This week at the College of Nursing, learn how our faculty, students and staff are impacting research, communities, and national policy.
Grants/Awards
HOPE & CAIRHE 2gether (HC2) – funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Control Research in Persistent Poverty Areas Initiative – awarded multiple principal investigators Dr. Elizabeth Sloss and Dr. Ursula Martinez a $111,286 pilot grant for their proposal titled Advancing Community Resource Utilization to Address Health Drivers Among Populations Living in Persistent Poverty Areas. The team will conduct a workflow analysis to better understand how a web-based resource – http://www.findhelpidaho.org/ – is used in the specific context of individuals living in persistent poverty census tracts, identify gaps in current workflow, and develop implementation strategies to promote the consistent use of the platform and closed-loop referral system.
HOPE & CAIRHE 2gether (HC2) – funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Control Research in Persistent Poverty Areas Initiative – awarded Dr. Djin Tay (PI) and co-investigators Dr. Anne Kirchhoff, Dr. Eli Iacob, Dr. Lee Ellington, Dr. Caroline Stephens, and Chia Jie Tan a $113,698 pilot grant for their proposal titled Rurality and Financial Toxicity Among Households Impacted by Cancer and Persistent Poverty: A National Profile. The team will investigate the contribution of structural determinants of rurality and persistent poverty on financial toxicity and healthcare utilization among households affected by cancer in a national cohort of Health and Retirement Study respondents living in persistent poverty regions of the United States.
Academic Achievement
Laura Bradbury successfully defended her dissertation titled “Doing it With a Broken Heart:” Understanding the Meaning and Value of Personal Bereavement Rituals to committee members Christina Gringeri (Chair), Troy Anderson, Sarah Canham, Brad Lundahl, and Dr. Kathi Supiano.
In the Media
In the March 2025 Endowment Report, the University Advancement Office included an article written by Aubrey Maynard titled Endowed Chair in College of Nursing Helps Families through Palliative and End-of-life Care Initiatives. Dr. Lynn Reinke was featured in her role as the Claire Dumke Ryberg, RN, Presidential Endowed Chair in End-of-Life and Palliative Care in the College of Nursing. Dr. Reinke is quoted as saying, “Their endowment has given me the freedom to go out and build relationships and support projects that improve the quality of life and the quality of dying experiences for patients and their families.”
Dr. Shawna Sisler, Dr. Jennifer Hamilton, Dr. Sara Hart, and Naomi Schapiro led a webinar titled Preventing Suicide through Lethal Means Restriction in Pediatric Care. Sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Ambassadors, and the Firearm Injury Prevention Special Interest Group, the webinar focused on techniques to navigate difficult conversations with families concerning lethal means reduction, and explored partnerships with public health organizations, law enforcement agencies, and businesses to promote the safe storage of firearms, medications, and other lethal means.
Dr. Julie Valentine is leading a 3-year Start by Believing campaign and conducting research to evaluate its effectiveness. The launch was April 1, 2025, at the Capitol Rotunda. KSL featured the campaign in a leading news story 'I believe you': Utah initiative launches public campaign to support sexual violence victims, and quoted Dr. Valentine.
Western Institute of Nursing Conference
The College of Nursing will be well-represented at the 2025 Western Institute of Nursing Conference on April 8-11, 2025, in Spokane. The conference theme is Redesigning Nursing for New Frontiers in Health. More than 60 faculty, pre- and post-doctoral fellows, staff, and students will present.
2025 WIN Award Recipient:
Anna M. Shannon Mentorship Award: Dr. Paula Meek
2025 Western Academy of Nurses Inductee:
Dr. Andrea Wallace
Podium Presentations:
Preconference: Whole Person Symptom Management: Adapting a Palliative Care Approach across Patient Populations. Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Taylor-Swanson
Redesigning Belonging in an RN-BS Program. Dr. Lisa Barry, Dr. Rebekah Perkins, Dr. Jenneth Doria, Dr. Sue Chase-Cantarini
State of the Science Address in Research: We’re in This Together: Advancing Nursing Science Through Mentoring and Collaborations. Moderator: Dr. Paula Meek
Symposium: Advancing Caregiver Support: Development and Validation of the Revised Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale for Family Caregivers (RHDS-CG). Moderator: Dr. Andrea Wallace
- Overview: Developing and Validating a Family Caregiver Scale of Hospital Discharge Readiness. Dr. Andrea Wallace,Dr. Alycia Bristol, Dr. Catherine Elmore, Mackenzie Elliott, Dr. Sumin Park, Christopher D. Hernandez, Keiko Cawley, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, Dr. Christine Platt, Dr. Paula Meek
- Caregiver and Provider Experiences during Discharge: Informing the RHDS-CG. Dr. Alycia A. Bristol, Dr. Christine Platt, Dr. SuminPark, Dr. Catherine Elmore, Mackenzie Elliott, Christopher Hernandez, Dr. Paula Meek, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, Keiko Cawley, Dr. Andrea Wallace
- Item Selection, Phrasing, and Scaling for RHDS-CG Caregiver Discharge Readiness. Dr. Andrea Wallace, Dr. Alycia Bristol,Mackenzie Elliott, Dr. Christine Platt, Dr. Catherine Elmore, Dr. Sumin Park, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, Dr. Paula Meek
- Strategies for Increasing Study Participation by Caregivers in a Hospital Setting. Dr. Catherine Elmore, Mackenzie Elliott, Dr. SuminPark, Christopher D. Hernandez, Keiko Cawley, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, Dr. Paula Meek, Dr. Alycia Bristol, Dr. Andrea Wallace
- Preliminary Analysis of the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale for Caregivers. Dr. Paula Meek, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, Keiko Cawley,Dr. Catherine Elmore, Mackenzie Elliott, Dr. Sumin Park, Christopher Hernandez, Dr. Alycia Bristol, Dr. Andrea Wallace
Associate Deans and Directors for Research Forum. Moderator: Dr. Paula Meek
2025 Distinguished Research Lectureship: Transition from Nurse Practitioner to Nurse Scientist: Development of a Heart-Mind Program of Research. Moderator: Dr. Paula Meek
PhD/DNP Collaboration and Clinical Networking Special Interest Group. Moderator: Dr. Perry Gee
Western Academy of Nurses Panel: Promoting DNP/PhD Nursing Partnerships and Collaborations for the Future. Moderator: Dr. Perry Gee
Poster Presentations:
Staff Perceptions on Ambulation for Pediatric Post-Operative Inpatients. Brianna Peterson Waldron, Julianne Mathias, Dr. Julie Peila Gee
Provider-Led Transition from Pediatric to Adult Healthcare. Kami Tyler, Dr. Amanda Keddington
Addressing Agriculture Stress in Communities and Rural Healthcare Settings. Dr. Linda Edelman, Christopher Hernandez, MeganMcClure, Dr. Brenda Luther, Dr. Larry Garrett, Dr. Shawna Sisler
Building Bridges: Communication Strategies for Enhancing Refugee Healthcare. Dr. Katherine Doyon, Sunny Smart, Sadia Abdulkadir,Hannya Ornelas, Adebusola Oluwatoba-Adeyemi
Educational Activity with Lay Midwives in Remote Guatemala about Preeclampsia. Dr. Cheryl Armstrong, Jill Johnson, Emily Flynn,Ashlee Nelson, Kayla Madsen, Dr. Eli Iacob, Dr. Kimberly Garcia
Research Comparing Leader vs Non-Leader RN Views of Professional Governance. Dr. Scott Christensen, Dr. Robert Lubeznik-Warner,Adrianna Bell
Identifying Leadership Gaps to Enhance Shared Governance: A Needs Assessment. Angela Fenton, Dr. Scott Christensen
Qualitative Analysis of a Faculty-Nursing Student Mentoring Program. Dr. Cheryl Armstrong, Dr. Ann Butt, Dr. Amanda Keddington,Angela Fenton, Kristan Tunks
Exploring Nursing Students Lived Experiences with Racism in Nursing School. Dr. Lisa Ann Barry, Dr. Nancy Allen, Dr. Alycia Bristol, Dr. Sharifa Al-Qaaydeh, Dr. Julie Lucero, Dr. Ana Sanchez-Birkhead
Piloting a Person-Directed Living Course for Culture Change in Dementia Care. Dr. Rebekah Perkins, Dr. Corinna Tanner, DeeDeeRichardson, Carmen Bowman, Mitchell Holmes, Jacqueline Telonidis, Dr. Nanci McLeskey, Dr. Linda Edelman
Research and Information Exchange Posters: Intermountain Health:
Enhancing Competency and Performance in Novice Chief Nursing Officers. Amy Christensen, Dr. Scott Christensen
Research and Information Exchange Posters: University of Utah College of Nursing:
Moral Distress by a Thousand Cuts: Mixed Methods Study on Nurses after COVID-19. Dr. Natasha Ansari, Dr. Eli Iacob, Dr. Lisa Taylor-Swanson, Dr. Echo Warner, Dr. Jake Van Epps, Dr. Rebecca Wilson, Dr. Katherine Supiano
Third Trimester Syphilis Testing at Obstetric Clinics: A QI Project. Danielle Bennett, Dr. Cynthia Garbett
Increasing Awareness & Referral Rates of Palliative Care for BMT Patients. Colbie Christopher, Dr. Katherine Doyon
Postpartum Depression Screening at Well-Child Visits: Improving Quality. Katy Foutz, Dr. Mollie Cummins, Dr. Ryoko Kausler
Automating Discovery of Sensors & Metadata w/ Large Language Model-Augmented Search. Sunho Im, Dr. Julio Cesar Facelli, Dr. Katherine Sward, Dr. Mollie Cummins, Dr. Ram Gouripeddi
Providers’ Barriers to Family Involvement in Urban Outpatient Mental Health Setting. Trisha Mallard, Dr. Cynthia Garbett
Bridging the Gap: Improving Palliative Care Referrals in Primary Care. Morgan Rawlings, Dr. Katherine Doyon
Addressing Social Determinants in Pediatric Constipation. Ashley Wegrowski, Dr. Robert Sylvester
Implementing Universal Vaccine Workflow for Foster Care Clinic: A Qualitative Study.
Kari Weiss, Dr. Shawna Sisler, Dr. Joni Hemond, Dr. Jessie Leavitt
Screening & Referral: Paternal Postpartum Depression in Obstetrics. Sara Williams, Dr. Melinda Patterson
Carrie Radmall is representing the College of Nursing at Exhibit Booth #14 and supporting the College’s reception.
Gabriel Mayberry and Ryan Copeland developed the marketing digital image.
Support to Faculty, Staff, and Students:
Colleen Neering prepared a comprehensive schedule of all College of Nursing presentations, and provided input for College Kudos.
Ruby Hocker supported faculty by coordinating poster printing with the J. Willard Marriott Library, managing WIN-related expenses, and registering individuals for the conference.
Heather Clarkson supported students by awarding conference travel scholarships and processing travel accommodations.
Research and Information Exchange Poster Reviewers:
Dr. Alycia Bristol, Dr. Mollie Cummins, Dr. Jackie Eaton, Dr. Lee Ellington, Dr. Deanna Kepka, Dr. Kathy Sward, Dr. Eli Iacob
Service to the Western Institution of Nursing:
Board of Governors – Governor Representative of Nursing Research: Dr. Paula Meek
Program Committee: Dr. Alycia Bristol, Dr. Lauri Linder, Dr. Paula Meek, Dr. Perry Gee
Abstract Reviewers: Dr. Cheryl Armstrong, Dr. Alycia Bristol, Dr. Ann Butt, Dr. Scott Christensen, Dr. Katherine Doyon, Dr. Catherine Elmore, Dr. Teresa Garrett, Dr. Julie Peila Gee, Dr. Perry Gee, Dr. Amanda Keddington, Dr. Lauri Linder, Dr. Paula Meek, Dr. Ginette Pepper
Presentations:
Dr. Lauri Linder gave three invited presentations at the International Congress of the National Cancer Institute of Colombia in Bogota.
- Technology to Support Symptom Identification in Children
- Contributions of Pediatric Oncology Nurses to Reduce Disparities
- Strategies for Symptom Self-Management
Dean Marla De Jong facilitated the Academic Health Center Like Schools Focused Discussion at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Deans Annual Meeting.
Undergraduate students presented research posters at the Undergraduate Research Symposium: Spring 2025.
- Nehal Bakshi: Naloxone Literacy in Utah: An Evaluation Amid the Opioid Crisis (faculty mentor: Dr. Jacob Steenblik)
- Maren Busath: Goal Setting Among Women with BMI ≥25 Planning a Pregnancy Involved in Motivation and Problem Solving Coaching to Promote Diabetes Prevention Program Engagement (faculty mentor: Dr. Sara Simonsen)
- Krystal Nguyen: Developing an American Sign Language Glossary of Cardiometabolic/Cardiovascular Terms (faculty mentor: Dr. Michelle Litchman)
Faculty and students presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 46th Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions in San Francisco. The theme of the meeting was Context Matters: Bridging Perspectives in Behavioral Medicine.
- Kaila Christini, Stephen Gubler, Dr. Echo Warner, Rebecca Slagle, Simon Brewer, and Dr. Deanna Kepka presented a poster titled Insurance Instability and Rurality: Key Factors in HPV Missed Vaccination Opportunities Among Latino/a and American Indian/Alaska Native Children/Adolescents.
- Kimberly Ito, Ida Tovar, Cindy Turner, Dr. Austin Waters, and Dr. Echo Warner delivered a podium presentation titled From Screen to Action: The Impact of Cancer (mis)Information on Health Behaviors.
Carrie Radmall and First- and Second-Year PhD students attended the meeting and presentations:
Second Year:
Sandi Alshahwan
Kellie Asay
Kimberly Ito
Kimberly Munoz
Sasha Perez
Carly Peterson
Amy Powell-Versteeg
Paige Poynot
Debra Duerksen
First Year:
Shery Huang
Sunho Im
Alyssa Lark
Kelvin Opare
Clare Peckenpaugh
Elena Solis
Community Outreach
Dr. Amanda Keddington presented to 300 junior high students at Shoreline Junior High School in Layton about nursing as a career. Dr. Keddington enthusiastically expressed, “It was some awesome outreach – thanks to Ryan Copeland and Sarah Christensen for helping me get set up with swag etc.!”
Dr. Jacob Steenblik and a team of collaborators from the Moran Eye Center, the University of Dodoma Medical Center in Tanzania, and their global outreach groups completed more than 150 cataract surgeries, and more than a dozen oculoplastic procedures, restoring sight to patients ranging in age from 4 months to 99 years old in Dodoma.
The Gamma Rho Chapter of Sigma hosted a Career Fair featuring faculty with expertise in cover letters, resumes, and professional development. Representatives from University of Utah Health, Intermountain Health, and HCA Healthcare shared insights on how to distinguish oneself as an applicant.
Members of the planning committee included:
- Dr. Amanda Keddington, President
- Dr. Anna Alder
- Dr. Natasha Ansari
- Dr. Cheryl Armstrong
- Dr. Lisa Barry
- Leslie Crandall
- Dr. Jenneth Doria
- Dr. Kelly Mansfield
- Dr. John Nerges
- Dr. Rebekah Perkins
- Paige Potter
Faculty volunteers offered one-on-one resume reviews and presented:
- Angie Fenton
- Dr. Valerie Flattes
- Dr. Larry Garrett
- Dr. Van Gip-Duran
- Dr. Brenda Luther
- Dr. Amy Pasmann
- Dr. Rebekah Perkins
Faculty and staff presented posters at the Utah Public Health Association 2025 annual conference in Ogden.
- Dr. Sara Bybee, Natalie Tedford, Dr. Brenda Luther, Dr. Jia-Wen Guo, Lisa Diamond, and Dr. Andrea Wallace presented The Role of Threat Vigilance in Screening and Addressing Unmet Social Needs in the Emergency Department.
- Nicole Fleming and Dr. Sara Bybee presented Accessibility and Affordability of Translation Services as Key Barriers to Including Spanish-speakers in Research.
Health Care Provider Recognition
Patients submitted comments regarding psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, Dr. John Sensiba. “I absolutely recommend Dr. Sensiba for anyone seeking exceptional mental health care. His professionalism, expertise, and dedication have truly guided me on a path of self-improvement, helping me navigate challenges with confidence and clarity. From the very first appointment, he provided insightful guidance and personalized support that made a real difference in my life. Additionally, his nurse, Lacy, has been an incredible source of comfort—her compassion, kindness, and unwavering support have made every visit a positive experience. Together, they create a welcoming and nurturing environment that fosters healing and growth!”
Publications
Cummins MR, Ivanova J, Soni H, Robbins Z, Bunnell BE, López E, Welch BM. Telemedicine prescribing by US mental health care providers: National cross-sectional survey. JMIR Form Res. 2025;9:e63251. http://doi.org/10.2196/63251
Ivanova J, Cummins MR, Soni H, Ong T, Bunnell BE, López E, Welch BM. Mental health providers' challenges and solutions in prescribing over telemedicine: Content analysis of semistructured interviews. JMIR Hum Factors. 2025;12:e65419. http://doi.org/10.2196/65419
Community Engagement
The Deans’ Nursing Policy Coalition invited Dean Marla De Jong and Tracey Nixon to attend the Academic Health Care Summit in Washington, DC. The summit brought together deans of research-intensive nursing schools and their corresponding hospital nurse executive to discuss workforce development, integrated models of care, and advancements in technology.