May/June Newsletter

Appreciative Reflection

“

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Newsletter May/June 2023

Thomas A. Edison

Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Dawn Carpenter, Associate Professor and Dr. Alex Menard, Coordinator of the Acute Care NP Track had their latest book published “Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification Review” by Springer Publishing.

This book is a comprehensive and an excellent resource for AGACNP students and faculty.

Dr. Susan Feeney, Associate Dean for Advanced Practice Programs and Dr. Dawn Carpenter, Associate Professor on your induction into the 2023 Fellows of the American Association of Nurse practitioners during a ceremony Thursday June 22. Your commitment to our students helps make Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing a leader in higher education.

Becoming a fellow is a highly esteemed privilege. Only 1/4 of 1% of the nation’s 355,000 NPs are bestowed this honor after they have made a significant contribution to the NP profession. You have earned this recognition with your selfless work.

Dean Vitello, Dr. Feeney and Dr. Carpenter Dr. Peterson, Dr. White, Dean Vitello, Dr. Feeney, Dr. Carpenter and Dr. Terrien

Dr. Dani Herbert, Coordinator of Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Track, Dr. Rose Kronziah-Seme, Assistant Professor, Dr. Chrystina Soloperto, Assistant Professor and Ricardo Poza, Assistant Dean for Curricular Innovation graduated from the Junior Faculty Development Program.

The Junior Faculty Development Program features functional mentoring at its core and matches mentees to mentors in programs outside their own. View photos from Friday’s graduation: https:// direc.to/jQML

Dr. Shari Harding, Coordinator of the DNP Program and Psychiatric-Mental Health article entitled “Psychiatric deprescribing: A Narrative Review” is officially live online at https:// journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10783903231185353

Citation: Harding, S.L., Ellis, K.A., Boisseau, J., & Petreca, V. (online advance). Psychiatric deprescribing: A narrative review. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.

Dani Hebert, Coordinator of Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Track has been selected to be the first NP Associate Editor for the Aquifer Internal Medicine Consortium Board-it will go into effect July 1.

She will be responsible, with other members of the board, for creating and reviewing content for case studies to be used by MD, NP, and PA students.

Dr. Rita Amoah, Dr. Jesica Pagano-Therrien along with Dr. Michele Griswold an alumni had their paper “"Go With the Flow:" A Qualitative Description of Infant Feeding Experiences Among Women With HIV in the United States. Below is the citation.

Pagano-Therrien, J., Griswold, M. K., & Amoah, R. K. (2023). "Go With the Flow:" A Qualitative Description of Infant Feeding Experiences Among Women With HIV in the United States. The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care : JANAC, 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000411. Advance online publication. Article

Faculty Spotlight Cont.

This GRIT Freedom chair was donated to the Mass Audubon Broad Meadow Brook sanctuary following a research study introducing veterans with PTSD to experiences with nature and wildlife. This study was conducted by Dr. Donna Perry and colleagues from the UMass Chan Medical School Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing and Broad Meadow Brook was proud to assist. The GRIT Freedom Chair is a manual all-terrain wheelchair built to explore the outdoors and this one is available in our Nature Center for visitors to use.

Dr. Jill Terrien, Associate Dean Interprofessional and Community Partnerships gave a presentation at the Worcester Senior Center. The presentation: “What do your eyes, ears and feet have to do with falling” was part of the Senior Fall Prevention and Wellness Series. The presentation had over 100 seniors present, it was interactive and a phenomenal experience. The event demonstrated the tremendous work of the staff at the Worcester Senior Center and their dedication to keeping seniors engaged. The programming available has the center busy 5 days a week. A true gem of the city of Worcester!

Faculty Spotlight Cont.

Dr. Teri Aronowitz becomes Associate Dean for Research and Innovation

It is with distinct pleasure that I announce that Dr. Terese (Teri) Aronowitz has been appointed Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the Tan Chingfen School of Nursing. Dr. Aronowitz will succeed Dr. Susan Sullivan Bolyai in this role. Dr. Aronowitz came to us in 2021 as a tenured Professor in Nursing from the UMASS Boston Campus and currently was serving as faculty in the PhD program. She practices at Boston University (BU) as a Nurse Practitioner in Student Health 1-day a week. Dr. Aronowitz is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of American College Health. Her seminal contribution has been to advance the science of evidence -based care for sexual health promotion and healthy adolescent development.

Dr. Aronowitz has completed over a dozen CBPR projects with African American, Asian American, and Native American families to promote health adolescent development free of negative risk behaviors. She is currently funded with Dr Cedric Woods (Director of the New England Native American Studies Program at UMB) by the MA Depart of Public Health delivering a culturally and developmentally appropriate intervention to prevent substance initiation among Native middle-school youth.

She has numerous awards and recognitions and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) and a member of the violence prevention expert panel.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Aronowitz to her new role.

Dean Joan Vitello

Dr. Cecily Kulsick, Instructor received an Advanced Practice Nursing Award May 2023

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Lois E. Silverman

Department of Nursing) Excellence in Advanced Nursing Practice Award

The Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing Award is granted annually to an advanced practice nurse who embodies overall excellence in nursing practice, including clinical expertise, collaboration and a spirit of inquiry. Criteria reviewed are the nominee’s contributions to the field of nursing by demonstrating leadership, mentorship, scholarly inquiry and leadership activities. The award also takes into consideration the nominee’s embodiment of the key tenets of the BIDMC Nursing Mission, which is, “to build on a legacy of nursing excellence by caring with compassion, advancing the art and science of nursing, and advocating for the health of patients, families and communities.”

Faculty Spotlight Cont.

Drs. Mechelle Plasse and Ken Peterson, Assistant Professor’s had their article published in Journal of Professional Nurses entitled “incorporating social justice learning into competencybased graduate nursing: A discussion of integrating pedagogies”. The authors discuss faculty preparation and pedagogical considerations when incorporating social justice learning into a graduate and post-graduate psychiatric nurse practitioner course. Read the whole article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S8755722323001102

Faculty Spotlight Cont.

Dr. Dani Hebert, Coordinator of Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Track and Dr. Thin Malatesta, Assistant Professor of Graduate Entry Pathway Program ran a mini workshop for MA/RI LN (Massachusetts/Rhode Island League of Nursing) on educational escape room creation. Dr. Amy Harrington, Dr. Mechelle Plasse and Mary-Kate Miller, PsyD presented at the 2023 Psychiatry Faculty Retreat Cultivating a Culture of Collaboration. Their presentation was entitled “Applying principles of Interprofessional Education (IPE) to be more effective teachers in an interdisciplinary learning environment”.

Student Spotlight

Read below about Sharon Rudinski, a graduate student at The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing in the Master of Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership program. Sharon is also a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at our UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus! If you would like to learn more about the Master of Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership program and to apply for Fall 2023 visit our website www.umassmed.edu/gsn/ academics/masters-program/

"In my early teens, I saw the difference I could make in others' lives. My mother worked as an LPN in a nursing home, and I would visit with the residents after school and on holidays. Positively impacting the lives of others is and always will be the foundation of who I am as a healthcare provider. I am determined to provide comfort, support, and care to patients and their families who may be going through difficult times.

I have been an ED nurse at UMMMC for greater than 20 years. As a team, we have faced many challenges: out growing the old ED, moving into the new ED, ED redesigns/divisions, a pandemic, increased patient volume and acuity, and an unheard-of staffing shortage. However, those who remain, and many that have joined the team, stand tall to serve the patients of our community. I am proud to be a part of this team.

The most memorable period in my career was being a core team member of the UMMMC DCU Center Field Hospital. Having the opportunity to turn a civic center into a hospital was beyond my wildest dreams. Lead the nursing and ancillary staff was a dream come true. The values that guide decisions and allow us to move toward the future of UMass Memorial Health is why I love working here. I pride myself on constant patient-centered care, acting with personal integrity, respecting others, effecting change through teamwork and systems thinking, and supporting the Worcester community.

I am also a graduate student at The Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing – UMass Chan Medical School in the Master of Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership program. When I am not studying, I can be seen at my daughter’s soccer games."

We had so much fun with the students who have been accepted into our Graduate Entry Pathway to Doctor of Nursing Practice program! See you again in August!

Jennifer Costa, PhD student received the Rita Reis Wieczorek Scholarship from the Nurses Educational Funds, Inc May 2023. This Scholarship is awarded to a graduate nursing student studying maternal-infant and pediatric nursing and aligns with focus of Jen’s dissertation study.

We are so proud of Amelia Toye, PhD student. Please join us in congratulating her on being the first nursing student to be on the Board of Trustees.

When Amelia Toye, RN, is sworn in as the UMass Chan student trustee on the UMass Board of Trustees on July 1, she'll be making history. Read why: https://direc.to/jQDq

Ian Lane, PhD student had a perspective paper published in a top tier journal, called Headache: The journal of head and face pain, called: Capturing the experiences of sexual and gender minorities with migraine headache. Below is the citation:

Lane, I. A., & Zempsky, W. T. (2023). Capturing the experiences of sexual and gender minorities with migraine headache. Headache: The journal of head and face pain.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Congratulations Dr. Samantha Turner on the successful defense of her dissertation “Ready for Action: A National Study of Pediatric Healthcare Professionals’ Attitudes and Beliefs About Weight Stigma” May 2, 2023.

Melissa Anne DuBois first year PhD student recently presented at the 5th annual "Med Moth Story Hour" at UMass Chan Medical School. She was the only GSN student to present.

Melissa Anne is an experienced perinatal nurse, childbirth educator and lactation counselor and is interested in studying secondary trauma in labor and delivery nurses who witness acts of obstetric violence in the workplace. Melissa Anne will be telling a story about her first near-miss preventable maternal death and her experience witnessing obstetric racism in her capacity as a labor & delivery nurse.

Elizabeth Terhune, PhD student was awarded the NE GAPNA (Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association) Education Scholarship award for 2023-2024 in May. As a result, she is sitting on the NE GAPNA board as the student liaison for the next year.

Kayla Thomas a DNP year 2 student had her article “The Humanities as a Tool published in the Worcester Medicine. See pages 6 and 7 for full article https://bit.ly/3NZWrci

The Master of Science in Nursing and Interprofessional Leadership program summer courses focused on innovation during N608 Innovation in Healthcare with Dr. Terri Reed, adjunct faculty and N626 Project Advisement taught by Mary Antonelli, MS Program Director. They both used Legos to generate creative thinking. One class was called Iron Designer and the other was Thinking with Your Hands.

The ITQC (quality improvement) project that Elizabeth Terhune (PhD program, Lisa Cappabianca (DNP program), and Jennifer Bugos (DNP program) were involved in titled “Improving Annual Wellness Visit Compliance in an ACO” won first place in the Quality Improvement category at the residents' and fellows' 2023 Poster Day! They were on Lauren Needell's team.

Winning teams are invited to present their work during Noon Conference on Wednesday, June 7th and their posters were also displayed in the Forster Conference . They also presented during the ITQC showcase.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Emma Glozman, DNP student has won a 2023 Doctoral Scholarship through the Oncology Nursing Foundation. This is an excellent achievement!

The Oncology Nursing Foundation provided this scholarship to registered nurses who are committed to oncology nursing to continue their education by pursuing a research doctoral degree (Ph.D.) or clinical doctoral degree (DNP).

Their mission at ONF is to support the oncology nursing community, a population composed of a wide variety of individuals who have many differences.

N525 Nursing Leadership Panel for GEP students. The focus of Concepts in Professional Nursing III is leadership and management in nursing. This course introduces content including systemsbased nursing practice, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, teamwork and collaboration, informatics and technology, patient-centered care, leadership, and professionalism

The leadership panel from L to R: Dr. Justin Precourt, Chief Nursing Officer; Dr. Karen Uttaro, Senior Director; Dr. Tara Tehan, Nurse Director; Dr. Joan Vitello, Dean

Graduating students received stoles made of Kente fabric during the Deborah Harmon Hines, PhD, Commencement Celebration. Read about the event and the inaugural winners of the Deborah Harmon Hines, PhD, Awards: https://direc.to/jTK5

Dean Vitello, Ken Peterson and Rita Amoah having fun at the ceremony.

Student Spotlight Cont.

Class of 2023, it's been an honor being part of your journey.

Watch UMass Chan Medical School's 50th Commencement, https://www.facebook.com/umasschan/ videos/1852232175171194

You'll find a list of our graduates and the full Commencement ceremony here: https://direc.to/jT_L

Students, faculty, special guests, and yes, a selfie with Katie Couric, are spotlighted in this video of joyful moments from UMass Chan 50th Commencement: https://direc.to/jT9Z

Amanda Hazeltine, MS, CNP, AGACNP-BC, spent 13 years in health communications before coming to UMass Chan for a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Learn why the class speaker for the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing made the switch to nursing: https://direc.to/jRwM

2023 Awards and Scholarship Ceremony

Amanda Hazeltine, MS, CNP, AGACNP-BC, received the Chancellor's Award, Heather Briere received the Dean's Award & four brand new awards were given during the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing’s ceremony. Read more here including the full list of award winners. https:// direc.to/jTdb

Dear GSN staff and faculty, I am writing to express my profound gratitude to you for all the support you are giving us. It was an honor to be recognized during the past awards ceremony. I come to school with the motivation of gaining the knowledge that will help broaden the scope of my service to people, so to be awarded in the process makes me really happy. I did not know such a scheme existed and even if I did, I would never have expected to be chosen out of the many students. This is an incentive for me to put in more work. Thank you for the knowledge and invaluable support you are providing us. I am very grateful.

Chancellor’s Award New Service Leadership Award Dean’s Award New Psych Mental Health Awards New Making a Difference Outstanding Community Service Award

I wanted to share some wonderful words about Dr. Susan Feeney.

“It was so wonderful to be able to see you and attend your lecture. What a special conference. As you spoke about in your talk about gratitude we all owe you a hand written letter. I hope you know the impact that you had on so many of us. I know I can be a tough critic… but I have had very few educators in my life that were as knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging as you are. Thank you! I hope to cross paths much more!“ Amelia Nadler

This is at the Mt Washington Hotel in NH at the NHNPA Annual Conference.

Diabetes

2009 Alumni Sean Collins, PhD, RN has spent the past several years in Washington DC serving a distinguished military career. In 2016 he joined the U.S. Defense Health Agency with a promotion to Brigadier General. He’s currently the Assistant to The Surgeon General for the Department of the Air Force and serves as Director of Space Force Medical Operations.

June 2, 2023 Sean received his second star to become a Major General. The ceremony was livestreamed from Washington.

Here is the link if you would like to watch the ceremony. Read more about Sean here.

Nurse Practitioner Sean Collins Joins the U.S. Defense Health Agency with Promotion to Air Force Brigadier General (2 star) left to right: Maggie Donovan, Amelia Nadler, Susan Feeney, Jenna Lizewski and Catherine Cline 11 students graduated from the FNP Residency at the Tower Hill Botanical Gardens in Boylston June 13.

Dean Joan Vitello along with staff at the Tan

Graduate School of Nursing volunteered at the Queen Street Shelter in Worcester June 27th. We sorted & labeled clothing and served dinner.

Thin Malatesta, Assistant Professor in the GEP Program (front right) is part of the Restorative Justice Community of Practice at UMass Chan. They participated and facilitated community circles as part of a half day retreat at Hahnemann Family Health Center.