COLLEGE OF NURSING A N N U A L R E P O R T 2017
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 1
CONTENTS
WHO WE ARE Mission
4.
YEAR IN REVIEW
5.
BY THE NUMBERS
6.
ACADEMICS
10. FACULTY 14. CLASS OF 2017 16. SCHOLARSHIP 20. RECOGNITION 24. OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT 28. OUR PARTNERS 34. GIVING 39. ACADEMIC HEALTH COLLABORATIVE
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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 healthcare through innovation and excellence in education, knowledge development, discovery and professional practice to meet the needs of a global society.
Values • 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
DEAN’S MESSAGE In reviewing material to include in the URI College of Nursing’s 2017 Annual Report, I was struck anew by just how much we have accomplished together in my first full year at the University, and perhaps most importantly, how much we have to look forward to. We made significant academic gains (Undergraduates scored a 94 percent first time pass rate on the NCLEX in the most recent quarter.), earned recognition among peer institutions at the national level (Our master’s program ranks in the top 100 in U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best Graduate Programs.), and advanced 21st century education for nursing professionals (The new Rhode Island Nursing Education Center offers the most advanced simulation technology and unparalleled opportunities for collaboration with partner institutions.). We recently welcomed nearly 200 outstanding freshmen to the College. In fact, the class of 2021 bears the distinction of being the most selective freshman program at URI. Nursing also has become the largest undergraduate major at URI. In this report, we mark achievements, celebrate students, welcome new faculty, share compelling research, showcase our community impact and demonstrate how the College of Nursing is poised to tackle the complex and evolving health-care challenges facing society. To that end, the College completed a strategic plan that will guide our work and focus our objectives in the years ahead. The College also is developing academic programs to reflect the needs of 21st century nursing, including a psychiatricmental health nurse practitioner program to help meet the behavioral health and psychiatric needs of society and an executive doctor of nursing practice program focused on transforming the future of health care. All of us hope you enjoy learning more about the URI College of Nursing, share our excitement about the future and perhaps join us in our mission to deliver excellence in nursing education, research and care, and ultimately, improve the health and well-being of all.
—Dean Barbara Wolfe
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YEAR IN REVIEW Pass Rate of 94 Percent In the second quarter of 2017 we cheered our faculty and undergraduates when our students scored a first-try pass rate of 94 percent on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
_________________________________________________________________ Best Graduate Programs Ranking Our graduate offerings gained national notice when the College’s master’s degree program surged into the top 100 in U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 Best Graduate Programs ranking, moving from 133 to 79.
_________________________________________________________________ New Faculty We welcomed 11 new faculty members from around the nation, all with impressive credentials and unwavering commitment to nursing. (See page 10.).
_________________________________________________________________ Online Enrollment Increases In December 2016, we celebrated the first graduates of our online RN to BS program, the only one in the state offered by a public university. Starting in fall 2015 with just under 30 students, the program now enrolls over 500 — a more than 1,500-percent increase (See page 9.)
_________________________________________________________________ Reaccreditation for 10 Years The College as a whole underwent accreditation review by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and received reaccreditation for 10 years for our undergraduate, master’s and post-master’s certificate programs.
_________________________________________________________________ Advisory Council We convened the College’s advisory council (See page 33.), bringing in leaders with diverse backgrounds and expertise to help guide our success in coming years.
_________________________________________________________________ New Center Opens The Rhode Island Nursing Education Center opened in Providence in August. (See page 7.). This 133,000-square-foot teaching facility offers the latest technology in high-fidelity nursing simulation and offers upperclassmen and graduate students the most advanced technologies and curricula available.
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THE URI COLLEGE OF NURSING by the numbers
188
UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS ENROLLED FOR FALL 2017
94%
3.93
FIRST-TIME PASS RATE
AVERAGE GPA
NCLEX EXAM, SECOND QUARTER 2017
OF INCOMING FRESHMEN
1214
AVERAGE
SAT
SCORE OF INCOMING FRESHMEN
Top 100
MASTER’S PROGRAM PLACEMENT IN U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT’S 2018 BEST GRADUATE PROGRAM RANKINGS
6
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
16
NUMBER OF FACULTY AND STAFF HIRED SINCE 2016
1,500%
URI
133,000
2
INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT IN ONLINE RN TO BS PROGRAM SINCE 2015
SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE NEW RHODE ISLAND NURSING EDUCATION CENTER
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
URI
URI
URI
6,000+ ALUMNI
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 5
ACADEMICS The College offers unparalleled facilities, real-world mentoring, on-line learning and a commitment to leadership in nursing.
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Innovation for the 21st-century Rhode Island Nursing Education Center, featuring the latest simulation technology, opens in Providence The transformative Rhode Island Nursing Education Center, part of the South Street Landing Project along the waterfront in Providence, opened in August 2017, providing upperclassmen and graduate students with an unparalleled learning experience. This 133,000-square-foot facility capitalizes on an existing cluster of health-care institutions and medical research enterprises and is a national model for public-private partnerships. This leading-edge facility has become the anchor institution of a regional hub for health-care education, offering students, faculty and researchers unprecedented opportunities for learning and collaboration across universities and organizations. Second-semester juniors, all seniors and graduate students will receive instruction at the Center. The historic building also houses offices for Brown University’s medical school and classroom and office space for the Rhode Island College School of Nursing. The Center combines leading technology with a rigorous experiential learning curriculum, placing Rhode Island at the forefront of the nation in nursing education. Sophisticated simulation laboratories allow in-depth and complex training that cannot be found in clinical placements alone. The breadth of the lab capabilities — including medical, surgical, mental health and home care simulations — provide a strong competitive advantage as a regional resource. “The Center is located in one of the most vibrant sections of Providence, where world-class biomedical and health-care learning and research take place every day,” Dean Wolfe said. “The Center will provide URI nursing students with the best education available in a facility unlike any other, giving them unparalleled qualifications in the ever-evolving health-care field.” Rapid changes in health care require advanced practice education, as the field becomes more complex and educational requirements for nurses become ever more rigorous, and the Center meets these needs while providing professional development and career advancement opportunities for the region’s health-care workforce.
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“I like putting nursing students in a real-life situation where you can learn critical-thinking skills.”
Dedicated to Excellence Step onto the third floor of The Miriam Hospital in Providence and you will notice busy health professionals engaged in the art and science of patient care. However, you likely wouldn’t notice what else is taking place: real-world education of future nurses. Registered nurses work one-on-one with URI seniors as part of a Dedicated Education Unit, a mentoring model developed in Australia, said Katherine Paquette, clinical assistant professor of nursing at URI, where the program has been offered since 2012. Indeed, the Dedicated Education Unit is aptly named: students, faculty, nurses and the hospital are clearly dedicated. Each RN is paired with a student, working side by side for more than 100 hours during that student’s final semester. Students report to duty on the nurses’ schedules and help care for the nurses’ patients. In a traditional clinical setting, one faculty member is paired with eight students, without a designated unit nurse. “When students are paired with staff nurses, they learn accountability for the management of multiple patients, which is a competency that is vital to success in practice.” Paquette said. The hospital already has hired about two dozen program graduates. URI alumna Alison Rosener, of Barrington, R.I., participated in the program as a student, was then hired by the hospital and has been a preceptor for two years. “I had an amazing experience, and I wanted to pay it back,” said Rosener, pictured above right. “I like putting nursing students in a real-life situation where you can learn critical-thinking skills.” 8 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Student Natalie Sidman of Cumberland, R.I., pictured opposite left, was paired with Rosener. “To have the guidance of Ali has been amazing,” she said.
in their communities. The biggest differences between traditional and online programs are in duration and intensity,” said Patricia Burbank, professor of nursing.
“The feedback has been tremendous. Students develop confidence in themselves, think critically, build time management skills,” said Paquette, who works closely with preceptors and nurse managers to provide a rigorous and rewarding experience. The preceptors benefit as well. “They feel it helps keep them enthusiastic in their profession. It contributes to positive patient outcomes and helps their professional development,” commented Paquette.
Courses are offered year-round in six sessions lasting seven weeks. “The term is shortened, so it is intense. The students cover in seven weeks what they would traditionally cover in 13, so the workload is greater,” Burbank said.
Competition for student placement is strong, and the College is expanding the model in hopes of accommodating all seniors.
Online RN to BS Program The 20 registered nurses who received bachelor’s degrees in nursing in December 2016 were pioneers of a sort. They became the first graduates of the College’s online RN to BS program, the only one in the state offered by a public university. Started in fall 2015 with just under 30 students, the program now enrolls more than 500 RNs from around the country and is expected to grow, said Kristine Springett, coordinator of the program, which complements a traditional face-to-face RN to BS program. “Students participate on their own schedule, taking six nursing courses, statistics and pharmacology and completing a public health practicum
The growth of RN to BS programs nationwide stems from an Institute of Medicine 2010 report citing research that recommended that 80 percent of nurses nationwide have bachelor’s degrees by 2020 to potentially improve patient outcomes.
Engaging Expertise Angela Frederick Amar, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean for undergraduate education at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University in Atlanta, visited the College in fall 2016 and offered her expertise on preparing URI nursing undergraduates to succeed on the NCLEX. At Emory, Amar led a school-wide effort to improve student performance on the exam, and her initiative led to outstanding pass rates. Amar generously shared her expertise and teaching strategies with URI’s nursing faculty and leadership and contributed to the College’s seniors achieving an outstanding first-time pass rate on the NCLEX in 2017. “Team players who remain independent thinkers, persistent scientists who follow the evidence, dedicated caregivers whose research makes a difference in people’s lives… those are the qualities to which doctoral students of nursing, their mentors and college administrators should aspire,” said Nancy Woods, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean emerita of the University of Washington School of Nursing and co-director of the de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging. She shared these insights with College faculty in the spring. The field of health care is rapidly evolving, and Ph.D. programs must be at the forefront of this evolution, said Woods. “We are rethinking Ph.D. education to prepare stewards of nursing.” ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 9
NEW FACULTY Mary(Meg) Bourbonniere Assistant Professor Brandi Parker Cotton Assistant Professor Amy D’Agata Assistant Professor Kerri Ellis Lecturer Debra Furtado Lecturer Desirae Heys Assistant Research Professor Maureen Hillier Clinical Assistant Professor Jung Eun Lee Assistant Professor Xristin Maestri Assistant Research Professor Sara Murphy Lecturer Betty Rambur Professor, Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice
FACULTY Nurse-scientists, researchers and dedicated educators join our ranks.
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Nurses, Educators, Scholars In the last year, the College has welcomed several new faculty members from some of the best nursing programs in the country. They are already making important contributions to our mission and success.
We asked a few of them to tell us a little about their work and aspirations. Mary (Meg) Bourbonniere Assistant Professor Nurse-scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital Postdoctoral fellow, Brown University University of Pennsylvania Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania M.S., Syracuse University B.S., University of New Hampshire As an RN, you have worked in many clinical areas. How has the experience benefited your teaching, research and practice? Before becoming a scientist, I practiced in a variety of settings across the continuum of care. This broad practice experience has helped my teaching, research and practice immeasurably. As a practitioner, I came to appreciate the unique challenges a fragmented health-care system posed for older adults and their families. This led me to create an innovative case management model in a rural hospital to address safety issues and connect community resources. An outgrowth of this practice was to become a scientist to have the ability to study outcomes when older adults transfer among care settings and communicate these findings to improve continuous care for elders. My teaching is influenced by practice and research. I strive to create enthusiasm for elder care by shattering stereotypes and engaging students with the notion that nurses have countless opportunities to influence care in traditional and non-traditional practice settings.
You have done significant research on older adults and the unique challenges this population poses for health-care providers. How can nursing professionals help solve these challenges? Nursing professionals are poised to have a major influence in improving care for older adults as our population ages and our health-care system changes. With their backgrounds in the sciences and humanities, nurses are creative, critical thinkers. With these skills, nurses can employ best practices and serve as key policy advocates for older adults at the local, state and national levels. I have no doubt that nursing professionals will develop innovative models of care to promote health and optimal function as increasing numbers of older people decide to age in place. Why did you decide to join URI’s College of Nursing at this time? URI’s College of Nursing has always enjoyed a far-reaching reputation for being at the forefront of nursing science and practice. The fact that the College has an award-winning undergraduate geriatric nursing course originally piqued my interest. The new leadership of the College and the creation of the Academic Health Collaborative and the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center are exciting developments that position URI’s College of Nursing well. I believe this is an exceptional time to be part of the College of Nursing, and I look forward to working with students and faculty to further enhance its national reputation for excellence in education, professional practice and research.
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Amy D’Agata
Kerri Ellis
Assistant Professor
Lecturer Post-doctoral scholar, University of South Florida, College of Nursing Ph.D. and M.S., University of Connecticut B.S., St. Joseph College, Connecticut
How has your experience as an RN and nurse manager in neonatal intensive care given you a unique perspective for your research on infant exposure to traumatic events and how to improve models of care? Since my research is so intricately tied to clinical practice, I would say the experiences I have had as a staff nurse and nurse manager are the foundation for my current work. The insights I have gained as a bedside nurse allow me to see clinical practice issues; while my leadership experience allows me to understand the navigation required to support clinical practice changes. It is from these two perspectives that I approach my research. How have your experiences as a scholar and a practitioner influenced your teaching? My approach to teaching is to empower nursing students with knowledge and appreciation for the unique strengths they bring to the bedside experience. One of the main attributes of nursing is our underpinning of holistic care. It is through this lens that nurses often view situations differently from other professionals. Embodying this unique professional value is critical to supporting patients and families. What made you decide to join URI’s College of Nursing? As I considered faculty positions, my main objectives included the research strengths of the dean, civility of the department and university and the opportunity to conduct research in my area. After meeting many individuals from the College and other departments, I felt confident that my objectives were satisfied at URI. I perceived incredible support, a commitment to teaching, upward growth in many areas and the opportunity to engage in research that I am passionate about. 12 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
D.N.P and M.S., University of Massachusetts Medical School, Graduate School of Nursing B.S., University of Massachusetts As an acute care nurse practitioner, you work with teams of health-care professionals in a high-stakes setting. What do you find most rewarding about this work? Working in acute and critical care is rewarding for the teamwork that is put into every patient assessment and plan, the collaboration of multiple specialties, and knowing at the end of day I provided the highest level of care to every patient regardless of socioeconomic status. Your recent research focuses on successful patient transitions for acute care to primary care and the importance of communication. What is your advice for new nurses navigating these waters? Much of what I know is from experience. You cannot read it in a text book, however, always reach out to senior staff with any questions. Always document what has occurred and provide detailed assessments for those to follow after your nursing shift. Communication is important, but ensuring that communication is clear and concise is a skill to be learned. Do not be afraid to reach out to colleagues and to collaborate with physicians to ensure that everyone understands the plan of care. You have been affiliated with leading nursing programs and health-care institutions and have taught courses at URI. What led you join URI’s College of Nursing full time? I have taught at multiple institutions, however, at URI I have found my place. I was really excited to be accepted for the full-time lecturer position and look forward to continue educating our future geriatric-acute care nurse practitioners.
Jung-Eun Lee
Brandi Parker Cotton
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor Ph.D., University of Washington M.S., Yonsei University, Korea
Post-doctoral scholar, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire
B.S., Yonsei University, Korea
Ph.D., University of Rhode Island
Much of your research has focused on patients living with chronic disease and how it affects their lifestyle, behavior and stress levels. What do you find most rewarding about this work? I am committed to research in the area of symptom science and self-management for people with chronic conditions. Behavior change is not easy even for healthy people. It is most rewarding to see when my research projects have positive impacts on health behaviors and symptoms for people living with chronic illness. Your doctoral studies included a concentration in statistics. How important is it for nurses to understand statistics and to use data as a tool in their research and practice? I believe statistics is essential in nursing science because science is possible when we have measurable data. Nursing practice and research are based on statistics, and nurses deal with data all the time. Furthermore, while multidisciplinary team practice and research are emphasized in health care, understanding statistics can improve communication. What made you decide to leave the University of Washington’s highly regarded School of Nursing to join URI’s College of Nursing? During an on-campus interview at URI, I realized the College of Nursing is ready to enhance its own program with a new facility and interdisciplinary research and collaborations. I believe working here will give me a great opportunity to grow personally and professionally together with the school.
M.S., Yale University B.A., Middle Tennessee State University Much of your research and clinical experience are in the field psychiatric nursing, with patients of all ages. What do you find most rewarding about this work? It is an honor and a privilege to support individuals who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. Patients often enter treatment in despair, unsure of the future and fearful of what it holds. Witnessing the improvement in the quality of life when patients receive the therapy, medication and support they need is always rewarding. Witnessing this across the life span is a constant reminder of the continuity of life and the importance of mental and emotional wellness in every life stage. How have your experiences as a scholar and a practitioner influenced your teaching? My scholarship requires me to constantly ask questions. My research explores how certain forms of treatment are – and are not – working for patients of varying ages. Similarly, my experience as a psychiatric nurse practitioner constantly drives my research inquiries. I believe this influences my teaching by encouraging students to think about the “why” of how we approach patients and treatment modalities. I hope to encourage students to consider deeply the person, place and context of the complicated clinical situations that nurses encounter daily. What made you decide to come to URI? I have been struck by both the depth and breadth of the academic scholarship at the College, as well as the collegiality among faculty. I am delighted to be joining scholars committed to excellence in research, teaching and clinical practice. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 13
THE CLASS of 2017 The College congratulates all 2017 graduates, who enter the field of nursing as highly skilled and committed RNs, nurse practitioners, educators and health-care leaders. It is not possible to recognize every outstanding student, but we would like to share the stories of two alumni who are already making us proud: Davi Prak, Bachelor of Science in Nursing Davi Prak long had her heart set on being a nurse, so when she graduated from Classical High School in Providence, R.I., in 2012, she applied to one program: The University of Rhode Island’s College of Nursing. Prak was accepted into the University’s Talent Development Program — for Rhode Island high school graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds — but not the College of Nursing. Disappointed, she reluctantly considered applying to another school. “I didn’t want to ask my parents to fund another application,” she said. Prak’s parents are Cambodian immigrants who fled their country when the totalitarian Khmer Rouge regime took power in the 1970s and waged genocide. The couple met in the United States, and Prak and her sister were born here. Then Prak learned that her application had been reviewed, and she was accepted into the nursing program, taking the next step of a journey that began in childhood as she helped her family navigate a strange culture, and which Prak said, coincides with the values of nursing.
“I helped both of them out as well as other family members who immigrated to the USA to escape the Khmer Rouge. It was a heavy load,” she recalled. “My mother always said it was hard to ask me for help because she knows teenagers usually want to go out with their friends, but she appreciated that I always made time to help her and my father. In her opinion, I was different from normal teenagers,” she said. At URI, Prak focused on her academics, taking part in the College’s Pathways to Nursing Program, which provides students from underserved populations with support and resources to earn their degrees over five years. Prak said she is the first member of her immediate family to earn a bachelor’s degree. She and fellow Class of 2017 graduate Genesis Santos are currently in Nashville, Tenn., where they were accepted into Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Nurse Residency Program, a highly competitive support and mentoring experience for new graduates.
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David Davis, Doctorate of Nursing Practice Architect, U.S. Navy officer, deep sea diver, college professor, nurse practitioner. While this might sound like a list of job titles for several individuals, David Davis, who earned his doctorate of nursing practice in May, has successfully pursued all these careers. And as he progressed from Navy commander to student and nurse, Davis found his interests, experience and talents coalescing.
“Architecture and nursing are very similar. Both seek answers to programmatic questions,” the Newport, R.I., resident explained. “You identify a problem, seek an intervention, implement the intervention and evaluate the implementation.” He said being a nurse practitioner allows him to continue to care for people and help his community, which was central to his role as a Naval officer. He was motivated to make the career leap after a sentence in a “New York Times” gardening blog stuck with him: At some point in life, you realize that certain avenues are closed to you. If you haven’t become a doctor or a ballerina, you probably never will.” Davis chose to see his avenue to nursing as wide open and made the commitment. Of particular interest to this design-minded health-care provider is the effect of built infrastructure — that is, the physical environment — on patient outcomes. A person might sit in a room and feel unwell but not know why, he said. For example, he can walk into a room and adjust the bed so the patient can look out the window, which studies have shown improves healing and pain management. He brings this philosophy to his community through involvement with the Newport Health Equities Zone, which looks at ways to build healthier communities, for example, by making them conducive to walking. “The built environment has a massive impact on our health. Not many people understand that or buy into it. My role in life is to introduce them to that and make my patients’ lives better,” he said. Davis, who now works for the Lifespan Physician Group, began his nursing studies as a middle-aged undergraduate at URI in 2009, continued straight through for his master of science and doctorate degrees in nursing while working as a registered nurse. “There was a while there when I didn’t sleep,” he recalled. He says the experience has been incredible. “I have unbound appreciation for my advisor (Associate Professor and acting Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs Denise Coppa) who has pushed me so hard,” said Davis, who is also grateful to the Department of Veterans Affairs for providing him the financial resources to pursue his vocation. “I have never worked this hard in my life or had a job that has been more fulfilling,” he said.
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SCHOLARSHIP We pursue knowledge through research and educational grants and share discoveries with our peers.
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Groundbreaking Scholarship College faculty explore pressing issues that directly affect the profession and the people we care for. Some of that work is discussed here:
URI-led project sees hospitalizations, ER visits plummet after nurse practitioner home visits A three-year federally funded project led by Associate Professor and acting Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Affairs Denise Coppa has determined that hospitalization rates plummeted 61 percent and emergency room visits fell 64 percent among a group of patients who received home visits from nurse practitioners and graduate students during a six-month period in 2016. The home visits to financially disadvantaged patients with chronic health issues were part of a three-year, $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Public Health Service’s Health Resources and Services Administration awarded to the College in 2015. The project established academic and clinical partnerships with Providence Community Health Centers and Thundermist Health Centers in Rhode Island to advance nursing practice and improve patient outcomes through enhanced primary care for the medically underserved. For the home visit component, nurse practitioners from Thundermist and nurse practitioner students from URI visited 82 patients over a six-month period in 2016, recording health data that included hospital admissions and emergency room visits. At the end of the six-month period, in fall 2016, researchers compared their findings to data from the same group of patients during the six-months prior to the home visits. The analysis revealed the marked improvements in outcomes. “Same exact people, same health centers, same block of time,” Coppa said. These significant findings helped URI secure nearly $700,000 in funding for the final year of the project, which provides clinical training and mentoring under licensed health center nurse practitioners who are URI faculty and examines clinical mentor impacts on student and professional learning. Enhanced training for nurse practitioner students, and their preceptors, could improve delivery of primary care across the state, Coppa said.
External Funding In the last year, several faculty members have received major grants for research or educational projects from a variety of public and private funders that address a range of health-care and nursing topics:
5%
37%
58%
Federal educational training
Patricia Burbank USDHHS / R.I. Div. of Elderly Affairs $14,400 Denise Coppa HRSA, $649,973 Barbara Wolfe HRSA / Brown University, $62,494 Federal research
Deb Erickson-Owens Judith Mercer NIH, $399,074 Marcella Thompson NIH / Brown University, $51,108 NIH / NIEHS / Brown University, $19,081 Foundation educational training
Mary Sullivan RWJF / RIF, $50,000 Jonas Foundation, $10,000 Total: $1,256,130 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 17
The URI-led project is helping address this need by preparing more than 100 family nurse practitioner and adult/geriatric nurse practitioner students at the master’s or doctoral level over three years. Since the project began, URI has nearly doubled enrollment in its nurse practitioner programs, from 55 students in 2016 to 99 in 2017. The community health center partnerships provide much-needed clinical placement opportunities, allowing the enrollment expansion, Coppa explained. URI also increased program enrollment of ethnically diverse or disadvantaged students from 21 percent in 2015 to 28 percent in 2017, exceeding the project goal of 25 percent. Examining risks posed by Native American tribe’s fishing habits Assistant professor Marcella Thompson, top left, and colleagues from Brown University and the Narragansett Indian Tribe received a $51,108 pilot project award from the National Institutes for Health’s Advance Clinical and Translational Research initiative to examine exposure to PCBs and mercury among members of the tribe, whose traditional diet includes locally caught freshwater fish. The project collects and analyzes data on eating habits and local fish consumption to provide the community with information needed to weigh the benefits and risks of eating local fish. Exploring ways to reimagine aging in place, end-of-life care The Academic Health Collaborative’s Institute for Integrated Health and Innovation invited all URI faculty to submit proposals for inclusion in the first Big Ideas in Health Conference held on campus in spring 2017. Several presentations were submitted, and six projects received grants of $10,000 each from the Collaborative, including two that drew matching funds from URI’s George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience. Among the winning proposals were two projects led by nursing faculty. A proposal by Professor Pat Burbank, center left, aims to develop a universitybased retirement community that promotes aging in place and would provide interdisciplinary research and clinical opportunities for faculty and students. Assistant Professor Maureen Hillier, bottom left, is partnering with URI’s theater department to create a simulation program focusing on end-of-life care to enhance nursing students’ education while providing theater majors with critical learning opportunities.
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Selected Faculty Publications 2016-2017 DiTomasso (Thulier), D. (2016). Weighing the Facts: A Systematic Review of Expected Patterns of Weight Loss in Full-Term, Breastfed Infants. Journal of Human Lactation, 1–7. DiTomasso (Thulier), D. (2017). Challenging expected patterns of weight loss in full-term breastfeeding neonates delivered by cesarean. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 46, 18–28. Ferszt, G., Dugas, J., McGrane C. and Calderelli K. (2017) Creative Strategies for Teaching Millennial Nursing Students. Nursing Educator, April 19, 2017, online. Curtin, A., Martins D.C., Gillsjo, C. and Schwartz-Barcott, D. (2017) Ageing out of place: The meaning of home among Hispanic older persons living in the United States. International Journal of Older People Nursing, April 9, 2017, online. Mercer, J.S., Erickson-Owens, D.A. Collins, J., Barcelos, M.O., Parker, A.B and Padbury, J.F. (2017). Effects of delayed cord clamping on residual placental blood volume, hemoglobin and bilirubin levels in term infants: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Perinatology, 37, 260-264. Pingitore, F., Ferszt, G. (2017). Experiences of adolescents who participated in group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 67 (2), 360-382. Morrison, J., Palumbo, M. and Rambur, B. (2016). Reducing preventable hospitalizations with two models of transitional care. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 48(3), 322-9. Palumbo, M., Rambur, B. and Hart, V. (2016). Is health-care payment reform impacting nurses’ work settings, roles, and educational preparation? Journal of Professional Nursing, online ahead of print. Rambur, B., Holmes, J. (2017). From single payer to all payer. Why Vermont’s reform efforts matter to nurses and their patients. Nursing Economics, 35 (2), 100-104. Chyun, D.A., Sullivan, M.C., Vessey, J.A. and Henly, S.J. (2017). Appealing the editor’s decision: When and how? Nursing Research, 66, 1. Winchester, S. B., Sullivan, M.C., Roberts, M.B. and Granger, D. (2016). Prematurity, birth weight, and socioeconomic status are linked to atypical diurnal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in young adults. Research in Nursing and Health, 39, 15-29. Sharafi, M., Duffy, V, B., Miller, R. J., Winchester, S. B., Heudo-Medina, T.,and Sullivan, M.C. (2016). Dietary behaviors of adult born prematurely may explain future risk of cardiovascular disease. Appetite, 99, 157-167. Scott, A., Winchester, S. B. and Sullivan, M.C. (2017). Trajectories of problem behaviors from 4 to 23 years in former preterm infants. International Journal of Behavioral Development. Online Jan. 1, 2017. Roberts MB, Sullivan M.C. and Winchester, S.B. (2017). Examining solutions to missing data in longitudinal nursing research. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 22: e12179.
Thompson, M.R. and Schwartz Barcott, D. (2016). The Concept of Exposure in Environmental Health for Nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. December 2106, 1315-1330. Phillips, K. E., Jimerson, D. C., Pillai, A. and Wolfe, B. E. (2016). Plasma BDNF levels following weight recovery in anorexia nervosa. Physiology and Behavior, 165, 300-303. Wolfe, B. E., Dunne, J. P. and Kells, M. R. (2016). Nursing care considerations for the hospitalized patient with an eating disorder. Nursing Clinical of North America, 51, 213-235. Wolfe, B. E., Mata López, L. R. (2016). Access to quality mental health care: A global priority. Horizonte de enferneria, 27, 6-7.
Selected Faculty Presentations 2016-2017 Burbank, P., Rambur, B. (2017, January). Enhancing doctoral education with an academic health collaborative. AACN Doctoral Conference, San Diego, Calif. Coppa, D., Carley, R. (2017, January). Academic clinical partnerships: Integrating research and practice for practice-based DNP programs. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing, San Diego, Calif. Erickson-Owens, D. (2017, June). The effects of placental transfusion on placental residual blood volume, 24-hour HgB and serum bilirubin levels in term infants. American College of Nurse Midwives, Annual Meeting, Chicago. Hillier, M., McGrane, C. and Jalbert, B.A. (2017, June). Revolutionary way to teach the nursing process: Utilizing simulation in nursing 101. International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C. Hillier, M. (2017, July). Newly licensed nurses’ experiences with end-of-life in the PICU. Sigma Theta Tau International Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland. May, C.M. (2016, May). Critical presence: Critical theory and nursing presence as tools for teaching social justice. National Health Care for the Homeless Conference, Portland, Ore. Rambur, B. (2017, July). Multinational research collaboratives, interaction costs, and time to productivity: An empirical model to support success. Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Congress Dublin, Ireland. Rambur, B. (2016, October). New reimbursement models explained: What nurses need to know in a value based world. Invited keynote. Oregon Center for Nursing “The Nursing Edge” Annual Nursing Workforce Center Meeting. Wolfe, B.E. (2016, November). How to look for a teaching position. Webinar presentation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Junior Scholars Program. Wolfe, B.E. (2016, June). Psychopharmacologic advances in eating disorders. Paper presented at the Annual Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute, Baltimore, Md. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 19
RECOGNITION Faculty, students and alumni garner well-deserved honors and accolades.
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Selected Honors Faculty Two professors selected as American Academy of Nursing Fellows A number of faculty has been recognized as leaders in the profession at the national level, foremost among these honors is selection as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). In October 2016, Betty Rambur, professor and Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice, was named a Fellow of the Academy, a true mark of distinction in the nursing profession. Nursing leaders in education, management, practice and research are among the Academy’s 2,400 Fellows. This select group includes hospital and association executives, lawmakers, educators, university presidents, researchers, consultants and entrepreneurs. While this peer-nominated credential from an organization with members in all 50 states and 28 countries recognizes contributions to nursing that have lasting impact, Fellowship also comes with a responsibility to contribute to the organization, the profession and the health and health care of the nation. Throughout her distinguished nursing career, Rambur has taken the long—and wide—view of her profession, working to reform health-care payment systems and address disparities in the quality of and access to care across diverse populations. Her selection as an Academy Fellow recognizes her vision and her commitment. Rambur believes nursing education and research must create professionals and nurse scientists who are experts not just in health and health care, but in cost containment and improved patient outcomes, and she hopes to spread that message further as an Academy fellow. “It’s an opportunity to take what you know and give back through the role of an academy member,” she remarked, when named to the Academy. Later this fall, Professor Ginette Ferszt also will be inducted as a Fellow of the Academy, having been nominated and selected for membership earlier this year. She was selected for her pioneering and significant contributions regarding the health needs and disparities of incarcerated women, which began with her clinical practice in a correctional facility. “I felt compelled to respond to the unmet mental health needs and the shocking shackling of pregnant women during delivery,” Ferszt said of her commitment to a more humane approach to care. Through sustained leadership, Ferszt developed standards of care for women inmates in Rhode Island, influenced national position papers and spearheaded legislative changes abolishing the use of shackles during delivery in the state and beyond. Her research on national shackling practices, cited nationally and internationally, has had a wide-ranging impact on the care of incarcerated pregnant women. These contributions reflect her unflagging commitment to improving the lives of others through nursing knowledge, leadership and influence; characteristics integral and advantageous to the work of the Academy, Dean Wolfe observed.
Additional Honors: Rhode Island Monthly magazine named Associate Professor Deb Erickson-Owens as Nurse Midwife of the Year as part of its 2016 Excellence in Nursing awards, presented with the Rhode Island State Nurses Association. Honorees are nominated by peers and judged by a regional panel of nursing leaders. The retired Air Force lieutenant colonel teaches graduate nursing students and conducts umbilical cord-clamping research. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 21
Erickson-Owens also won Best Podium Presentation Award for “The Effects of Placental Transfusion on Placental Residual Blood Volume, 24 hr HgB and serum bilirubin levels in Term Infants: An RCT” at the American College of Nurse-Midwives 2017 Annual Conference in Chicago over the summer. She also won the Best Poster Award for “The Effects of Placental Transfusion on ferritin levels and brain myelin volume in infants at 4 months of age” at the same conference. In addition, Rambur received the American Association of Nurse Practitioners State Advocate Award at the organization’s national conference in June. The award recognizes outstanding achievements by nurse practitioners and advocates. Rambur, who joined URI in 2016, was honored for her longstanding contributions to advancing nurse practitioners in the state of Vermont.
Alumna URI’s Distinguished Achievement Awards honor those who personify URI’s tradition of excellence in achievement, leadership and service. In 2016 the University honored Karen L. Waldo ’88, an RN at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston for 28 years. Since 1996, Waldo has cared for critically ill newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she regularly serves as a nursing preceptor for new graduates. Since 2002, Waldo has been a supervisory nurse and group leader of the MA-1 National Disaster Medical Assistance Team, providing critical assistance to disaster victims in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, Ike and Sandy; the 2009 Red River floods in North Dakota; and the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In addition to her community service for Habitat for Humanity and the women’s shelter, Rosie’s Place, Waldo has volunteered as a nurse and medical tent leader for the Boston Marathon for the past 10 years.
Students Jackie Davenport, top left, became the first URI student to receive a pediatric oncology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital through The Susan D. Flynn Oncology Nursing Fellowship Program. She was one of only two students from the region named to the highly selective program. Davenport also received the Francine Brem Excellence Award in Pediatric Research and Practice from Sigma Theta Tau International, a nursing honor society with members in dozens of countries. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation named two doctoral students Future of Nursing Scholars, providing financial support while pursuing Ph.Ds. Pamela McCue, middle left, who received her doctorate in May 2017, focused her research on understanding the pre-collegiate education pipeline to increase diversity of the nursing workforce. She is CEO of the Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College, a charter high school in Providence. Angelita Hensman, bottom left, a research manager at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence, is interested in patient safety in the NICU. Her research focuses on preventable neonatal readmissions. She also is site research coordinator for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development’s Neonatal Research Network. In addition, class of 2017 graduates Amanda Millan and Michelle Barbera received the University Academic Excellence Awards for Nursing.
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Sigma Theta Tau International In spring 2017 the College hosted the induction ceremony of the Sigma Theta Tau International National Honor Society Delta Upsilon at-Large Chapter. Among the 169 statewide honorees were 94 URI nursing students from all levels within the College as well as a nurse leader. Sigma Theta Tau International is one of the world’s largest nursing organizations that is dedicated to making a difference in health worldwide. Its mission is advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership and service. Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievement in nursing. URI inductees are:
Undergraduates: Marisa Albert Shannon Anes Caitlin Antoch Kristy Archambault Kelly Bartnick Randall Bartnick Darin Bellissimo Alexander Bischoff Rachel Blackstone Taylor Blinkhorn Anne Boutin-Galipeau Courtney Breiner Ashley Burell Bintou Camara Sarah Caouette Lauren Capron Krysten Carlson Sarah Danko Jacqueline Davenport Craig Davis Molly DeMilia Denise Despradel-Quail Meghan Dunn
Shannon Ellis Jazcrisha Ferriols Caitlin Fife Lindsey Fowler Hannah Guadagni Pamela Hargraves Gabrielle Hermes Michele Horre Diane Hyde Lindsey Ide Emily Jados Angelina Jespen Victoria Johnston Hubbard Jordan Julia Kesicier Julie Lemaire James Lemieux Heather Lillibridge Heather Lonardo Kim Luong Thomas Luther Alison MacKay Gabriella Maldari Amoneluck Manivanh
Shannon Manuels Alexander Mason James Mastrostefano Stephanie Mattiello Meghan Mccoy Lisa Mcgoldrick Nicholas McPhee Mariah Mendes Danielle Mercier Dolores Murphy Kathryn Needle Gold Okoeka Alexandra Olivo Deborah Owens Amanda Page Elizabeth Paradis Rachael Parker Kelly Parthnick Sara Pearson Csilla Pickering Christina Raccasi Chelsea Rainville Anthony Riley Ellyn Schlageter
Jennifer Schultz Jessica Shaw Isabel Sidoli Lynn Sizer Heidi Smith Susan St. Cyr Jewel Walters Kelly Whitcomb Brooke White Brittany Wilson Jackie Woodside Diane Zanella
MS: Olajumoke Adetunji Ashley Cirillo Lauren Kane Olivia Miko
PhD: Ala’a Dalky Jennifer Fuvich
Nurse leader: Michelle Palmer
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 23
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT Faculty, students and alumni turn their education into action.
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Nurses as Leaders When it comes to building healthier communities across the nation, nurses are well-positioned to lead the way. To help make our voices heard, the Nurses on Boards Coalition launched in 2014 with the goal of ensuring at least 10,000 nurses are members of boards, panels and commissions nationwide by 2020. Joining the leadership of corporations, health-related entities and other organizations, nurses can offer their unique perspectives on achieving improved health and efficient and effective health care, from the local to the national level. The Coalition was created in response to the 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which recommended increasing the number of nurse leaders in pivotal decision-making roles on boards and commissions that work to improve the health of everyone in America.
Our faculty members are doing their part to help the Coalition achieve this important goal. Faculty who are board members: Mary Cloud, clinical assistant professor • Board of Directors of Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College, Providence, R.I. • Executive Board, faculty counselor, Delta Upsilon Chapter-at-Large of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society Marlene Dufault, professor • Member, Rhode Island State Council of the Arts and Health Carolyn Hames, associate professor • Co-founder, past-president, board member, Friends Way Inc., Warwick, R.I. Diane C. Martins, professor • Board of Directors, Marist Brothers, Bronx, N.Y. • Advisory Board, Davies Career and Technical High School, Nursing and Allied Health Curriculum, Smithfield, R.I. • Board of Directors, Partnership to Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, Rhode Island Department of Health, Prevention Committee Chair • Board of Directors, St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association, Nominating Committee co-chair, Providence, R.I.
Michelle Palmer, clinical assistant professor • President, Rhode Island Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives • Midwifery Advisory Council for the Rhode Island Department of Health Betty Rambur, professor and Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice • The National Quality Forum Cost and Resource Use Committee • Board of Directors of South County Health, South Kingstown, R.I. Mary Sullivan, professor • Rhode Island Department of Health, Health Professional Loan Repayment Board • Editorial board, Nursing Research Marcella Thompson, assistant professor • Treasurer, Board of Directors, Delta Upsilon At-Large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society Barbara Wolfe, dean • Rhode Island Clinical & Translational Research Internal Advisory Committee • Editorial board, Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 25
The College has a tradition of giving back through volunteer service and experiential learning. Among the past year’s highlights:
Delivering Care in Demanding Settings Patricia Stout, clinical associate professor, and eight students spent 10 days in the Dominican Republic in June, providing care to underserved communities in pop-up clinics, senior centers and
screened elderly patients for diabetes and high blood pressure. “We saw everyone from pregnant women and 2-year-olds to a man who was 98,” Stout recalled. And they did this work while confronting poverty, malnutrition and lack of access to proper care. “Everybody should have this experience. We all felt a sense of sadness over what we have in this country that they don’t have.” Stout believes the impact of such experiences stays with participants when they return home. “It does change your practice whether you are a student, nurse or nurse practitioner. You learn to be creative.”
Students Learn the Meaning of Service
patients’ homes. Stout and the six juniors and two RN to BS students were part of a trip organized through Intercultural Nursing, Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to provide an intercultural experience for nursing students, nurses, physicians, medical students and others. Clinics, outreach and home visits were organized by local community partner El Cercado Social Ministry. The College has partnered with the organization for several years, Stout said, providing undergraduates with an immersive clinical experience that is unlike traditional study abroad programs. In fact, Stout noted that two of the students who participated said such an opportunity was why they chose URI for their nursing education. “So much learning occurred, they applied what they know and discovered what they don’t yet know,” she said. Students receive credits in nursing’s community health course or independent study for their long days in the challenging clinical settings. The students worked closely with other RNs, nurse practitioner students and nurse practitioners. They treated sugar cane workers with skin issues or machete wounds, provided education on breast feeding and mosquito-borne illnesses and 26 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Students Anna Lumbruno, Shannon McIsaac, Katie Nehring and Brianna Vega participated in community service projects as part of the University’s Alternative Spring Break program. They traveled to Atlanta, Ga., and New Orleans, La., to work with underserved populations on wellness initiatives, poverty alleviation, community building and disaster relief. McIsaac found the trip deeply satisfying. “One of the most rewarding parts was being able to listen to people talk of their struggle and hardships throughout the aftermath of natural disaster,” McIsaac said. “A lot of us learned how to use saws and drills, but the most important lesson we learned was the importance of resilience and strength in a community.” During winter break, faculty and students traveled abroad as part of J-Term courses of study that took an interdisciplinary approach to global
health. Clinical Assistant Professor Michelle Palmer led a trip to Indonesia that included nursing, pharmacy and health studies students. Palmer’s group examined social determinants of health and worked in rural and urban settings. A visit to Jamaican orphanages led by Clinical Assistant Professor Christine McGrane was part of an ongoing volunteer effort including nursing, pharmacy and physical therapy students. They worked with children with disabilities and saw firsthand the health impacts of poverty and scant resources.
She’s Caring to the “Corps” URI students have embraced the Peace Corps since it was founded in the early 1960s, and the service’s mission to improve the lives of those in need clearly resonates with many nursing students. A recent alumna talks about her experience. Rwanda 2017 Caroline Burns ’15 What inspired you to serve? I wanted to find the best way to use my URI education while also doing things I’m passionate about, like traveling. Peace Corps just seemed like a fantastic mixture of those two things. Serving others is about yourself just as much as it is about the people you are serving. While giving my time and knowledge to others, I become happy. Then, because I am happy and fulfilled, I can continue to serve others to the best of my ability. It’s a cycle. Will your Peace Corps experience have any effect on your nursing career? I absolutely think so. I pursued the maternal child health program with the Peace Corps because it was the subject I most enjoyed in my URI courses. Being here has opened up so many doors of possibility: research nursing, HIV/AIDS prevention, travel nursing, malnutrition intervention. It will be hard to choose when I am home.
Did URI provide you with a foundation for Corps success? Rigorous as it was, the URI nursing program provided me with much needed knowledge on topics I am involved with every day here. I think I am more successful here because of how rigorous the program was. One individual that inspired me to follow an international path was Dr. Ginette Ferszt. She was my professor for psychiatric nursing, and she also has a passion for travel. She showed me that I didn’t have to put my nursing career on hold if I wanted to travel. Though she may not know it, she really inspired and encouraged me to join the Peace Corps. I consider her not only a professor, but also a good friend. What has been the best part of of your experience so far? The people are my favorite part so far, Rwandans and Americans alike. All of the Rwandans I’ve met have been so kind. Many have taken me in like a family member. People go out of their way to make sure you are happy and OK. I feel so fulfilled, so accomplished. I also feel like it is changing me as a person, in ways I can’t even identify yet. One thing is for sure: I feel as though I could do anything after doing this. What has been the most difficult part of the experience? It was the first month at my village without another American (or non-Rwandan) for miles. As soon as my advisor drove away, I could feel the tears welling up. It was shocking. I wasn’t afraid. It was a deep, deep feeling I didn’t really understand. After a month or so, I became used to my village and its people. What I learned from this was that it is OK to be alone. I learned that I won’t just wither and crumble up without talking to someone who’s familiar to me. Basically, I learned that I could overcome that loneliness and that it couldn’t control me. It was one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned in my life. Excerpted from QuadAngles online, Summer 2017
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 27
OUR PARTNERS External partners — from nursing mentors to business leaders — enrich our College.
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Valued Relationships The College could not offer the level of education it does or serve the wider community so well without the help of our generous and accomplished partners in mentoring, teaching, planning and strategizing.
The rewards of one-on-one teaching Xristin Maestri, B.S., ’97; M.S.,’07, is an alumna who continued her relationship with the College first as a hospital preceptor. Students now gain from her expertise in her roles as assistant professor of research and community-based nurse practitioner. While working in oncology at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Maestri decided to become a preceptor for nurse practitioner students as a way to give back to her profession and to the College. She mentored students in the fall, spring and summer for more than four years, and by giving back, she, too, was rewarded.
“It was a really rich experience,” she said. “The gift of reflection and the opportunity to influence practice through precepting really resonated with me.” She also learned a good deal alongside her students. “You learn from reflection, in teaching, of seeing it from their eyes. It was a really rich gift that I hadn’t anticipated,” she recalled. Maestri left the hospital to join Integra Community Care, the Accountable Care Organization within the Care New England network. Without realizing it, Maestri had pursued a career path — as preceptor and community health provider — that offered ideal preparation for her current role with the College as an assistant research professor. In 2016 she was hired through a U.S. Public Health Service’s Health Resources and Services Administration grant that aims to improve advanced nursing practice and care for underserved populations. (See page 17 for more about this project.) Maestri, in partnership with Thundermist Health Centers, trains nurse practitioners and students as they provide care for chronically ill patients in their homes. The practice environment of caring for people at home is an eye opener for nurse practitioners and students, she said. “To walk into someone’s life and bring immediate help is a powerful experience. You see just how fragile they are, just how sick they are and just how much care is needed,” she said. Home visits, however, are time consuming, and Maestri and her students see no more than four patients a day. “It is about going deep, not wide; about quality not quantity,” she said. Many nurses choose the profession hoping to provide holistic care, but the time constraints and demands of modern health care often preclude that.
Providing home care fosters that holistic approach. “You have to come ready with a big heart and open eyes and do what you can do,” Maestri said. “To teach students to practically love like that … it’s a dream job.”
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 29
Preceptors 2016-Present We thank than 300–plus preceptors for their invaluable service to the College and its students, the nursing leaders of tomorrow: Allison Abbott Associates in Primary Care Sue Abdow
Orlo Avenue Elementary School
Marianne Adams
Narragansett High School
Charlene Ainscough Lifespan
Sandra Alfred
Coastal Medical Consultants in Cardiology
Margaret Allaire Kent Hospital
Madelyn Alonzo
The Miriam Hospital
Jennifer Alvarez
Alicia Beneditti
Kathryn Buckhaults
Sharon Benson
Lauren Burke
Rhode Island Hospital Emergency
Rebecca Burke
St. Luke’s Hospital ICU
Pamela Burnap
Peacedale Elementary School
Lisa Buterbaugh
South County Hospital
The Miriam Hospital Rhode Island Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center
South County Health
Eric Bergeson
Kent Hospital
The Miriam Hospital
Kaitlin Bertozzi
Amanda Blanchard
Kent Hospital Wound Clinic
Joanne Daniels
Julie Caldwell
Tracy Decastro
The Miriam Hospital The Miriam Hospital
Dawna Blake
UMass Memorial Hospital
Chris Anderson
Mystic Medical Associates
Carol Annunziata
Rhode Island Hospital Emergency Department
Erica Annunziata Lifespan
Nicole Arnold
Naval Health Clinic
Judy Aurelio
Cunningham Elementary School
Amanda Azar
Providence VA Medical Center
Robin Blier
Nicole Campbell
Women & Infants Hospital GI Health
Robert Boss Lifespan
Beth Bouch
The Pennfield School
Lifespan
University Medicine Foundation
Meghan Cardin
Denise DeHertogh
The Miriam Hospital
Shannon Christian L +M Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Gerardo Carino Lifespan
Rebecca Carley
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Hollie Descy
The Miriam Hospital
Jerilyn Devin
Hasbro Pediatric Pulmonary
Cheryl Dexter
Margaret Carroll
Coastal Medical Cranston
Tracey Bradley
Martin Middle School
Lifespan
Washington Oak Elementary School
Nancy Castro
Elizabeth Branchaud
Hamilton Elementary School
Thundermist Health Center-Woonsocket
Jayne Brassil
Pat Cervera
Wakefield Elementary School Davisville Middle School Women’s Center of RI
Eduard Breytman
Laurie Batastini
Kristen Brown
Rhode Island Hospital
Julio C. Defillo Draiby
Lisa Bowling
Daughters of Esther
Meghan Begnosche
Neighborhood Health Plan
Clarisse Dexter
Thundermist Health Center-South County
Diabetes Care Solutions LLC
The Miriam Hospital
Patricia Carlton
Evelyn Behren
Kristine Batty
Tiogue Elementary School
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Heather Bader
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Gina Daguanno
PACE Organization of Rhode Island
Stephanie Brearton
Lanette Baker
Lori Curtin
Rhode Island Free Clinic
Louise Boudreau
Lincoln Pediatrics Associates Inc. L+M Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Mary Cabral
NHCNE Occupational Medicine
Nancy Botelho
Jessica Ames
Rachel Cruz
Thompson Middle School
Lifespan
Marilyn Alves
Naval Health Clinic
Lisa Craft
Kathy Bergerson
Dunn’s Corners Elementary School
Anthony Amaio
Fiona Craft
Naval Health Clinic
The Miriam Hospital East Bay Family Health
The Miriam Hospital
Women & Infants Hospital
Lynn Browning
Women & Infants Hospital
Anne Buchanan
Thundermist Health Center-South County
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Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Patricia Cioe
University Medicine
Karen DiCanzio
Plainville Family Practice
Erin Dobson
Women & Infants Hospital
Karen Doolittle
South County Health
Gerry Dornhecker
Woonsocket Emergency Associates
University Medicine Foundation
Rebecca Doucette
Donna Clegg
Jessica Douglas
Life Care Center of Attleboro
Thundermist Health Center-West Warwick
Terry Conte
Charlene Draleau
Woonsocket High School
Lifespan
Jim Conway
Valerie Druken
Lifespan
Rogers High School
Susan Corkran
Donna Dumouchel
Community Care Alliance
Lifespan
Rachel Corr
JoAnn Dursin
Easter Seals
South County Hospital
South County Hospital
Joe Dziobek
Maureen Grimes
Janet Johnson
Brenda Lasorsa
Patricia Egan
Marie Grist
Lori Johnson
Pam Lauria
Cindy Hall
Emilie Joost
Welcome House Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Gina Easley
Pell School
Central Falls High School
Sue Hall
Isabelle Joseph
Diane LeBlanc
Alice Hamilton
Steve Juchnik
Kierrah Legar
Karen Jutras
Brooke Lemme
Cheryl Edwards Ellen Estrella
East Bay Family Health
South County Health Fishing Cove Elementary School
Lois Hamilton
Sturdy Memorial Hospital South County Hospital
Jill Fagre
VNA of Care New England
Coastal Medicine-East Providence
Susan Hamilton
Peg Fair
Boston Children’s Hospital
Olivia Kachingwe
Nancy Harritos
Cathy Fanning
Rhode Island Hospital
Kathleen Kando
South County Hospital Narragansett Middle School Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Elizabeth Hart
Kathleen Fava
Tia Haskins
Women’s Medicine Inpatient Rhode Island Hospital
Nicole Femino
Providence Community Health Center
Gerilyn Ferrera Lifespan
Diane Ferri
South County Hospital
Women’s Resource Center Agnes Little Elementary School
Phyllis Kelliher
Landmark Cancer Center
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Rayne Kennelly
Marsha Haverly
Maria Kenney
Kelley Hayward
Carrie Kenyon
Newport Hospital Lifespan
Kathleen Hawes
The Miriam Hospital
Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island
Kristen Field
Karin Hayden
Cranston East High School
Nathanael Greene School
WellOne
Lifespan
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Jane Kenyon
Scallop Shell Nursing and Rehab. Center
Fran Knight
Sally Fleming
Sharyn Heinelman
Charles E. Shea High School
Heather Fortin
Desirae Heys
Providence VA Medical Ctr. Women’s Clinic
The Miriam Hospital Crossroads Rhode Island
Kelly Foster
The Miriam Hospital
Women & Infants Hospital Providence Community Health Center
Karen Hockhousen
Megan Gaynor Charette
South County Health
Maria Gazal
Women & Infants Hospital
Megan Gernt
Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island
Women & Infants Hospital Rhode Island Free Clinic Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Surgery
Ann Holdredge
Donna Horrocks
Gail Jackson Lifespan
Lynne Glaser
Joanne Jannitto
Heather Glenn
Rose Jarrett
Dr. Michael Klufas Coastal Medicine-East Greenwich
Carol Goveia Lifespan
Lifespan
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Allison Jedson
URI Health Services
Boston Children’s Hospital Ocean State Urgent Care
Donna Lennon
Matunuck Elementary School
Elizabeth Lima Tessier Lifespan
Nancy Logel
Women & Infants Hospital
Jana Magarian
Lifespan Physician Group
Brittany Malachowski The Miriam Hospital
Elza Malkasian
The Miriam Hospital
Greg Mandancy Lifespan
Holly Marcello
South County Hospital
Deb Maroni
Quidnessett Elementary School
Lori Maroni
Forest Park Elementary School
Bridget Koryak
Valerie Martin
Julie Kovach
Catherine May
SSTAR Birth
Boston Children’s Hospital VNS Home Health
Diane Kowal
Rhode Island Hospital
Huntoon Michael Souza M.D.
The Miriam Hospital
Lillian Martin
Gina Natalizia
Robert Gianfrocco
Jamestown Family Practice
Francine Knowles
Susan Howe Kent Hospital
East Greenwich Health and Wellness Center
Eva Klinowski
Hopkins Hill Elementary School
Lois Ginsberg Lifespan
Coastal Medicine-East Greenwich
Mary Lavin
Charlene Eggeman West View Health
Women & Infants Hospital
UMass Memorial Hospital
Western Coventry Elementary School
The Miriam Hospital
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
VNS Newport
Barrington Middle School
Francis Elementary School Claris Vision Surgical Center Thundermist Health Center-West Warwick
Gina Mayo
Stuart Demirs M.D.
Pat LaQuale
Deirdre McCaffrey
Debra LaPerche
Tracy McCarthy
Debra Larkin
Kim McDonough
Lynn Larned
Bernadette McDowell
South County Health Lineham Elementary School Hope Valley Elementary School
Kathleen Larson
Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School
Cottrell F. Hoxie School Charter Home Health Kent Hospital
E.T. Wyman School
Brenda McGovern
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Jodi McGuire
South County Hospital ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 31
Susan McKenna
Women & Infants Hospital
Martha McLaughlin
Wickford Middle School
Sharon McLimans
Sade Olofinlade
PACE Organization of Rhode Island
Joe Pankowitz Lifespan
Thundermist Health Center-West Warwick
Lisa Paolino
Karen Melchar
Cheryl Pappas
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Newport Hospital Emergency Department
Rhode Island Hospital Emergency Department
Stephanie Mello
Stephanie Parente
Ortum
South County Health
Laura Mercer
Jackie Parrillo
Providence VA Medical Center
Lifespan
Ara Millette
Kathy Parker
Lifespan
A to Z Primary Care
Ann Mitchell
Ryan Parker
Roger Williams University Health Services
Cathy Mondor
Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School
Meghan Moore
Lifespan
Elaine Parker-Williams Providence Community Health Center-Prairie Ave
Kristin Parsons Kent Hospital
Providence Community Health Center
Russ Partidge
Melissa Moreau
Mabel Payne
Westerly Warm Center
Women & Infants Hospital Newborn Nursery
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Jill Moretti
Maureen Pearlman
South County Health
South County Hospital
Susan Mroczka
Mary Lou Pearson
Harris Elementary School
Mary Mumford-Haley
Cranston Senior Enrichment Center
East Providence Community Action Program
Gail Pelletier
Heather Murphy
Dawn Peloquin
Women & Infants Hospital
Janice Nace Lifespan
Kelly Nesbitt
Birchwood Middle School
Anne Neuville
Tiverton Family Practice
Marybeth Nichols Norwood School
Lifespan
Fran Pingitore
Trisha Sabina
Mark Pion
David Sanchez
Memorial Hospital The Miriam Hospital
Julie Pirri
Colt Andrews School
Lucille Polisena
Whelan Elementary School
Brenda Pollock
Joseph Jenks Jr. High
Lisa Ponsin Lifespan
Tracy Potvin-Ginaitt Lifespan
Providence Health Care
Marilyn Saunders
East Bay Family Health
Elana Schiffer
The Miriam Hospital
Anne Schmidt
South County Health
Patty Schmidt
Sheila Quinn
Colleen Schnack Stony Lane Elementary School
South County Health Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
Karen Rezendes
Hawthorne Medical Associates/Internal Medicine
Kathleen Ricci
The Miriam Hospital
Andrea Ridlon-Jarmie Toll Gate High School
Judith Ridolfi
Pawtucket Memorial Library
Jane Ritz Lifespan
Rachel Roach
Integra Community Care Network LLC
Mary Lou Roberge The Miriam Hospital
Roxanne Pereira
Denise Rochefort
Sarah Perez
Joe Rocheleau
Sara Petit
Donna Rondeau
Sharon Philbin
Alison Rosener
Coastal Medicine-East Providence
Nicole Saquet
Dermatology Professionals Inc.
Laura Rocha
The Miriam Hospital
Rhode Island Hospital Neuro ICU
Leeann Quinn
Rhode Island Hospital Adult Outpatient Medical Clinic Rhode Island Hospital
South County Hospital
Tiverton Middle School Middletown High School Kent Hospital
University Medicine Foundation
Dawn Seitz
Exeter-West Greenwich Junior High
Christina Sepulveda The Miriam Hospital
Mary Sette
Waterman Pediatrics
Andrea Sharkey
Oakland Beach School
Amy Sharron Hope Hospice
Christopher Shippee The Miriam Hospital
Anne Silbert
Rhode Island Hospital Cardiology
Maria Silva Neurohealth
Kimberly Silvia
The Miriam Hospital
Rachel Silvia
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Danielle Simmons
Thundermist Health Center-West Warwick
Lee Singer
South County Hospital
Newport Head Start
Providence Community Health Center
Stacy Novak
Jeanne Pickett
The Miriam Hospital
Narragansett Elementary School
Kathryn Snape
Kristen Nunes
Tara Piecyk
Karen Rugg
Adedamola Solawon
Karen Nolin
Lifespan
L+M Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Thundermist Health Center-West Warwick
Deb Oliver
Nickie Piermont
Coventry High School
Lifespan
Melissa Oliver
Laurie Pina
Child Inc. Head Start
Assisted Daily Living
32 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
The Miriam Hospital
Lisa Ruscito
Lincoln Primary Care
Katherine Russell
Newport Naval Base
Crystal Ruzzo
Westerly Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Pat Siorrante
South County Health East Greenwich Pediatrics Thundermist Health Center-West Warwick
Lindsey Sousa
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Joan Spencer
South County Health
Christine Spooner
Erin Thomas
Kristen Washburn
David Stevenson
Lauren Thorngate
Irene Watson
Kristen Stewart
Kathy Tipirneni
Optum Health Lifespan
Comprehensive Community Action Program
Carmelia Strom
The Miriam Hospital
Gail Sullivan
The Prout School
Melissa Swan
L +M Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Mary Tashjian
East Bay Family Health Care New England
John Wickes School
Blackrock Elementary School
Mary Beth Welesko
Lauren Yabut
The Providence Center
Women & Infants Hospital
Rose Trudeau
Erin Welshman
The Miriam Hospital
Woonsocket Middle School
Kickemuit Middle School
Linda Twardowski
Michael Westen
North Kingstown High School
Thundermist Health Centers
Karolyn Zambrotta
Jeannie Ursillo
Genevieve White
Karen Zelano Centredale Elementary School
Mary Whittenhall
Lisa Zerdelian Thundermist Health Center-Woonsocket
Providence VA Medical Center
Deborah Vannoy
Melissa Thibodeau
Judith Woodstock
Charlesgate Assisted Living
Crystal Tavares
Rhode Island Hospital Neurology ICU
Providence VA Medical Center University MedicineGeriatrics/Steere House
Katherine Valenzuela
Christina Thibault
L+ M Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Beth Traub
Warwick Vets Junior High School Thundermist Health Center-South County
Ann Wish
The Miriam Hospital
The Miriam Hospital
Veterans Memorial Elementary School Rhode Island Hospital
West Kingston Elementary School
Peter Wilkinson
Catherine Voltas
Alicia Williams
Roger Williams University Health Services
Christine Vuolo-Fecteau
Hathaway Elementary School
WellOne Primary Care
Gail Yates
Diane Young
Blue Cross Blue Shield Newport Women’s Health
Stacy Zullol Head Start
Lifespan
Lisa Winn
Metcalf Elementary School
Dean’s Advisory Council The College reached out to alumni, decision-makers, health-care leaders and community organizations around the state to establish a robust Dean’s Advisory Council. The council assists the College in fulfilling its mission, implementing its strategic plan, realizing its vision and leading the way in nursing education and patient care. The members are: Deborah M. O’Brien chair President and COO The Providence Center Ted Almon President and CEO Claflin Company
Lisa G. Churchville COO and director College and Retirement Savings Plans State of Rhode Island Office of the General Treasurer
Elaine Bridge Vice president of clinical operations Partners Healthcare
Karin Conopask Executive director Animal Rescue Rhode Island
Rebecca L. Burke Senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer Kent Hospital
Marcia Costello Faculty emerita Villanova University College of Nursing
Stephanie Chafee Registered nurse and former first lady of Rhode Island
Robert Hardman Associate judge State of Rhode Island Workers Compensation Court Angela Patterson Chief nurse practitioner officer CVS Health Claire Perlman Board of directors URI Hillel Elaine Moretti Riley Owner Homecare Advantage
Esther Emard Instructor George Washington University School of Nursing
Lynne Urbani Director of policy State of Rhode Island House of Representatives
Barbara Hazard Dean emerita Boston College
Laurie White President Providence Chamber of Commerce ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 33
GIVING Support for the College creates boundless opportunities for all.
34 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Scholarships, Supportive Learning Experiences Make the Difference Through the URI Foundation, support for the College allows bright and hard-working students to fulfill their dreams of becoming nurses. Your donations really do make a difference. Need proof? Read on: Bintou Camara, class of 2017, decided to become a nurse when she discovered an interest in science as a teenager at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island. But as one of five children from a working-class family, she knew that paying for college would be a challenge. It was a challenge she was determined to meet, and with support from URI’s Talent Development Program, the College of Nursing’s Pathways to Nursing Program and scholarships from the URI Foundation, Camara achieved her goal. Camara said URI’s Talent Development Program helped her prepare for the rigors of the nursing curriculum and led to her acceptance into the Pathways Program, which gives students from underserved populations the resources and flexibility to earn their degrees over five years.
“I’m really thankful Pathways gave me time in the beginning of college to space out my coursework and to provide support,” she said, singling out Pathways Program advisor Mary Cloud, clinical assistant professor. “I could text or call her anytime.” To make ends meet, Camara held a work-study job at the College and sought out every scholarship opportunity available. She received multiple awards, including the Wilcox Family Scholarship for Nursing and the Mary O’Sullivan McGovern Nursing Scholarship. “My parents were so appreciative,” Camara said. “And I really appreciated all the support and the resources I was given.” While a student, Camara became a certified nursing assistant (CNA), working during school vacations. “I wanted to be able to apply what I learned in the real world,” said Camara, whose mom is a CNA.
College of Nursing Giving Highlights Gift Commitments by Donor Category .5%
3%
11%
Fiscal Year 2016 Total $445,984
11%
56%
18%
n Foundation / $249,205 n Alumni / $82,798 n Friends / $49,675
n Other / $50,507 n Parents / $724 n Corporations / $13,075
.1%
.5%
9% 7%
Fiscal Year 2017
63.5%
21%
Total $621,466
n Foundation / $394,002 n Alumni / $128,890 n Friends / $38,936
n Other / $56,250 n Parents / $638 n Corporations / $2,750
New Gift Commitments 1% 5%
Fiscal Year 2016
32%
62%
Total $375,692
n Outright Gifts / $232,396 n New Pledges / $18,611 n New Planned Gifts/ n Matching Gifts / $1,475 $123,210
.5%
2%
Fiscal Year 33.5% 2017
64%
Total $621,466
n Outright Gifts / $356,694 n New Pledges / $9,715 n New Planned Gifts / n Matching Gifts / $2,250 $185,554
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 35
Today, Camara works at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., where she was accepted to the hospital’s one-year residency program for new nurses. “I’m excited. I can’t wait to be immersed in the nursing culture,” she said, shortly before leaving for D.C. A self-described “city girl,” the diversity and energy of the capital appeal to her. But most of all, Camara was eager to launch her career. “My goal was to be sure I leave college with a position in my field that provided guidance until I am ready to be 100 percent autonomous,” she said. And Camara has done just that.
Why I Give Elaine Moretti Riley, B.S., ’68, an accomplished nurse, successful entrepreneur and owner of a home-health company for 30 years, will quickly tell you that she credits those accomplishments to URI’s College of Nursing.
“I always felt that I was able to achieve my dreams and my goals because of my education at URI, and I have always appreciated that,” said Riley, founder and owner of HomeCare Advantage, a Cranston, R.I.-based company that offers skilled nursing care as well as physical, occupational, speech therapies and CNA services in patients’ homes. “I was able to achieve my goals because of URI,” added Riley, who took business courses at URI after receiving her nursing degree. Riley, whose company employs more than 200 people, began her career as a medical-surgical
36 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
nurse at Kent Hospital in Warwick, R.I., and then practiced as a psychiatric nurse at Arbour-Fuller Hospital in South Attleboro, Mass., all while dreaming of starting a business. So she left nursing to sell medical products and later managed the office of a national home-care company. Those experiences gave Riley the confidence and skills she needed to launch HomeCare Advantage, and serendipitously, to reconnect with the College of Nursing. In the mid-1990s, she met a faculty member at a social event and learned that the College needed sites for clinical placements. Riley immediately volunteered. Every semester since then, URI students receive clinical training in community-based nursing through HomeCare Advantage. But Riley wanted to do more for the College while also sharing her love of community-based care. She and her late husband Jim, whom she met while they were students at URI, established the Elaine Moretti Riley Homecare Advantage Endowment. The fund provides an annual scholarship to a student who has completed the community-based nursing practicum and expresses an interest in that field. While Riley treasures her long history with the College, she is clearly focused on its future. “The College is poised to be one of the top schools in the country; the education is phenomenal,” she said, noting how pleased she was to see the home-care simulation at the new Rhode Island Nursing Education Center in Providence. (See story page 7.) Having given time, talent and resources to the College, Riley understands the impact alumni can have. “We need to get alumni more involved and show them that they really can help someone,” she said.
Support the College of Nursing
The University of Rhode Island Foundation 79 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI 02881 877.874.4555 | foundation@uri.edu
OUR DONORS We are sincerely grateful to all of our alumni, parents, friends, faculty, staff, and corporate and foundation partners who enhance the mission of our College through their generosity.
$100,000 - and above Rhode Island Foundation Routhier Foundation
$2,500 - $4.999 RM2 Foundation Dayle F. Joseph ’75
$50,000 - $99.999
Ronald P. Joseph ’67
Miriam Weyker Trust
Melvin M. Landesberg ’58
Galanti Foundation, Peter M & Mildred J
Claire Lucas Perlman ’73
Victor J. Farmer ’64 Fred M Roddy Foundation Inc Cynthia Davis Sculco ’65
Marc S. Perlman ’69 Anthony J. Risica ’78 Lynn M. Risica
Thomas P. Sculco
$1,000 - $2,499
$10,000 - $24.999
Martha Jabour McLaughlin ’72
Irene D Williams Trust
Beneficent Congregational Church
Gregory & Claire Wilcox Family Fnd
Denise A. Coppa ’72
Claire Wilcox
Michael F. Coppa ’15
Gregory Wilcox
Arlene Silverman Landesberg ’59
Memorial Hosp Nurses Alumni Assoc
Patricia A. Monti ’61
Vera J Clark Trust
Brian M. Philbin ’70
Marie DiMase Radoccia ’58
Arthur H. Deschane ’77
Evandro R. Radoccia Jr.
Ann Stephenson Hitchen ’88
American Assoc Colleges of Nursing
James E. Hitchen Jr. ’65
$5,000 - $9.999
Carolyn A. McGillivray ’92
Elaine Moretti Riley ’68
William P. McGillivray Cheryl A. Smith ’81 Elizabeth Reilly Socha ’68 Barbara E. Wolfe
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 37
$500 - $999
$250 - $499
Cathy B. Herbert ’68
Delia A. Dubois
Danielle Makarious ’03
Ronald W. Dubois
Mina Samir Makarious
John Towers
David Luther Martin ’68
Margaret B. Towers ’88
Susan J. Brouwer ’83 Ruth Mary Hall Betty Rambur Delta Upsilon Chapter At Large
Joyce A. Marabello ’66 Ann Amoriggi Parente ’57 Lawrence S. Parente ’54 Lili Church Pamela Connor Osborn ’77
Providence Community Health Centers Inc
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Dawn E. Almon
Maureen L. O’Gorman ’89
Edward Almon ’69
Daniel Baran
Suzan M. Amoruso ’70
Jacqueline R. Baran ’68
Shirley Whitcomb Bentley ’52 Elaine L. Bridge ’ 78 Jeffrey A. Bridge ’76 Anne F. DelSanto-Ravenscroft ’82 Esther Emard ’82 Richard N. Emard
Kenneth P. Bowden ’75 Anne E. Bowen ’61 Sharlene J. Cirillo ’81 John A. Cloud Mary E. Cloud Diane M. Disney ’77 Theresa A. Downey ’93
Cynthia Taylor Handrup ’76 Theodore B. Handrup Jr. Barbara Hazard ’ 60 Walter S. Hirsch ’55 Angela Patterson Lynne A. Urbani Keisha S. Walker ’99
38 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Barbara J. Eddy ’62 Cynthia L. Fricke ’83 Robert Fricke Elaine McIlwain Reimels ’68 Edward V. Stacey Jr. ’78 Gail E. Stacey ’80 Lynne R. Weinstein ’83
ACADEMIC HEALTH COLLABORATIVE by the numbers
3
COLLEGES
4,530
NURSING, HEALTH SCIENCES, PHARMACY
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS — nearly one third of all URI undergraduates
495
GRADUATE STUDENTS
6
5
SPARK GRANTS
BIG IDEAS GRANTS
AWARDED TO 24 FACULTY ACROSS SEVERAL COLLEGES AND PROGRAMS
AWARDED TO 33 FACULTY ACROSS SEVERAL COLLEGES AND PROGRAMS
170
FULL-TIME FACULTY AND STAFF
The University of Rhode Island created the Academic Health Collaborative in spring 2016 to enhance the quality and effectiveness of programs that educate and prepare graduates in the health fields. The College of Nursing joins the Colleges of Health Sciences and Pharmacy to form the academic core of the Collaborative, with the Institute for Integrated Health and Innovation acting as the community engagement and research arm. The Collaborative delivers multi-disciplinary education, research and care as it partners with health-care organizations, other colleges and universities, state agencies and business leaders to address challenges in the quality of, access to and cost of health care across the state. This sweeping realignment of health-related programs places the University in a position of strength as health care undergoes rapid change in the United States.
AMONG THE FIRST-YEAR INITIATIVES ARE: Established an agreement with Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services to support health-care workforce development and provide expanded services to Medicaid. _______________________________________________________________________________________
Implemented Collaborative Rhode Island: State University-Medicaid Partnerships to evaluate health-care payment and service delivery reform models, with URI researchers and colleagues at Brown University evaluating processes, systems and outcomes, identifying obstacles and successes and helping the state to create effective and efficient models.
______________________________________________________________________________ Received a $700,000 grant from the State of Rhode Island to evaluate the planning and implementation of a federally funded program that tests models for innovative health care reform.
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 / 39
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: All gifts to the University of Rhode Island should be made payable and mailed to the URI Foundation, P.O. Box 1700, Kingston, RI 02881. You can use the enclosed envelope or make your online gift at urifoundation.org/giveonline.
URI is an equal opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. 40 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING 9/2017 1450/NUR PHOTOS: ALISON O’BRIEN; JOE GIBLIN; NORA LEWIS; SEAN MCVEIGH MEDIA; MIKE SALERNO