UMSON Launches Two New Organized Research Centers

UMSON has established two new organized nursing research Centers of Excellence: the Placebo Beyond Opinions (PBO) Center and the SYNAPSE Center.

The PBO Center, directed by Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, professor and University of Maryland, Baltimore MPower Professor, promotes rigorous and systematic research on the mechanisms of placebo effects as well as the effect of placebos on variability in symptoms; treatment responses; and perception of clinical encounters based on socioeconomic factors, disparities, and diversity related to understudied populations.

A Hero and a Friend

The center will continue promoting interdisciplinary investigation of the placebo phenomenon while nurturing higher education programs focusing on placebo research.

The Symptom Science Using Neuroscientific Psychological Approaches (SYNAPSE) Center, directed by Ian Kleckner, PhD, MPH, associate professor, focuses on addressing symptom science through experimental research. The center encourages new perspectives by studying and treating symptoms through the lens of the psychology of mental states and perception along with their underlying neural circuits that support thoughts and behaviors.

Through methods including brain imaging and high-frequency sampling of patient symptoms and behaviors, and by leveraging modern theories of emotion, consciousness, and mindbody correspondence, the center will focus on a broader approach to understanding medical symptoms in patients with a range of conditions.

“I am excited that these UMSON organized research centers will lead scientific discovery to enhance the health and well-being of the people of Maryland and beyond,” said Erika Friedmann, PhD, professor and associate dean for research.

— Faye Rivkin

Pat-Ekeji, last fall. The sisters initially aimed to address the issue of bullying but soon realized that the book had a broader significance.

“We live in a diverse culture, and we want children to see themselves represented,” Nwogwugwu explained. “We have done a great job highlighting the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in professional and educational settings; however, there is a great need to incorporate this more in the teachings of very young children.” stand up to a bully and show up for themselves as heroes, but most importantly, as friends.

The book showcases “the impact that bullying has on the mental well-being of kids and the impact ‘otherism’ can have on a sense of self-worth,” Nwogwugwu said, explaining that otherism is the idea that individuals who don’t fit into the norms of a social group are treated as outsiders.

Drawing her a health nurse practitioner and personal experiences, Charlotte Nwogwugwu, DrPH, MPH, MSN, HIV PCP, CPH-BC, assistant professor, published a children’s book, A Hero and a Friend: A Fight Against Bullying, with her sister, Dianne

A Hero and a Friend tells the story of an impactful day for friends Chinonye, a Nigerian girl, and Aarya, a Sudanese girl, who bond over their shared interests and experiences as children of foreign-born parents. The book follows the girls through a day at school during which they

A Hero and a Friend has garnered positive feedback from reviews online and during readings at local schools. The book will be part of a series, with the second installment planned for this fall. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.

— Erin Merino