Patrick Murray
Casey Barlow
Tyler Pearson
Clarissa Ogley
Alexandra Bayerbach
Jessica Petruska
Rachael Osborne-Hemphill
Brooke Casacalenda
Quynh-Nhu Pham
Tammy Rice
Charlotte Chretien
Erica Roos
Agnes Rodrigues
Katie Christie
Kaitlyn Ryan
Tina Tefft
Allison Cotter
Kayleigh Sherman
Rebecca Whipp
Rachael Dearman
Christine Tilton
Wilfreme Wong-Tarley
Amanda Diehl
Sydney Tilton
Karen Duffy
Cassondra Turano
Kaleigh Dutrisac
Charlotte Wojcik
Cassie Dziedzic Kailynn Figueroa Rita Jaquez Julia Livingston Erika Luundin Odette Mahanna Mackenzie Manter Gabrielle Massa Megan McAllister Karissa McGrane Emily Mcverry
M.S. Briana Bartone Katherine Bliss
R.N. to B.S.
Julia Bowen
Karen Adams
Megan Chambers
Sarah Beaudet
Carly Masse
Kelly Brunette
Yvette Moreno
Elizabeth Chase Kathleen Clevenger Frank Formanek Jessica Gorrie
D.N.P. Linette Novak Kristen Rameika
Karen Halsey Maria Konyeaso Amanda Lamb
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 5
Pathways to Nursing Engages Underrepresented Students Program to increase access to nursing profession Students enrolled in the URI Pathways to Nursing program shared their challenges and achievements over the past year, and looked forward to continuing their journey toward a nursing degree during the annual Pathways Living Leadership reception. Student Emely Baez presented leadership awards to several scholars in attendance. Guest speaker Dr. Yvonne Heredia, manager of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, shared her inspiring journey from the Chad Brown housing projects in Providence, R.I., to URI, where she earned her nursing degree. She returned to Providence to care for underserved populations in the community, and in 2018 was named RI Monthly’s Nurse of the Year in a Non-Traditional Setting. The Pathways to Nursing program at URI, funded by a Health Resources and Services Administration grant, supports nursing students from historically underrepresented populations. Aiming to reduce health care inequalities and achieve health equity by increasing an inclusive and diverse nursing workforce, the program provides students with resources and support to attain bachelor’s degrees in nursing over five years. There are currently 43 Pathway Scholars enrolled in the program.
6 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Grad Student Profile: Phoebe Hall Phoebe Hall was a marketing student with plans to work in the fashion industry when she experienced health issues that led her to change her lifestyle, and her outlook on life. Inspired by her journey to health, Hall decided to change her career goals and follow in the footsteps of family members into the health professions. After earning her nursing certificate, Hall went on to earn her B.S. in Nursing from URI. While working as a professional nurse, she went back to school at URI, earning her Doctorate of Nursing Practice this May. Hometown: Stonington, CT; now Providence, R.I. Education: AD in Nursing, New England Institute of Technology; BS in Nursing, URI; DNP in Family Nurse Practitioner, URI. Clinical Experience: Hall began as an outpatient RN at Caring for Women, a practice in Warwick, R.I. Her experience working with multiple families in the practice, coupled with her own health issues, led her to believe changes are needed in the way health care is delivered. “As nurse practitioners, we are well-equipped to lead the way in demonstrating self-care and wellness, and teaching people how to improve their health outcomes.” Why URI? Hall is a legacy student; her great grandfather graduated from the University, and her great-great grandfather taught engineering at URI in the early 20th century. But it was the University’s reputation — specifically that of the College of Nursing — that brought her here. “URI is amazing. I can’t say enough about the faculty. They are so supportive; they do so much that isn’t recognized. So many are still working clinically or on research; they walk the walk. I’ll always be grateful how they’ve shaped my goals and my practice.” Research: Hall is working at Thundermist Health Centers to help develop a screening method to identify patients who have suffered physical, mental or emotional trauma before age 18, which can contribute to adverse health reactions later in life.
Future Plans: Hall plans to open her own family practice, and also provide home care, something she said more health practitioners should do. She also hopes to influence the education and practice of health professionals, encouraging them to focus more on wellness and prevention, rather than just curing. She said doctors and nurses should focus more on the lifestyle of patients—their nutrition, movement, sleep patterns, etc. “We’re not synthesizing the foundations of health into our care enough. We should be utilizing more preventative strategies to keep people well.”
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 7
Nursing Grad Aims to Improve Global Public Health Former student inspired to eliminate health disparities Growing up, University of Rhode Island nursing alum Emely Baez ’19 spent her summers in the Dominican Republic with family members. While there one summer, she contracted Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness that can be life-threatening. While Baez recovered from the illness, the experience stuck with her, and it drove her to study nursing and to pursue a career in global health. “I got to see the health disparities between there and here,” said Baez, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from URI this past May. “In the Dominican Republic — not all areas but most areas — when it comes to medical resources and prevention, there is a lack of that.” While taking a global health course in Indonesia, which she visited thanks to a scholarship from a URI College of Nursing donor, there was a specific moment when Baez knew she made the right choice when deciding her future career path. While helping out at a clinic, Baez treated a woman with extremely high blood pressure, who was aware of her condition and had even been prescribed medication, but she didn’t take it regularly due to the cost and lack of access to it. She was also a grandmother who cared for 10 children so her own children could work. “Taking care of her own health was not a priority for her, but I was able to put things into perspective for her and help her understand that if she didn’t take care of herself now, things were going to get worse and she wouldn’t be able to be there for her grandkids,” Baez said. “Going there solidified what I learned in the classroom and taught me how it relates to the real world.” After graduation, Baez plans to complete a year-long nursing residency and then enroll in graduate school for global/public health. Her long-term goal is to work for an organization like the World Health Organization or Doctors Without Borders, where she can implement change on a larger scale.
8 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Students Lobby for Nursing Initiatives in Washington D.C. Workforce development, research funding, higher education among the initiatives Two students joined Dean Barbara Wolfe and faculty members from across the country on a trip to Washington, D.C., to push for legislative initiatives important to nurses and the health care community in general. Students Colin Burns and Sarah St. Jean visited Capitol Hill and the offices of Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with other colleagues from Rhode Island, in April. The students joined the effort to convince legislators to support a reauthorization of Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, National Institute of Nursing Research funding, and higher education policies to help nursing students attain the education they need.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 9
Why I Chose URI Nursing: Junior Lauren Kristol Talent, personal touch of professors impressed then-prospective student Lauren Kristol arrived at URI hyper-focused on obtaining a nursing degree, inspired by a volunteer experience at a local hospital. Her first visit to the Kingston Campus confirmed that she would get that degree here. “I liked how URI felt more like a neighborhood than a city or any other type of campus,” Kristol said. “I took a tour here and it was actually a torrential downpour at the time, but I still fell in love with the campus.” Beyond the campus’ appearance, Kristol was impressed by the facilities the URI College of Nursing has to offer. She also noted the impressive collection of talent among its faculty and the personal touch the College’s professors employ, making students feel welcome and appreciated. “We were able to visit the human simulation labs, which was a great opportunity as a prospective 10 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
nursing student. The older students were showing us the sims and how they used them for things like respiratory assessments,” said the Long Island native. “Then there was this one professor, Mary Cloud, and she started talking to me as if she knew me for years. She was so personable and comforting, and I just remember wanting to be educated by her and professors like her.” Kristol said she enjoys all of her classes, but the one she finds most practical as a nursing student so far is NUR 203 (Comprehensive Health Assessment). The course involves a lecture as well as a lab, and covers how to assess and diagnose problems in every system of the body. In the future, Kristol plans to go to graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. She won’t have to go far, as the URI College of Nursing’s Master’s program is ranked in the top 100 nationwide.
NP Students Earn Scholarships from Nursing Alliance Each receives $1,000 to continue studies Five URI College of Nursing graduate students got a little help in furthering their education, earning scholarships from the Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Rhode Island. Nurse practitioner students Olajumoke Adetunji, Andrea Burden, Kim Silva, Megan Chambers and Yvette Moreno each received a $1,000 scholarship during the alliance’s annual conference in March, as presented by Professor Becky Carley.
In Memorium: Dominique Franco In February, the URI College of Nursing lost one of its family members too soon, when student Dominique Franco passed away. A friend to all, Dominique is remembered as a unique individual who was full of life and aimed to spread positive thoughts wherever she went. Her passing is a huge loss to the College and the profession of nursing as a whole, but especially to her family and friends, and anyone who experienced the pleasure of her company. The College sends its most heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Dominique Franco.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 11
College Appoints Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and Research Dr. Katherine Hutchinson was inspired to join ‘innovative, inclusive college’ The URI College of Nursing’s reputation for intensive research and its mission to make “cutting edge, research-based knowledge and education accessible and meaningful to students, residents of Rhode Island, the U.S. and beyond” inspired Dr. Katherine Hutchinson to join the College as associate dean of the College’s graduate programs and research. Hutchinson — PhD, registered nurse and Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing — comes to URI from Boston College, where she had been a tenured nursing professor since 2012. She has extensive experience in graduate nursing education, having served as associate dean for graduate programs at BC. Hutchinson earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, and her master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Delaware. She completed post-doctoral training at the Center for Health Outcomes & Policy Research at the University of Pennsylvania. She was the founding director of the UPenn nursing undergraduate honors program. Hutchinson plans to bring that experience to the URI College of Nursing, which she said already has a head
Faculty Expertise, leadership bring national recognition. 12 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
start as an innovative, inclusive college focused on leading in the health care industry. “This is a really exciting time at the College of Nursing, building on its strong history, collaborating with partners from across the state, and working with outstanding senior faculty, and a growing cadre of faculty engaged in research,” Hutchinson said. “There are tremendous opportunities across campus and across the state for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative initiatives in terms of both research and graduate education. I knew that this was the kind of university where I wanted to be.” Hutchinson has a clinical background in maternal-child and neonatal critical care nursing. Her research focuses on adolescent and young adult risk behaviors, and influential parenting behaviors. As the leader of the graduate programs and research, Hutchinson plans to help the College grow its research prowess even more, for the benefit of future nurses and the health care community as a whole. “This growing research intensity creates opportunity for graduate students, as well as undergraduate students, to become engaged in clinical research,” Hutchinson said. “These opportunities can stimulate young students to consider research careers for themselves, even if they had never thought it possible before. Our growing research intensity also creates outstanding opportunities for our PhD students to benefit from direct research involvement and experiential or hands-on research training. Again, it’s a very exciting time to be here.”
College Welcomes Lecturer Dr. Ashlee Viveiros New professor to focus on simulation-based clinical training Education: BS in Nursing, 2011, Rhode Island College; MS in Nursing, 2016, RIC; DNP, 2019, RIC Experience: Viveiros worked as a registered nurse at Rhode Island Hospital in acute and critical care for seven years. She has held adjunct faculty positions as a clinical instructor at RIC, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Salve Regina University, teaching medical/surgical clinical courses. She is also a per diem patient navigator for the Minimally Invasive Urology Institute at The Miriam Hospital. Clinical focus: Viveiros’ clinical interests have focused on the practice of bedside nurses in acute care, specifically translating evidence to professional practice and improving quality of care. Her doctorate project involved implementing an evidence-based guideline for vascular access nurses to make recommendations for more appropriate uses of certain vascular access devices that are associated with dangerous infections that can harm patients and increase healthcare costs. Future plans: Viveiros plans to focus on simulation-based clinical education at the Kingston campus for nursing students at URI. “I believe that learning in a safe simulation-based education setting is essential for nursing students to develop the decision-making skills, confidence and critical thinking necessary to practice in the current healthcare environment,” Viveiros said.
URI Sponsors Regional Conference, Professor Delivers Keynote Dr. Mary Sullivan opened conference dedicated to nursing research Professor Mary Sullivan delivered the opening keynote address at the Eastern Nursing Research Society annual conference in Providence, R.I., as the URI College of Nursing sponsored the event at the Providence Convention Center in April. Comprised of to nurse-scientists and others interested in promoting nursing research, ENRS is dedicated to creating a community of nurses interested in promoting research in the Eastern Region of the United States. ENRS was established in 1988 as the research arm of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Nursing Association and the New England Organization for Nursing. The society holds an annual conference to bring nurse-scientists together to share research breakthroughs and “promote health through nursing science.”
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 13
URI Professor Helps Limit Health Spending Professor and Routhier Chair Betty Rambur serves on governor’s commission The state of Rhode Island has pledged to limit health care spending increases, and URI College of Nursing Professor Betty Rambur played a significant role in setting the spending target. Gov. Gina Raimondo and the Office of Health Insurance Commissioner has set a target for health care spending per capita increases not to exceed 3.2 percent annually. The executive order applies to consumers using private insurance, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Rambur served on the steering committee that set the target. “The goal is to decrease the rate of spending to reduce the cost to consumers,” Dr. Rambur said. “Spending on health care has far outpaced inflation. The idea is to slow the rate of increases so health care spending doesn’t cannibalize the rest of the state’s economy.”
14 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Former URI Nursing Dean Returns for Lecture Dr. Hesook Suzie Kim will headline Fall Distinguished Lecture Series Former URI College of Nursing Dean and Professor Emeritus Hesook Suzie Kim recently toured the new Nursing Education Center in Providence, R.I., stopping to be pictured before a mural of herself. Dr. Kim has recently published a book titled, "The Essence of Nursing Practice." Kim is scheduled to return to URI in the fall as a featured presenter in the College’s Fall Distinguished Lecture Series at the NEC on Oct. 16.
College Founder, Former Dean Inducted into RI Heritage Hall of Fame The founder of the URI College of Nursing and its first dean was honored for a lifetime of service to education, the nursing profession and the state of Rhode Island in general. Louisa White was postumously inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, cementing her place among prominent Rhode Islanders throughout history. Dean Barbara Wolfe accepted the honor on her behalf. White, a Rhode Island native, earned her RN from the Rhode Island Hospital School of Nursing in 1917. She served as a private nurse specializing in obstetrics and pediatrics, before going back to school to earn her BS and MS from Columbia University. White served as the R.I. State Director of Nursing Education, and Executive Secretary of R.I. Nurses’ Association before accepting a position at the thenRhode Island State College. She was instrumental in developing what would become the URI College of Nursing, serving as its dean from 1947 until her retirement in 1957. In 1970, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree by URI at the spring commencement. When the building that now houses the College of Nursing on the Kingston campus was completed in 1977, it was given the name of White Hall in honor of Dean White.
Long-time Professor Retires Dean Barbara Wolfe and the entire College of Nursing would like to thank Carolyn Hames for more than 45 years of service to the college. Hames retired in December 2018. Hames taught multiple classes through the years, most recently pediatric nursing, introduction to nursing, and thanatology. She also chaired the College's Curriculum Committee, and organized and authored the College's national accreditation with CCNE. In 2000, Hames was invited to become an Honors Fellow to teach both nursing students and non-nursing undergraduates in the University Honors Program. Hames is an expert in thanatology, especially grief and loss in children and adolescents. She is a trainer for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium, and is certified in thanatology by the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Hames helped to establish Friend’s Way, a children's bereavement center, for which she serves as president of the board of directors.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 15
Select CON Faculty Publications 2018-2019 Burbank P.M., Burkholder G.J., & Dugas J. (2018). Development of the Perspectives on Caring for Older Patients Scale: Psychometric analyses. App Nurs Res, 43, 98-104. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2018.07.002. Clark P.G., Burbank P.M., Greene G., & Riebe D. (2018). What do we know about resilience in older adults? An exploration of some facts, factors, and facets. In B. Resnick, K. Roberto, & L. Gwyther (Eds.), The handbook of resilience in aging (pp. 61-80). New York, NY: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-14419-0232-0. Burbank P.M. & Martins D. (2019). Critical interactionism: A theoretical bridge for understanding complex human conditions. In M.H. Jacobsen (Ed.), Critical and cultural interactionism: Insights from sociology and criminology. New York, NY: Routledge. Coppa D., Schneidereith T., & Ferina C. (2019). Simulated home based health care scenarios for nurse practitioner students. Clin Simul Nurs, 26(16), 38-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ecns.2018.10.002. Coppa D. & Barcelos Winchester S. (2019). Diagnostic readiness tests: Preparing nurse practitioner students for national certification examinations. J Am Assoc Nurse Prac. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000191. Cotton B.P., Bryson W.C., Lohman M.C., Brooks J.M., & Bruce M.L. (2018). Characteristics of medicaid recipients in methadone maintenance treatment: A comparison across the lifespan. J Subst Abuse Treat, 92, 40-45. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.06.002 Brooks J.M., Iwanaga K., Cotton B.P., Deiches J., Blake J., Chiu C., Morrison B., & Chan F. (2018). Perceived mindfulness and depressive symptoms among people with chronic pain. J Rehabil, 84(2), 33-39. Brooks J.M., Kaya C., Chan F., Thompson K., Sánchez J., Cotton B.P., & Fortuna K. (2018). Validation of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 for adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Int J Therapy Rehabil, 25, 395-404. doi: 10.12968/ ijtr.2018.25.8.395 Goldschmidt A.B., Cotton B.P., Mackey S., Laurent J., Bryson W.C., & Bond D.S. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of loss of control eating among adults presenting for methadone maintenance treatment. Int J Behav Med, 25, 693-697. doi: 10.1007/s12529018-9750-z. Bryson W.C., Cotton B.P., Barry L.C., Bruce M.L., Piel J., Thielke S.M., & Williams B.A. (2019). Mental health treatment among older adults with mental illness on parole or probation. Health Justice, 7(1), 4. doi: 10.1186/s40352-019-0084-y. Brooks J.M., Blake J., Sánchez J., Mpofu E., Wu J.R., Chen X., Nauser J., Cotton B.P., & Bartels S.J. (2019). Self-reported pain intensity and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Community 16 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Ment Hlt J. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/ s10597-019-00403-x. Provenzi L., Carli P., Fumagalli M., Giorda R., Casavant S., Beri S., Citterio A., D’Agata A., … Montirosso R. (2018). Very preterm birth is associated with PLAGL1 gene hypomethylation at birth and discharge. Epigenomics, 10, 1121-1130. doi: 10.2217/ epi-2017-0123. D’Agata A.L., Wu J., Welandawe M.K.V., Dutra S.V.O., Kane B., & Groer M. (2019). Effects of early life NICU stress on the developing gut microbiome. Dev Psychobiol, 61, 650-660. doi: 10.1002/ dev.21826 D’Agata A.L., Roberts M.B., Ashmeade T., Dutra S.V.O., Kane B., & Groer M. (2019). Novel method of measuring chronic stress for preterm infants: Skin cortisol. Psychoneuroendocrino, 102, 204-211. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.12.223 DiTomasso D. & Ferszt G. (2018). Mothers’ thoughts and feelings about use of a pediatric scale in the home to monitor weight changes in breast fed newborns. Nurs Women’s Health, 22, 463-470. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2018.10.004 DiTomasso D., Roberts M., & Parker Cotton B. (2018). Post-partum mothers’ experiences with newborn weight checks in the home. J Perinat Neonat Nurs, 32, 333-340. doi: 10.1097/ JPN.0000000000000367. DiTomasso D. (2019). Bearing the pain: A history of pain management practices for childbirth in the United States. J Perinat Neonat Nur. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1097/JPN.0000000000000407. Erickson-Owens D., Mercer J., & Wang M. (2018). The effects of placental transfusion on 12-month brain myelin volume in healthy term infants: A randomized controlled trial. J Midwifery Wom Heal, 63, 623-624. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.12912 Mercer J., Erickson-Owens D., Deoni D., Dean D., Collins J., Parker A., Wang M., Joelson S., Mercer E., & Padbury J. (2018). Effects of delayed cord clamping on four-month ferritin levels, brain myelin content and neurodevelopment: A randomized controlled trial. J Pediatr, 203, 266-272. doi: 10.1016/j. jpeds.2018.06.006. Ferszt G. (2019). Violence. In M. Nies & M. McEwen (Eds.), Community/ public health nursing. Promoting the health of populations (7th ed., pp.573-788). New York, NY: Elsevier. Baker N., Ferszt G., & Breines J. (2019). A qualitative study exploring female college students’ instagram use and body image. Cyberpsych Beh Soc N, 22, 277-282. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2018.0420. Daphne C. & Ferszt G. (2019). Migration experiences of Sierra Leoneans. J Cult Diversity, 26 (1), 38-45.
Jennings K.M., Gregas M., & Wolfe B.E. (2018). Trajectories of change in body weight during inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa. J Am Psychiat Nurses, 24, 306-313. doi: 10.1177/1078390317726142 Boyd H.K., Bodell L.P., Jennings K.M., Kass A.E., Crosby R.D., & Wildes J.E. (2018). Relationship between desired weight constructs and eating disorder severity following treatment for anorexia nervosa. Int J Eat Disorder, 51, 870-878. doi: 10.1002/eat.22879
Martins D.C. (2019). Thinking upstream: Nursing theories and population-focused nursing practice. In M. Nies & M. McEwen (Eds.), Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations, (7th ed.) Elsevier: St Louis, MI. Martins D.C. & Burbank P.M. (2019). Community health planning, implementation, and evaluation. In M. Nies & M. McEwen (Eds.), Community/public health nursing: Promoting the health of populations (7th ed., pp. 107-122). St Louis, MI: Elsevier.
Phillips K. & Jennings K.M. (2018). Factor structure of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire in a clinical sample of adult women with anorexia nervosa. J Psychosocial Nurs, 56(5), 33-39. doi: 10.3928/02793695-20180108-03.
Curtin A.J., Martins D.C., & Schwartz-Barcott D. (2019). Coping with mental health issues among older Hispanic Adults. Geriatric Nursing, 40(2), 123-128. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.07.003.
Jennings K.M., Loth K.A., Tate A.D., Miner M.H., & Berge J.M. (2019). Application of latent profile analysis to define subgroups of parenting styles and food parenting practices. Appetite, 6(138), 8-18. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.04.001
Rambur B. (2018). Enhanced primary care roles for nurses and other professionals. In D.M. Nickitas, D.J. Middaugh, & N. Aries (eds.), Policy and politics for nurses and other health professionals (pp. 313-334). New York, NY: Jones Bartlett Learning.
Jennings K.M., Bodell L.P., & Wildes J.E. (2019). Aggression in eating disorders. In E.F. Coccaro & M.S. McCloskey (Eds.), Aggression: Clinical features and treatment across the diagnostic spectrum (pp. 241-259). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
Rambur B., Palumbo M.V., & Nurkanovic M. (2019). How prevalent is telehealth nursing? Implications for regulation and education in the era of value-based care. Policy, Politics and Nursing Practice, 20(2), 6473. doi: 10.1177/1527154419836752.
Lee J., Nguyen H.Q., Jarrett M.E., Mitchell P.H., Pike K.C., & Fan V.S. (2018). Effect of symptoms on physical performance in COPD. Heart Lung, 47, 149-156. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2017.12.007. Mammen J.R., Rhee H., Norton S.A., Butz A.M., Halterman J.S., & Arcoleo K.A. (2018). An integrated operational definition and conceptual model. J Asthma, 55, 1415-1327. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2017.1418888 Rhee H., Love T., & Mammen J.R. (2018). Comparing Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) asthma control criteria. Ann Allerg Asthma Im, 122(1), 58-64. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2018.09.448. Mammen J.R., Java J.J., Rhee H., Norton S.A., Butz A.M., Halterman J.S., & Arcoleo K.A. (2019). Mixed-methods content and sentiment analysis of adolescents’ voice-diaries describing daily experiences with asthma and self-management decision-making. Clin Exp Allergy, 49, 299-307. doi:10.1111/ cea.13250 Arcoleo K.J., McGovern C., Kaur K., Halterman J.S., Mammen J.R., Crean H., Rastogi D., Feldman J.M. (2019). Longitudinal patterns of Mexican and Puerto Rican children’s asthma controller medication adherence and acute healthcare use. Ann Am Thorac Soc, 16, 715-723. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201807-462OC. Curtin A., Martins D.C., Genere A., Perez D., Cabrera E., Viveiros N., & Schwartz Barcott D. (2018). Perceptions of mental health among older Hispanic adults from the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Columbia. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(11), 44-50. doi: 10.3928/00989134-20181010-05.
Stout P.Z. & Martins D.C. (2019). Missed opportunities to immunize young adult males with the HPV vaccine to reduce oropharyngeal cancer. Nurse Pract, 44(7), 10–13. doi: 10.1097/01. NPR.0000559850.06744.e0. Sullivan M.C., Winchester S.B., & Msall M.E. (2019). Prematurity and cardiovascular risk at early adulthood. Child Care Health Dev, 45(1), 71-78. doi: 10.1111/cch.12616. Yang X., Wu H., Sullivan M.C., Wang J., Burckart G.J., Troutman J.A., & Fisher J.W. (2019). Ontogeny equations with probability distributions for anthropomorphic measurements in preterm and term neonates and infants for use in a PBPK model. Computational Toxicology, 11, 101-117. Chen Y., Driscoll C.T., Eagles-Smith C.A., Eckley C.S., Gay D.A., Hsu-Kim H., Keane S.E., Kirk J.L., Mason R.P., Obrist D., Selin H., Selin N.E., & Thompson M. (2018). A critical time for mercury science to inform global policy. Environ Sci Technol, 52(17), 9556-9561. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02286. Thompson M.R., & Schwartz Barcott D. (2019). The Role of the Nurse Scientist as a Knowledge Broker. J Nurs Scholarship, 51(1), 26-39. doi: 10.1111/ jnu.12439 Kelly-Weeder S. & Wolfe B.E. (2019). Extreme weight loss behaviors in racially diverse urban adolescents. J Adolescebt Health, 64(2), 276-278. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.08.031. Kelly-Welder S., Willis D.G., Lopez L., Sacco B., & Wolfe B.E. (2019). Binge eating and loss of control in college-age women. J Am Psychiat Nurses, 25(3), 172-180. doi: 10.1177/1078390319829814.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 17
Breastfeeding Study Earns National Award Dr. Diane DiTomasso hopes study encourages new moms to continue breastfeeding A College of Nursing professor’s groundbreaking study about newborn weight loss after birth has earned her a “best research” award from a leading neonatal publication. Assistant Professor Dr. Diane DiTomasso received the Journal of Human Lactation’s 2019 Best Research Article with A Practice Focus award for her article, “Neonatal Weight Matters: An Examination of Weight Changes in Full-Term Breastfeeding Newborns During the First 2 Weeks of Life.” DiTomasso’s study found that the average breastfed baby loses 8 percent of birth weight and that it was common for newborns to lose up to 10 percent of their body weight after birth. More importantly, the study found that most babies who did lose more than 7 percent in the first two weeks still gained weight at a similar pace afterward, compared to babies that lost less than 7 percent in the first two weeks. DiTomasso hopes her findings will influence the decisions of future mothers and that they will continue to exclusively breastfeed after the traditional 7 percent cutoff. For more on DiTomasso’s study, visit uri.edu/nursing/news.
AWARDS / HONORS National recognition.
18 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Study found that the average breastfed baby loses 8 percent of birth weight and that it was common for newborns to lose up to 10 percent of their body weight after birth.
Two from College of Nursing earn AAN Fellowships An advisor to the college and a professor earn the national honor Both an advisor to the URI College of Nursing and a nursing professor have achieved one of the greatest recognitions of accomplishment in the nursing profession. Stephanie Chafee and Diane Martins will be inducted as Fellows in the American Academy of Nursing in Fall 2019. Chafee, a former member of the College advisory council, founded the Rhode Island Free Clinic, and co-founded Women Ending Hunger. She also helped establish Sunrise House, a center where patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS can live and receive in-home medical care and hospice services. Chafee has worked for years caring for patients with the disease. “Stephanie Chafee is an individual with vibrant vision and passion to make such vision a reality. This is most significantly reflected in her pioneering service to improve health care for our most vulnerable members of society,” Dean Barbara Wolfe said. “Stephanie’s innovative leadership, collaboration, network as a former first lady of R.I., and philanthropy, are welcomed assets to assist AAN in achieving its mission.” Professor Martins has been an advocate for the homeless since her days as an ICU nurse in New York City. She led a taskforce there to help homeless people being discharged from the hospital find a place to go and receive further health care. She continued to volunteer, providing health care to the homeless and runaway teens, before bringing her advocacy to Rhode Island. Here, she pioneered an important change to the food stamp policy, allowing homeless, disabled and elderly people to use them to buy prepared
foods. It is a model other states have adopted around the country. “Dr. Martins’ advocacy and policy work has been instrumental in improving the lives of those who are homeless and hungry throughout the state and the nation,” said fellow URI Professor Pat Burbank. “Her contributions are especially noteworthy because she has addressed both the individual level, caring for people on the streets, and the societal level, working upstream to change policy and develop a theoretical perspective to provide a foundation for research, advocacy and policy change.”
Professors Earn Excellence in Nursing Awards Two faculty members at the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing were recognized with Excellence in Nursing awards from the R.I. State Nurses Association and RI Monthly magazine. Clinical Assistant Professor Michelle Palmer, a certified nurse midwife, was named Certified Nurse Midwife of the Year; and Professor Mary Sullivan was named Nurse Scientist of the Year.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 19
Early Life Trauma Linked to Obesity, Other Health Problems in Later Life Extreme stress as a child can damage hormones in the body, affecting patients for years Experiencing significant trauma or adversity early in life is a major risk factor for poor health later, but the specific links between early life trauma and negative health outcomes as an adult are not fully understood. URI College of Nursing Professor Karen Jennings aims to better define those links with the goal of finding more patient-centered treatment options to mitigate the negative health effects of the early trauma. Her study — “Relationship Among Childhood Parental Loss, Adipokines, Dietary Composition and Physical Health Status in Adults” — has been funded by a grant from the Heilbrunn Family Center for Research Nursing at Rockefeller University. The study examines adipokines, a group of hormones in the body, including leptin and ghrelin, that play essential roles in energy homeostasis and body weight. Previous studies have shown that chronic stress and significant early life trauma — such as that caused by a child losing his or her parents through death or abandonment — can increase the risk for abnormalities in the patient’s adipokines, leading to significant health problems, including obesity and diabetes. “Adipokines have been shown to play an active role in how our bodies use the energy we take in,” Jennings said. “Stress may contribute to abnormalities in these hormones. Studies suggest that early life trauma may play a role in the
RESEARCH & TRAINING Impacting health care delivery. 20 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
regulation of adipokines, which are in turn determinants of the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Early life trauma is integral to the regulation of these hormones and health outcomes.” Jenning’s study expands on the data collected by Dr. Audrey Tyrka, a psychiatrist at Butler Hospital in Providence, R.I., who examined study participants who suffered parental loss before the age of 10. Using a combination of blood tests, health assessments, weight, height and waist circumference measurements, as well as interviews about the participants’ diets and health habits, Tyrka’s study aimed to better understand neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, epigenetic and cellular aging processes as they relate to mood and anxiety disorders and related health conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Jennings will now examine that data to see how the hormones are specifically affected by early life trauma, define the connection between trauma and poor eating patterns, and examine how that damage may be reversed. “The goal is to show the relationship between childhood parental loss and negative health outcomes,” Jennings said. “We can’t change early-life trauma, but is there a way to alter specific aspects of the dietary composition to promote physical and mental health? Can we change something in the diet to alter adipokines and improve health outcomes?”
Professor awarded $3.7M NIH grant to Continue Decades-long Preemie Stress Study 30-year study has garnered more than $10 million in research funding The stress premature infants experience can carry on throughout their adult life, causing cognitive limitations, social struggles at work or in school, and a greater risk of health ailments, one of the longest-running U.S. studies of premature infants has shown. URI College of Nursing Professor Mary Sullivan will continue the now 30-year-long study for another five years, thanks to a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The project has so far garnered more than $10 million in grant funding. Involving 215 people born 30 years ago — including a control group of full-term babies, and premature newborns born at 22 to 36 weeks — the study tracks the successes and difficulties premature infants continue to face into adulthood, and compares them to the group of full-term babies.
Sullivan has found the stress of being born prematurely continues to impact the body even after preterm babies catch up developmentally to their full-term peers. That stress can increase the allostatic load — a measure of the wear and tear on a body’s systems — which can lead to a variety of health issues, including high blood pressure, diabetes, cognitive and mental health disorders including anxiety and depression, and cardio-vascular problems. It can also throw off the body’s epigenetic clock, causing the body to age faster than its chronological age. The study will continue to examine how preterm infant stress continues to impact patients well into adulthood. For more on Sullivan’s study, log onto uri.edu/nursing/news.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 21
Nursing Project Boosts Student Educational Experience, Helps Enhance Primary Care in Community $2.7 million HRSA grant fuels Advanced Nursing Education Workforce program Nurse practitioner students in the URI College of Nursing will get more hands-on experience, and patients at two community health centers will benefit from their expertise, thanks to a $2.7 million, four-year grant aimed at enhancing the nursing workforce and strengthening health care in the community. The Advanced Nursing Education Workforce program, funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration, enhances the academic clinical partnerships between the College and two community health centers — Thundermist Health Center and Providence Community Health Center. Students in the Adult Gerontology, Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner programs, based at the Nursing Education Center in Providence R.I., will be placed in the health centers to provide primary care and behavioral health services, under the supervision of professionals in the centers. Associate Professor and Director of Advance Practice Programs Dr. Denise Coppa expects 48-56 students will be placed in one or both of the centers over the four-year period, each serving two days a week, while maintaining their studies as full-time students. The grant includes money for traineeships and the tuition for 14 students in the program each year. The students will also receive greater experience and advice from a cohort of
22 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
preceptors that will be recruited as mentors. The students will also receive greater experience and advice from a cohort of preceptors that will be recruited as mentors. “This program will provide experience to these nurse practitioner students so they are prepared to work in community health centers when they graduate,” Coppa said. “The project builds upon an established commitment to support academic and practice achievements of students and community-based preceptors in the areas of practice with medically underserved individuals both in community health centers and in patients’ homes.” As part of the program, the community health centers’ home-based care programs will be expanded. Students will join professional nurse practitioners on home visits, providing direct primary care to patients too ill or disabled to travel to a center, helping reduce hospital and emergency room visits. In addition to full primary care services, the students will also provide end-of-life services where appropriate, helping patients create Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment.
“This project is a huge benefit not just for the students, but for practicing health care providers and the health care system as a whole,” Coppa said. “We’re increasing and transforming the health care workforce to provide more primary care services for the medically underserved population.”
URI Research Opportunities Expand Student Nursing Experience, Education Neonatal expert Dr. Amy D’Agata spearheads efforts for biobehavioral research, increased focus on lab science” Nurse researchers, practitioners and students continue to spend more time conducting lab science, contributing to the advancement of medical research and helping them achieve a deeper understanding of their patients’ conditions. “Being able to understand what’s happening to patients from a molecular perspective will help them ask different types of questions to
improve nursing practice.” said Assistant Professor Dr. Amy D’Agata. Dr. D’Agata’s program is focused on biobehavioral research into the stress experience of NICU infants and how it may influence neurodevelopment. D’Agata and her team will continue to measure different biomarkers to understand their relationship to infant stress and neurodevelopment. “There are nurses whose entire careers are focused on bench science research and it’s becoming more and more important for nurses to consider incorporating biobehavioral science into their research questions,” D’Agata said.
URI study helping repair asthma patients’ lungs A number of patients who suffer from asthma are bringing their condition under control, increasing their lung function and decreasing the frequency of asthma attacks — all without going to the doctor’s office. The patients involved in a URI College of Nursing professor’s study are benefitting from an emerging trend among nurses to increase patient care by treating them through technology. The Technology Enabled Asthma Management System is a new way to help patients manage their asthma. Created by Assistant Professor Jennifer Mammen, the system uses patients’ smartphones to treat their condition any time, any place. The app asks patients a series of simple questions about their condition each day. The patient’s symptoms — or lack thereof — are automatically entered into a “smart” flowsheet, which assesses the condition based on standard guidelines, calculates the severity and recommends proper therapy. A nurse analyzes the information and provides feedback to the patient through screen sharing and regular tele-health video chats. The study’s results have drawn national attention, this year earning an outstanding achievement award from the American Thoracic Society for Top Nursing Abstract. For more on the study, visit uri.edu/nursing/news
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 23
Higher Nursing Education Improves Patient Care Baccalaureate trained nurses aren’t just the future; they’re the present Nurses are on the front lines of health care, and studies have shown that the quality of care patients receive is linked to the level of education nurses attain. In fact, for every 10 percent increase in nurses with bachelor’s degrees, there is a 7 percent drop in patient death and an 8 percent improvement in overall patient outcomes, according to the National Institutes of Health. Increasing education for nurses is a long-time goal of Dr. Shawn Clarke, executive vice dean and professor of nursing at New York State University. Clarke spoke before students, faculty and members of the community at the Nursing Education Center in March as part of the College’s Spring Distinguished Lecture series. Nurses who earn a bachelor’s degree tend to have more experience and interest in health research, a better understanding of health systems and concepts like population health, Clarke said. They also tend to have more rigorous science training, deeper overall knowledge of the health care system and a greater capacity for critical thinking.
24 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
The number of baccalaureate-trained nurses has more than doubled since 2001 to more than 163,000 each year earning their bachelor’s degrees. Since 2008, a majority (55 percent) had earned their four-year degrees, and that number has steadily crept up each year. The American Nurses Association recommends that 80 percent of all nurses have bachelor’s degrees by 2020, and some states have made this a requirement. The need for greater education will continue to increase as responsibilities for nurses increase in today’s health care environment, Clarke said. While nurses will continue to be the first line in direct patient care, they are also taking on more significant roles in the overall health care system. “Nurses will be driving the car while helping to build it with other health care professionals,” Clarke said. “You need to have that broader education.”
College Attends Narragansett Powwow Nursing professors lead increased outreach to Native populations Representatives of the College attended the Narragansett Tribe’s annual Powwow this summer, distributing information about the College, the Pathways to Nursing program and an endowed scholarship for Native students. Students and professors met with members of the tribe and attendees of the powwow, promoting the College and the opportunities it offers. They also provided tick education, and discussed Research Assistant Professor Dr. Marcella Thompson’s study of environmental contamination in fish on tribal lands called The Namaus Project. The College has increased its outreach to the Native community, creating the Thompson Endowed Scholarship for Native Students, which will award $1,000 a year to a Tribe member who studies at URI. Thompson hopes the endowment and increased outreach will help make health-related majors more available to indigenous peoples. ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 25
Alumna earns ‘Great Catch’ Award After Helping Saving Patient Rachael Horrocks followed her instincts to discover serious problem While still in the orientation phase of her new job as a cardiac unit registered nurse at Yale-New Haven Hospital, URI College of Nursing alumna Rachael Horrocks realized there was something wrong with one of her patients. It was initially believed to be a pinched nerve, but Horrocks had a gut feeling something was off. She persistently expressed her concern, eventually convincing a doctor to order an MRI, which revealed the problem was much more serious than originally thought. The patient was found to have a spinal abscess and was rushed into emergency surgery. Had Horrocks not advocated for her patient and consistently expressed her concern, the abscess may not have been discovered so soon, and the patient could have ended up paralyzed or may have even died if it had gone unnoticed and wasn’t drained.
Because of her efforts, Horrocks received the “Great Catch Award” from the hospital. “Had it not been for the education I received and how much I was pushed during my time at URI, I don’t think the outcome for this patient would have been the same,” said Horrocks, who graduated from URI in May 2018.
ALUMNI Putting education to work.
26 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Alumna Earns Honor at Women’s Summit Marie Ghazal leads the Rhode Island Free Clinic RI Free Clinic Chief Executive Officer and URI College of Nursing graduate Marie Ghazal, DNP, RN, was honored as the 2019 New England Businesswoman of the Year Award at the Bryant University Women’s Summit. The Rhode Island Free Clinic offers free, comprehensive health care for Rhode Island’s uninsured, low-income, working poor and unemployed adults. Under Ghazal’s leadership since 2010, the clinic has expanded access to health care, specialty services and training to provide 10,000 patient visits annually with a staff of 800 volunteers and an annual budget of $1.2 million. Ghazal serves on the Rhode Island Action Coalition’s Future of Nursing, Strategic Leadership Committee; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island Corporations Board; and the Primary Care Population Health Programs Advisory Committee of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In addition to a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from URI, Ghazal earned a Master’s of Nursing in Community Health from Boston University.
$1 Million Gift Establishes Nursing Scholarship Deborah Godfrey-Brown scholarship to focus on students from diverse backgrounds University of Rhode Island alumna and retired nursing professor Deborah Godfrey-Brown, M.S. ’79, has pledged $1 million for scholarships in the College of Nursing. The gift establishes the Deborah Godfrey-Brown Nursing Scholarship, with a focus on undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. The permanent endowed fund will provide financial aid for Rhode Island residents who plan to pursue careers in nursing. “The College of Nursing is committed to promoting diversity in the nursing ranks,” College of Nursing Dean Barbara Wolfe said.
“Deborah’s generous gift will be a powerful catalyst for recruiting additional talented students who are passionate about nursing.” A native of Foster, Rhode Island, Associate Professor Emerita Godfrey-Brown has played a key role, both professionally and philanthropically, in the College’s success at creating new generations of nursing leaders. Prior to her 2008 retirement, she helped develop the capstone course Leadership in Professional Nursing. In 1996, she and her then-fiancé, Steven C. Brown, established the Godfrey-Brown Leadership Award, given annually to a graduating senior from the College of Nursing.
College of Nursing Funds get Boost on Day of Giving For 24 hours each year, students, faculty, staff members and alumni come together to celebrate all things Rhody and support the University of Rhode Island’s mission. This year, the URI College of Nursing had a huge day, as the graphic below indicates. The College appreciates all donors, who help support new research and the next generation of health care professionals. To donate to the College of Nursing, visit urifoundation.org.
73
New Donors
480% Increase
Nursing Rocks
$5,001 Raised
232% Increase
URI Day of Giving = Student IMPACT
Donor Impact Supporting Success.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 27
Your Gift Makes a Difference Your gift to the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing makes a tremendous difference not just on students who receive financial aid, but also on the entire health care community that benefits from practitioners who have received the very best education, thanks to you! In their own words, two former students express the impact your gift has made.
-way family. Half y m r fo e g as a challen cial hardship and my program w te a nan u d ra g ndergoing fi under u y e m er r w fo e g n w , Payi degree y four-year king 18-19 through m hile also ta lear. w c n e u re s a eg d w y I R m y. I con future at U k to pay off enied man acle d ee s w a a w t rs u b ou h s, scholarship on proved to be an obst ing 20-plus I was work ter. I was applying for ati tu si l ia to work . nanc mes fi y m t u b mics second , e credits a se es d a rs c u a co y m in lling e and put relation to tinued exce Nursing in g to overcom r in fo g ip en h ll rs a a h hol llowed me that was c ra L. Tate Sc ar. This scholarship a e time a rb a B e th granted senior ye had mor Then I was ademic standing my , meaning I rs ou uate h er c w a t ork fe f undergrad w o t d n or a h s my excellen co ie t d e CON’s firs e on my stu ember on a to focus mor took on a position in th side with a faculty m a minor, also ed side -bylaude with CON to study. I here I work duated summa cum w the s, ow ll fe k , and was , I gra or ly research w te l a a in im lt ig ject. U nted or research pro honors program , prese e th to be a completed I am lucky is er. t k a ea th sp n t io en ss fe commencem . Without th ies e into a pro g guided m practice and research in tunit rs u N f o h ge in the oppor lf e ys m URI’S Colle ant to fur ther throug se Iw le to immer ing. par t of; one ould not have been ab as the College of Nurs ll dering Iw d am consi ion ersity as we n iv scholarship a n r, U te e n th ce y l me b rked a pass jor medica provided to rse at a ma s a research fellow spa success u n y g lo co as an on y time a made my I now work dvanced degrees as m arbara Tate B f o y il a m r fa returning fo nursing practice . The in m grateful. for research for that I a d n a , le b a attain ziano - Teresa Gra
28 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
After a car acc ident that left me with a pe of what my fu rmanently dis ture as a nurs ability, I was e w for me, my ow ould look like. unsure n personal ha While things rd have not been ships have gr healthcare pro anted me a se easy vider. nse of perspect ive as a I know compa ssion because I have experi because I have enced frustra n’t tion . I am a be enough negati always been heard . I rema tter listener in positive be vity in the w cause I know orld to go aro rigid thinkin there is u n d . I tr y to be g doe openminded reminds me th sn’t solve problems. I view be ca use m at even the m os t devastatin y empathy as a strength , a tunity to foster nd it g experiences personal grow can serve as a th and resilien especially use n opporce . This way ful in my chos of en specialty of thinking has proved mental healt The best nurs h nursing. es are forward , anticipatory and think big. thinker Th learn alongsid e College of Nursing has pro s who challenge the statu s quo e the mos t ta vided me wit lented thinker h the opportu exceptional n nity to s in healthca urse -leader. A re so that I ca combination Landesberg M n be a truly of grants as w emorial Schol el l as the Adele a rs hip have aided burden that a Sheila ccompanies m in greatly offs y commitmen t to lifelong le etting the financial I hope that m arning. y stor y will in spire others to forward to giv co n ing sider the gift of sc also like to ch in this same spirit upon co allenge the m mpletion of m holarship. I look isconception th y degree. I wou gestures. Any at financial gi ld gift, regardle fts have to be ss of size, is a recipients. grand tremendous h elp to studen t nurse Further, you can also tailor your gift to fu that has prove rther a n es scholarship , fo pecially meaningful to you n area of nursing education r example , is . reserved for gr The Adele Sheila Landesbe ps ychiatric n aduate studen rg ursing. ts in the area of With gratitu de, Meredith Ard en
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 29
Annual Fund Gives Dean Options to Best Impact Nursing College Unrestricted philanthropic support is the lifeblood of higher education, and we are fortunate that the majority of College donors provide such funding through the Annual Fund, which sustains the College by providing the dean with an immediate, flexible means to respond to the most urgent opportunities and challenges. In the past year, the College of Nursing Annual Fund has helped send students to conferences and locations around the world to assist in providing health services while learning, underwritten faculty development, addressed student needs in the wake of unanticipated loss and provided seed funding for proof-of-concept research.
“Your gift to the annual fund is a critical resource for the college,” Dean Barbara Wolfe said. “It permits us to be nimble and responsive to timely opportunities to prepare nurses who excel as outstanding and compassionate clinicians, scholars and leaders. Our students and faculty would agree, it makes a big impact.”
COMMITTED AND RECEIVED BY COLLEGE
3.5% .1%
z z z z
changes lives. 30 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Outright Gifts / 84.3% New Documented Pledges / 3.5% Matching Gifts / .1% New Planned Giving Activity / 12.1%
80.7%
19.1%
Total Committed FY19 $1,760,903
z z z z
Support for the College
84.3%
Total Committed FY18 $1,614,893
To donate to a College’s annual fund, visit: cutt.ly/NursingAnnualFund.
GIVING
12.1%
.1% .1%
Outright Gifts / 19.1% New Documented Pledges / .1% Matching Gifts / .1% New Planned Giving Activity / 80.7%
The College of Nursing is grateful for the alumni, friends, corporations and foundations whose generosity supports students, faculty and essential College initiatives. An honor roll of donors is published online at cutt.ly/NursingHonorRoll
Development Team Grows GIVING ALLOCATIONS
25.4%
5.7%
Total Committed FY18 $1,614,893 68.9%
z Annual Fund / 5.7% z Endowed Gifts / 68.9% z Operating Gifts / 25.4%
5.4% 21.9%
Total Committed FY19 $1,760,903
72.7%
z Annual Fund / 5.4% z Endowed Gifts / 21.9% z Operating Gifts / 72.7%
The University of Rhode Island Foundation & Alumni Engagement has appointed Timothy Babcock as Director of Development for the Academic Health Collaborative. Working under the leadership of Eric Schonewold, Managing Director of Development, Babcock works closely with College of Nursing Dean Barbara Wolfe, College of Pharmacy Dean E. Paul Larrat, and College of Health Sciences Dean Gary Liguori. Babcock comes to URI after a 23-year career at the Ocean Community YMCA in Westerly, RI. His final seven years were in the role of Vice President of Operations with oversight of three branch YMCAs, a large day camp and a community ice skating rink. In this capacity, Babcock also managed the development initiatives for the organization, which completed two successful capital campaigns to renovate their Westerly and Mystic branches. The YMCA also significantly increased its annual support program under his leadership.
Nurse leaders are challenged each day with ensuring that research and evidence-based practices are being integrated into quality clinical care. Philanthropy is essential to the advancement of nursing research and education. The College of Nursing thrives in its support of our students, attracting top faculty, and competing with peer institutions in an increasingly competitive environment. For more information about giving to the College of Nursing or any disciplines in the Academic Health Collaborative, contact Babcock at tbabcock@uri.edu or 401.874.4909, or Eric Schonewald at eschonewald@url.edu or 401.874.9017.
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / 31
STUDENT RESEARCH Student Studies Impact Health Care.
32 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Nursing Students Present Research Projects at Annual Honors Conference Studies address topics as varied as migraines and judo. Students from the College of Nursing joined others from around the university in presenting research projects they worked on throughout the academic year at the annual Honors Conference in the Memorial Union Ballroom on the Kingston campus. Nursing students Megan O’Connell, Sydney Wall, Teresa Graziano and Emely Baez presented their research posters, answered questions and discussed their findings with students, faculty members and visitors who attended the conference in May. The students studied various topics such as ways to treat stress and migraines using non-pharmacological means (O’Connell); female empowerment through judo (Wall); grief in adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities (Graziano); and international nursing leadership (Baez).
ANNUAL REPORT 2019 / III
College of Nursing White Hall, 39 Butterfield Road Kingston, RI 02881
COLLEGE OF NURSING
URI_Nursing facebook.com/URINursing
uri.edu/nursing How to Give: Gifts to the University of Rhode Island should be made payable to the URI Foundation and can be made online at urifoundation.org/giveonline.
URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. 9/2019 1250/NUR PHOTOS: JOE GIBLIN; BEAU JONES; NORA LEWIS; PATRICK LUCE; MIKE SALERNO