In this week’s College Kudos, we celebrate top national and state rankings for several academic programs, a new NSF-funded grant supporting pediatric cancer and disaster research, and Dr. Deanna Kepka’s recognition as an HPV Vaccination Champion. Faculty earned praise from patients, delivered expert presentations, and contributed to national publications and policy conversations. We also recognize the unwavering support of staff member Shelli King and highlight recent scholarly work advancing nursing and public health.
Rankings
The Natural Hazards Center's Quick Response Award Program, located at University of Colorado Boulder, awarded a $5,000 grant to Principal Investigator Judy Ou, and Co-Investigators Dr. Echo Warner, Nancy Daher, David Freyer, James VanDerslice, and Dr. Anne Kirchhoff for their project titled Impacts of the Los Angeles Wildfires on Children and Adolescents with Cancer: A Pilot Study. The National Science Foundation funds this award program, which promotes social science innovation in hazards and disaster research.
Professional Award
The Utah Department of Health & Human Services selected Dr. Deanna Kepka to receive the Utah Silver Syringe Award for her work as an HPV Vaccination Champion. This award is given to an individual, organization, or provider who is dedicated to raising rates of HPV vaccination in Utah and educating patients and/or the community about the HPV vaccine. Dr. Kepka will receive the award next month at the Northern Utah Immunization Coalition Annual Conference in Ogden.
Health Care Provider Recognition
Patients submitted comments regarding psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners.
Dr. Sheila Deyette: “Dr. Deyette has made a positive impact on my mental health. She truly cares about me and my all around health. She is always informative and knowledgeable about medications. I trust Dr. Deyette completely.”
Dr. John Sensiba:
- “Cares about how I am doing. Because of the numerous meds, he goes over the list of medication. Easy to talk to and I feel he is caring how I am progressing.”
- “John Sensiba is excellent.”
- “Just had no problems.”
- “Dr. Sensiba is great! So is his assistant Lacy.”
Staff Recognition
Shelli King has been a consistent presence at CON for the past six years. Whether it is reserving conference rooms and classrooms, unlocking office doors, redirecting phone calls, picking up keys, or coordinating projects for work study students, Shelli always has a smile on her face, a cheery countenance, and bowl full of York Peppermint Patties. We would be lost without her.
Presentations
Dr. Katarina Friberg-Felsted delivered a presentation titled Mindfulness and Stress Reduction at the 34th Annual Russell B. Clark Gerontology Conference at Brigham Young University (BYU). In addition, she exhibited about a pathway that enables BYU undergraduate students who earn a minor in Gerontology to smoothly transition to the College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Gerontology program.
Dr. Deanna Kepka delivered a webinar titled Expanding Access to Cervical Cancer Screening: The Role of Self-Collection for the Nevada Cancer Coalition-sponsored CELL Series. Offered as Cancer Education Lunch & Learns, the CELL Series features talks from local and national experts on a variety of topics across the cancer continuum.
In the Media
Cancer Discovery, an American Association for Cancer Research journal, features Cancer Discovery News, a comprehensive hub for cancer researchers who aim to stay informed about significant advances in preclinical and clinical research, as well as therapeutic development. In a Cancer Discovery News article titled Clinicians Warn Trump’s EOs Will Harm LGBTQ+ Patients, Aaron Tallent quoted Dr. Sara Bybeeregarding health disparities that persons who identify as LGBTQ+ experience.
In conjunction with International HPV Awareness Day, Dr. Deanna Kepka was interviewed for a KUTV Check Your Health segment titled HPV Awareness and Importance of the HPV Vaccine.
Publications
Aaron SP, Supiano KP, Elk R, Wallace B. Towards a framework for a culturally centered evidenced based prolonged grief group therapy intervention. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2025;31(3):109-118. http://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2025.31.3.110
Bekker JH, Heaton B, Valentine J, Valentine M, Burns N, Hawkins A, Kardon G, Kiefer J, Kirchhoff A, Morath J, Stanfield G. Readers' Forum: Protect Utah’s dental health — veto HB81. Deseret News. March 14, 2025.
Tay DL, Perkins R, Muehlberger JR, Casucci T, Campbell T, McFarland MM, and Ellington L. The role of palliative nursing in the context of immunotherapies: A scoping review of patient- and family-centered care considerations. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. Epub ahead of print. DOI: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000001111
The Scholars Strategy Network is a national membership organization made up of college- and university-based researchers interested in improving policy and strengthening democracy. Scholar Dr. Sara Bybee published a policy brief titled The Disproportionate Experience of Financial Hardship and Negative Health Outcomes Among Spanish-Speaking Communities.