COLLEGE OF NURSING A N N U A L R E P O R T 2022–2023
CONTENTS 2
BY THE NUMBERS
4
STUDENTS
12
FACULTY/STAFF
20
RESEARCH
WHO WE ARE Mission
24
ACADEMICS
28
COMMUNITY IMPACT
32
SPECIAL PROJECTS
34
ALUMNI
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 health care 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.
URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
DEAN’S MESSAGE The current pressures for health-care innovation are truly unprecedented. COVID-19 punctuated our lives and triggered the beginning of many disruptions to the status quo. In health care, these include expanded scopes of practice for nurses, a rise in virtual care, and a growing recognition of the vital nature of the nation’s public health infrastructure. Tired and tattered, many seasoned nurses are exiting the workforce, shaping a landscape with unfamiliar speed bumps, while also creating new avenues for care. Digital nursing and virtual care, for example, are rapidly expanding, and the hospitalat-home movement—which, unlike traditional home care, offers acute, hospital-level care in the home— offers nurses opportunities for self-agency and clinical decision-making unheard of just a few short years ago. Patients, especially in our aging population, benefit from this careful attention to their needs; the knowledge nurses can bring is central to healthy longevity and management of chronicity. At the same time, artificial intelligence is removing many routine professional responsibilities, and augmenting others, and is expected to totally replace still other nursing and clinical functions. Again, this offers fresh opportunities for nursing innovation while at the same time presenting the nation with perplexing regulatory, legal, and ethical challenges. Finally, health-care costs continue to burden taxpayers, employers, and families. Nurses can and must play a key role in rooting out low-value and unnecessary care to ensure equitable access to high-value care. As vanguards of value, nurses can help redeploy resources to the upstream social determinants of health that have long been recognized as the major contributor to the health status of individuals, neighborhoods, and the nation. It is to these pressing challenges and opportunities that we dedicate our work as educators, researchers, scholars, clinicians, and leaders. The URI College of Nursing is diligently working to enhance our practice partnerships in a wide array of delivery settings to ensure practice readiness for our graduates at all levels. These student learning opportunities include new practice experiences that range from primary care nursing to end-of-life and palliative care, to name but a few. Similarly, our research and scholarly endeavors chart a new path forward toward health and healing throughout the life span. We remain committeed to our service to the region and its people, even as we embrace broad public health challenges in a global society. Indeed, this is an exciting time. We are ready! We enthusiastically embrace these challenges to help shape the world in which we all wish to live and grow. And we appreciate your ongoing support and commitment to our critical mission of health and healing. Thank you! Betty Rambur, interim dean
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BY THE NUMBERS
2,126
226
Student applications for 2023–24
Incoming students for 2023–24
38
3.9
Students inducted into Sigma International Honor Society of Nursing
Average incoming student grade-point average
98% NCLEX first-time pass rate
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40 Students in Pathways to Nursing program
The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing undergraduate program is ranked among the top 10 percent of nursing colleges in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Undergrad Program Ranked Among Top 10 Percent in Nation
The college’s B.S. in nursing program is tied at No. 67 in the country with several other schools, according to the rankings. The college made an impressive rise in the rankings from last year’s spot at No. 96, the first year the publication ranked undergraduate nursing programs. The URI College of Nursing met and exceeded the standards as it continues to increase its offerings at the undergrad and graduate level. About one-third of the college’s faculty members are recognized fellows in national nursing organizations, including the American Academy of Nursing, for their distinguished academic achievements. Dozens of students were inducted in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing this year, and a handful were inducted into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. The number of faculty publications, funded external grants, and committed gifts to the college have all increased over the last five years as the college continues have major impacts on health and health care.
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STUDENTS Prepared To Make a Difference in Health
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Commencement 2023 Interim Dean Betty Rambur, joined by URI President Marc Parlange and Provost Barbara Wolfe, and the faculty and staff of the College of Nursing, conferred degrees upon the graduating Class of 2023 on May 20. Dean Rambur and the entire URI College of Nursing extend their heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2023.
December Commencement More than 100 students crossed the stage in Edwards Auditorium to receive their degrees at the annual College of Nursing December Commencement on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. Associate Dean Susan DeSanto-Madeya and members of the college faculty distributed 103 Bachelor of Science degrees, 44 of which were earned by working registered nurses who returned to URI to complete their degrees in the college’s R.N. to B.S. program.
Big Ideas. Bold Plans. Student Access High-achieving students are tomorrow’s future leaders, but access to premier education is often unaffordable. The College of Nursing depends on scholarship support to recruit and retain promising students, and we are grateful for donors and alumni who invest in the next generation of nurses.
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The Nurse’s Pledge “As a nurse dedicated to providing the highest quality care and service, I solemnly pledge that I will: • Consider the welfare of humanity and relief of suffering my primary concerns; • Act in a compassionate and trustworthy manner in all aspects of my care; • Apply my knowledge, experience, and skills to the best of my ability to assure optimal outcomes for my patients; • Exercise sound professional judgment while abiding by legal and ethical requirements; • Accept the lifelong obligation to improve my professional knowledge and competence; • Promote, advocate for and strive to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient. • With this pledge, I accept the duties and responsibilities that embody the nursing profession. I take this oath voluntarily with the full realization of the responsibility with which I am entrusted by the public.”
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Newest Nursing Students Receive White Coats Interim Dean Betty Rambur and the faculty of the URI College of Nursing welcomed the Class of 2025 into the nursing profession during the semiannual White Coat Ceremony on Jan. 20 in Edwards Hall Auditorium. Rambur, along with Professor Diane Martins and Assistant Professor Jung Eun Lee greeted the nursing students before the keynote address offered by actor, clown, emergency nurse, and University of Virginia Assistant Professor Tim Cunningham, who urged the students to dedicate themselves to “the world’s greatest profession.” Cunningham, who told stories from his nursing career, including his experiences with Partners in Health in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak there in 2014– 2016. Students then crossed the stage to receive their white lab coats, before reciting a pledge to uphold the ethics and principles of the nursing profession.
Students Inducted into ‘Network of World’s Top Nurses’ The College of Nursing hosted the first in-person regional Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing induction ceremony at Edwards Hall Auditorium, with Associate Dean Susan DeSanto-Madeya overseeing the induction of 105 students from around the state. Thirty-eight URI nursing students, along with colleagues from Salve Regina University and Rhode Island College, joined the international community of nurses, dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, teaching, learning, and service through the cultivation of communities of practice, education, and research. The organization is a “network of (the) world’s top nurses who share the commitment to advancing and transforming global health care. Induction into the honor society recognizes superior academic achievement, leadership, and dedication to the nursing profession.”
URI’s Sigma inductees include:
Caroline Rose Jennings
Mary Achia-Larbi Myrca Arreaza
Zoe Elizabeth Korzeniowski
Olivia Asch
Jenna Lautieri
Elizabeth Bloss
Jane Lavallee
Lisa Burton
Tianna Lombard
Kristen Choiniere
Marisa Merigan MacGilvray
Natalie Ciccone Makenna Courtney Connor John Davis Emily Morgan DiPrima Katherine Fitzmaurice
Megan Johnson
Mikeicha Malloy Grace O’Brien Omorinola Oladosu Mackenzie R. Palmer Susan Reddish
Marissa Fiumara
Samantha Salerno
Carly Gembis
Gema Analisa Santizo
Brianna Giglio
Olivia Sarmento
Mikaela Gillooley
Taelyn Shore
Elizabeth Grieser
Nicole Catherine Spirito
Isabella Herman
Talia Toe
Elizabeth Hurley
Jenna Elizabeth Tweedell
Emily Rose Inga
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Early Inspiration Led Graduate Lily Jacobson to Career Caring for Others When Lily Jacobson was a young girl growing up in Lincoln, Rhode Island, her mother was diagnosed with a serious illness that required multiple surgeries and frequent hospital visits that sometimes lasted as long as two weeks. It was difficult for the young child and her older sister to watch their mom suffer, but at the same time, it helped inspire both girls to pursue a life of helping others. It was during those 12 years of her childhood when her mom was ill that Jacobson witnessed firsthand the incredible work nurses do. She was inspired by their compassion, expertise, and ability to connect with patients and their families. This experience fueled her passion for health care and led her to pursue a career in nursing. “To watch your mom suffer and be in and out of the hospital, that is a very specific and difficult journey. I don’t remember every doctor, but I remember the nurses,” Jacobson said. “I don’t remember feeling fearful when I left the hospital because I knew the nurse who was going to be with her all night. Those nurses went out of their way to care not only for my mom but for the rest of my family, as well. That showed me how powerful nurses are. Hopefully, I do a good enough job to instill that in a person’s daughter or son.” Fortunately, Jacobson’s mom recovered and is doing well. Largely due to that experience, both sisters have pursued careers in the health-care industry, with Lily Jacobson having graduated from the University of Rhode Island College of Nursing in May. Jacobson has had some “incredible” clinical experiences at Newport, Miriam, and Rhode Island hospitals, as well as at an elementary school in Johnston. She engaged in a disaster simulation at the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center in Providence that exposed her to the fast-paced world of emergency medicine, and during her Rhode Island Hospital clinical, she was able to transfer from the medical-surgical floor into the emergency department, where her career goals were cemented. 8 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
“I think it is my calling to be an ER nurse,” Jacobson said. “I love that you are the first face to provide those vulnerable patients with a trusted person to go to and feel comforted by. I want to be that first person who welcomes you, so you think, ‘Well, I’m going to be OK here because this first nurse set me up for success.’” The clinical experience nursing students gain early on in their academic careers at URI is invaluable in preparing them to be health-care professionals, Jacobson said. It is a challenge for a relatively young student to face and requires a little extra support, she said, but it forces nursing students to embrace their careers earlier than some of their peers. “I think it’s an added layer of responsibility when you step into the hospital and you have that first realization moment that everything I’m learning and everything I’m doing is so that I can help save lives and help people feel safe when they are at their lowest and most vulnerable points,” Jacobson said. “That level of ownership is something you have to realize from the beginning. It has helped keep me focused on my studies and my goals.” To read more of Jacobson’s journey, visit uri.edu/ nursing/news.
Senior Spotlights t Shelby Plotkin Hometown: Seymour, Connecticut Future plans: RN on the surgical intensive care unit at Yale New Haven Hospital “URI has provided me with some really great professors who have given me the tools and knowledge needed to move forward and be successful in my nursing career. I was provided the opportunity to complete my clinical immersion on the neuro-critical care unit at Rhode Island Hospital, which has been an amazing learning opportunity and has further enhanced my passion for critical care.”
Grace Beaudry u Hometown: Smithfield, Rhode Island Future plans: Accept a nursing position at a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts “URI has given me some of my most meaningful friendships and memories, and their program has helped shape me into the incredible nurse I want to be. I will never forget my experiences at this university, and I’m so excited to start this next chapter of my life.”
t Justice Douglas Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island Future plans: Pass the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination); hopefully accept a position at Rhode Island Hospital on an intensive care unit; pursue a degree in higher education, possibly a Ph.D.; and also become an acute-care nurse practitioner. “URI has allowed me to find myself and my purpose in this world. The impact that this university has made on my life is sometimes unexplainable, but to put into shorter terms, this university has shown me that anything is possible and to always think big. Overall, I want to thank this university for showing me what I am capable of and reminding me that I serve a bigger person not only on this campus but in this world.” ANNUAL REPORT 2022−23 / 9
Pathways Program Supports Underrepresented Populations Students enrolled in the Pathways to Nursing program shared their challenges and achievements over the past year and looked forward to continuing their journeys toward nursing degrees during the annual Pathways Living Leadership reception. The 40 students enrolled in the program for the 2022–23 academic year worked together through classes and clinical rotations and got together in motivational and social outings, including at the North Woods Challenge Course on the Kingston Campus. The students in the program support each other through the unique challenges often faced by underrepresented populations.
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Directed by Professor Diane DiTomasso, the Pathways to Nursing program at URI supports nursing students from historically underrepresented populations. With a goal to reduce health-care inequalities and achieve health equity by increasing diversity in the nursing workforce, the program provides students with resources and support to attain bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
Pathways provides the following supports to promote student success especially in overcoming academic disadvantages and unfamiliarity with university culture: • Appropriate sequencing or pacing of the Pathways to Nursing curriculum. • Mentoring support from College of Nursing faculty, Talent Development (TD), and other URI staff, as well as professional nurses in the community. • Special programs to connect students with mentors. • Hands-on opportunities through the mentoring program. • Equipment and other supports, as needed.
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FACULTY/STAFF Dynamic Educators, Researchers, Clinicians
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Interim Dean Reappointed to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Interim Dean Betty Rambur has been reappointed as a commissioner on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which holds a powerful role in advising Congress on Medicare policy. Rambur, the college’s Routhier Endowed Chair for Practice and Professor of Nursing, was originally appointed to the commission in 2020. She has been a national
leader in health policy and health reform for 30 years. She is a recognized leader in workforce redesign within alternative payment models and a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. She served as the only nurse on Vermont’s Green Mountain Care Board, which regulates health care in Vermont and provides oversight of the transition from fee-for-service to valuebased care. Rambur’s particular focus is population health, payment reform, value-informed practice, reducing disparities and overtreatment, cost containment, and reconceptualized models of care, including primary care nursing and virtual care.
Interim Associate Dean Named Fellow in Palliative Care Nursing Associate Professor and Interim Associate Dean Susan DeSanto-Madeya was named a fellow in palliative care nursing through the National Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association in March 2023. DeSanto-Madeya, the URI College of Nursing’s Weyker Chair, focuses on palliative and end-of-life nursing care. She is currently an investigator on a National Institutes of Health-funded study examining structural racism and engagement of family caregivers in serious illness care, and the primary investigator on a Hillman Foundation-funded study to examine PhotoVoice as an intervention to align goals of care for dyads living with serious illness. She was the recipient of funding from the Cambia Health Foundation, and named a Sojourns Palliative Care Scholar Leader, to develop, implement, and evaluate an interdisciplinary palliative care certificate program.
She also is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing in recognition of her contributions to the field of palliative and end-of-life nursing. She is a member the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, Eastern Nursing Research Society, and Sigma International Honor Society for Nursing. She serves on numerous committees, including as a board member for the Partnership To Reduce Cancer in Rhode Island, and the Nursing Taskforce of the Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care/Institute for Healthcare Improvement.
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URI Respite Care Expert Featured on National Network a statewide project providing in-home respite to caregivers of children with special needs. This has led to an interprofessional experience involving group respite events for families who have children with special needs, which includes nursing students. The students visit the home and provide whatever assistance caregivers need, whether it’s help feeding a disabled patient, modeling appropriate parenting behavior, or simply sitting with a patient so the caregiver can break away for a short time. Clinical Assistant Professor Christine McGrane was featured on an ARCH National Respite Network podcast about her pediatric respite program in Rhode Island and the benefits it provides for caregiving families and nursing students. McGrane is an expert in pediatric nursing and respite care for family caregivers. She is part of
The professionalism and care students show can be a comfort to family members who face a daily struggle caring for their loved ones. “Nursing is one of those professions that is respected in society,” McGrane said. “People feel more confident knowing they’re nursing students. They see a nurse as a good resource who can provide the care they need.”
Professor Advocates for Equitable Health Care Associate Professor Denise Coppa has been appointed to the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island, which is dedicated to the transformation of primary care in the state into an ever-improving integrated, accessible, affordable, and equitable health-care system. CTC-RI brings together critical stakeholders to implement, evaluate, and spread effective multipayer models to deliver, pay for, and sustain high-quality, comprehensive, accountable primary care. Coppa, an expert in primary health-care work transformation, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the collaborative. Coppa is a nationally board-certified primary care pediatric nurse practitioner and a family nurse practitioner. Her teaching experience spans 30 years at URI, including courses on advanced pathophysiology, pharmacotherapeutics, adult and pediatric physical assessment, and courses in the adult primary care and family nurse practitioner concentrations. She supervises 14 / URI COLLEGE OF NURSING
Associate Professor Denise Coppa supervises nursing student Elizabeth Grieser as she examines a patient at Rhode Island Hospital.
nurse practitioner students in the Medicine Pediatrics Primary Care Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and at the Rhode Island Free Clinic, serving medically uninsured people. Coppa’s clinical interests focus on the care of medically underserved clients.
College Welcomes New Professors The University of Rhode Island College of Nursing has welcomed three new professors to the college this year, expanding the ranks of its dynamic faculty. Meet the three new professors:
Assistant Clinical Professor Desirae Heys Education: D.N.P., University of Rhode Island; M.S., nursing education, URI; M.S., family nurse practitioner, URI; B.S.N., Rhode Island College. Recent experience: Family nurse practitioner, WellOne Primary Medical and Dental Care; family nurse practitioner, Providence Community Health Centers; adjunct professor, URI College of Nursing; assistant clinical researcher, URI College of Nursing. Teaching focus: “I focus on teaching primary-care nursing at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a focus on underserved populations and care at federally qualified health centers. I will work to continue to utilize technology, simulation, and population health outcomes to educate the next generation of nurse leaders.” Research focus: “My research is focused on quality, patient-centered primary care, underserved populations, quality improvement, and electronic health records. My master’s project introduced the idea of implementing simulation into the Nurse Practitioner Program. My doctoral work was focused also on technology, electronic health records, and developing and disseminating clinician-driven workflow efficiencies to capture quality metrics effortlessly within the clinical encounter.”
Assistant Professor Kara Pavone Education: Ph.D., nursing science, University of Pennsylvania; M.S., nursing science, University of Pennsylvania; B.S.N., nursing science, University of Pennsylvania; B.S., behavioral neuroscience, Northeastern University. Recent experience: Assistant professor, Northeastern University; registered nurse, Hale House Residential Care Facility, Boston. Teaching focus: “My primary teaching focus is to encourage and empower my students, fostering sustainable learning and an atmosphere of excellence. Additionally, I am passionate about teaching research methods to students at all levels, making research accessible and emphasizing its significance for nurses in various settings.” Research focus: “The objective of my research is to improve health-related outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder by investigating factors such as pain assessment and management, withdrawal symptoms, and discharge disposition. Through my research, I strive to contribute to the advancement of patient-centered care and the overall well-being of individuals with opioid use disorder.
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Assistant Professor Jordon Bosse Education: Ph.D., nursing, University of Massachusetts; M.S.N., nursing education, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine; B.S.N., University of Southern Maine; B.A., individualized studies, Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont. Recent experience: Assistant professor, College of Nursing, Northeastern University; program director of research and education, Boulder Care Inc. (a telehealth company delivering virtual, interdisciplinary treatment for opioid use disorder); summer camp nurse, Camp Aranu’tiq of Harbor Camps, for gender diverse young people ages 7 to 17.
learning environment where everyone can show up to class as their whole selves. I have taught in clinical settings, simulation lab, and undergraduate and graduate classrooms.” Research focus: “My research is focused on improving the mental health and well-being of vulnerable and marginalized populations by identifying modifiable risk and protective factors. My work has primarily centered on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual young adults in the contexts of family relationships and minority stress. Secondarily, I’m interested in the workplace and health-care experiences of LGBTQA+ nurses and clients and increasing the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data in all clinical and research settings.
Teaching focus: “My approach to teaching is largely informed by my experience in a self-directed bachelor’s program rooted in experiential learning and adult learning principles. I see us on a journey together. I use interactive lectures and learning activities. I work with learners to create a brave, inclusive
Big Ideas. Bold Plans. Transformative Faculty Teaching and research excellence define the College of Nursing. To remain fresh, faculty members need access to professional development and continuing education made possible through funds like the Dr. Elaine Barber Parker Fund for Nursing Faculty Development.
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Selected Nursing Faculty Publications 2022–2023 Ogbogu PU, Noroski LM, Arcoleo K, Reese BD Jr, Apter AJ. Methods for Cross-Cultural Communication in Clinic Encounters. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022 Apr;10(4):893-900. doi: 10.1016/j. jaip.2022.01.010. Epub 2022 Jan 25. PMID: 35091120; PMCID: PMC8786674.
Dutra, S. V. O., Gordon, J., Shaffer, E., Miller, E. M., Harville, C., Yoo, J. Y., Sarkar, A., Ji, M., D’Agata, A., Groer, M. W. (2022). An exploratory principal factor analysis of very low birth weight clinical data and development-behavior outcomes at 4 years of age. Pediatric Nursing, 48(1), 21-33. NLM
Attin M, Reifenstein K, Mehta S, Arcoleo K, Lin CD, Storozynsky E. Reported Signs, Symptoms, and Diagnostic Tests Before Cardiotoxicity Among Women With Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2022 Mar-Apr 01;37(2):104-111. doi: 10.1097/ JCN.0000000000000848. PMID: 34369915; PMCID: PMC9070097.
D’Agata, A., Green, C. E., Sullivan, M. C. (2022). A new patient population for adult clinicians: Preterm born adults. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 9. Epub
Feldman JM, Serebrisky D, Starr S, Castaño K, Greenfield N, Silverstein G, Fruchter N, Mammen J, McGovern C, Arcoleo K. Reduced asthma morbidity during COVID-19 in minority children: Is medication adherence a reason?. 2022 Apr 5:1-11. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2059510. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35341432. Kelly, M. M., Arcoleo K., D’Agata, A. L., Sullivan, M. C. (2023). A test of differential susceptibility in behavior trajectories of preterm infants from preschool to adulthood. Research in Nursing & Health, 46(1), 80-92. Martins, D. M. & Burbank, P. M. (2022). Community Health Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. In M.A. Nies and M. McEwen, (Eds.), Community/Public Health Nursing: Promoting the Health of Populations, (5th ed). St Louis: Elsevier. Coppa, D., Winchester, S. B., Maestri, X., & Roberts, M. B. (2022). Nurse practitioners in home-based prepalliative care demonstrate an innovative, value-based approach to end-of-life care planning. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 34(5), 701–710. https://doi.org/10.1097/ jxx.0000000000000713 Sullivan MC, D’Agata A., Stanley Z, Brewer P, Kelly MM. A Protocol to Assess Adult Outcomes at 30 Years Following Preterm Birth. Nurs Res. 2022 Aug 5. doi: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000612. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35948305. Vittner, D. J., Young, H., D’Agata, A. (2022). Stress and burnout influence NICU healthcare professionals’ decision-making on family-centered care delivery: An international survey. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 28(6), 430-436.
D’Agata, A., Green CE, Sullivan, M. A new patient population for adult clinicians: Preterm born adults. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2022 May;9:100188. doi: 10.1016/j.lana.2022.100188. Epub 2022 Jan 28. PMID: 35692901; PMCID: PMC9186090. D’Agata A., Kelly M, Green CE, Sullivan, M. Molding influences of prematurity: Interviews with adults born preterm. Early Hum Dev. 2022 Mar;166:105542. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105542. Epub 2022 Jan 21. PMID: 35085882; PMCID: PMC9186092. Vittner, D’Agata, A., Choi, B. Y., McGrath, J. Release of oxytocin and cortisol is associated with neurobehavioral patterns in premature infants. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 52(3), 248-256. Hurley, S.L., DeSanto-Madeya, S., Fortney, C.A., Izumi, S., Phongtankuel, V., & Carpenter, J. G. (2022). Building Strong Clinician-Researcher Collaborations for Successful Hospice and Palliative Care Research. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 24(1), 64–69. doi.org/10.1097/ NJH.0000000000000818 Dahlin, C., DeSanto-Madeya, S., Hurley, S. L., Chan, S. H., Wood, O., Barron, A. M., & Gazarian, P. K. (2023). Understanding primary palliative nursing education in undergraduate nursing programs. Journal of Professional Nursing, 46, 205-212. Puerto G, Chiriboga G, DeSanto-Madeya S, Duodu V, Cruz-Oliver DM, Tjia J. (2023). Advance Care Planning for Spanish language Speakers: Patient, Family and Interpreter Perspectives. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi. org/10.1177/07334648231156864
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Forster-Holt, N., DeSanto-Madeya, S., & Davis, J. (2023). The Mortality of Family Business Leaders: Using a Palliative Care Model to Re-imagine Letting Go. Journal of Management Inquiry, 0(0). Epub ahead of print: https://doi. org/10.1177/10564926231159331 Rosa, W. E., Izumi, S., Sullivan, D. R., Lakin, J., Rosenberg, A. R., Creutzfeldt, C. J., Lafond, D., Tjia, J., Cotter, V., Wallace, C., Sloan, D. E., Cruz-Oliver, D. M., DeSanto-Madeya, S., Bernacki, R., Leblanc, T. W., & Epstein, A. S. (2023). Advance Care Planning in Serious Illness: A Narrative Review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 65(1), e63–e78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.08.012 DiTomasso, D., & Quigley, A. (2023). Implementation of a loaner scale program to monitor infant weight and enhance lactation care. J Hum Lact, 39(3), 495499. https://doi.org/10.1177/08903344231160704 Nursing workforce diversity. (2023). Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 52(4), e5-e9. 10.1016/j.jogn.2023.04.004 (contributing author) DiTomasso, D. (2023). Chapter 14, Breastfeeding. In B. Baker & J. Janke (Eds.), Core Curriculum for Maternal-Newborn Nursing (pp. 200-212). Elsevier. Owens, B. & DiTomasso, D. (2023). Interventions supporting breastfeeding military women: A systematic review. Military Medicine, usad128, https://doi. org/10.1093/milmed/usad128 Greaney, M.L., Xu, F., Ward-Ritacco, C., Cohen, S., Ellis, K.A, & Riebe, D. (2023). Does healthcare provider counseling for weight management behaviors among Hispanic adults vary by acculturation level?: A cross-sectional analysis of the national health and nutrition examination survey, 2011-2018. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.mdpi.com/16604601/20/4/2778 Harding SL, Ellis K.A., Boisseau J, Petreca V. Psychiatric Deprescribing: A Narrative Review. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. 2023;0(0). doi:10.1177/10783903231185353 Ellis, K.A., Harding, S., & Agbeli, M. (2023). Psychosocial, Behavioral, and Cognitive Health Review. In Carpenter, D. & Mernard, A. (Eds). Adult-Gerontology acute care nurse practitioner certification review. Springer.
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Sarich, P., Cabasag, C. J., Liebermann, E., Vaneckova, P., Carle, C., Hughes, S., Egger, S., O’Connell, D. L., Weber, M. F., da Costa, A. M., Caruana, M., Bray, F., Canfell, K., Ginsburg, O., Steinberg, J., & Soerjomataram, I. (2022). Tobacco smoking changes during the first pre-vaccination phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine, 101375. https:// doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101375 Ridge, L. J., Liebermann, E., Stimpfel, A. W., Klar, R. T., Dickson, V. V., & Squires, A. P. (2022). The Intellectual Capital Supporting Nurse Practice in a post-emergency state: A case study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15282 Kumar, S., Usmanova, G., Nair, T. S., Srivastava, V. K., Singh, R., Mohanty, N., Akhtar, N., Kujur, M. S., Srivastava, A. K., Pallipamula, S. P., Agarwal, G., Singh, A. B., Kashyap, V., McCarthy, M., Liebermann, E., & Ginsburg, O. (2022). Implementation of a large-scale breast cancer early detection program in a resource-constrained setting: Real-world experiences from 2 large states in India. Cancer, 128(9), 1757–1766. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34114 Lopez, D., Malloy LC, Arcoleo K. Police narrative reports: Do they provide end-users with the data they need to help prevent bicycle crashes? Accid Anal Prev. 2022 Jan;164:106475. doi: 10.1016/j. aap.2021.106475. Epub 2021 Nov 16. PMID: 34798566. Solari-Twadell, PA., Flinter, M., Rambur, B., Renda, S., Witwer, S., Vanhook, P., & Poghosyan L. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future of telehealth in primary care. Nursing Outlook 70(2), 315-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. outlook.2021.09.004. Rambur, B. (2022) Health Care Financing, Economics, and Policy for Nurses: A Foundational Guide. (2nd edition) New York: Springer Publishing, Inc. Yakusheva O, Rambur B, O’Reilly-Jacob M, Buerhaus PI. Value-based payment promotes better patient care, incentivizes health care delivery organizations to improve outcomes and lower costs, and can empower nurses. Nurs Outlook. 2022 Mar-Apr;70(2):215-218. doi: 10.1016/j. outlook.2021.12.012. Epub 2022 Feb 24. PMID: 35221053. Rambur, B., & Pulcini, J. (2022). Understanding the language of health reform as a tool for advocacy. American Journal of Nursing, 122(1), 48-53. Podcast “Behind the Article” available at Rambur & Pulcini-AJN
Yakusheva, O., Rambur, B., & Buerhaus, P. I. (2022). Value-informed nursing practice: What is it and how to make it a reality. Nursing outlook, 70(2), 211–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2022.01.001
São-João, T. (2022) Self-care and cardiometabolic risk in people with hypertension followed-up in primary care. Health and Research. Last author, accepted
Yakusheva, O., Rambur, B., & Buerhaus, P. I. (2022). Part 6. Education for value-informed nursing practice. Nursing outlook, 70(6), 789–793. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.outlook.2022.08.002
Jaekel, J., Anderson, P.J., Bartman, P., Cheong, J.L.Y., Doyle, L.W., Hack, M., Johnson, S., Marlow, N., Saigal, S., Schmidt, L., Sullivan, M., & Wolke, D. (Online first 12/16/2021). Early adult consequences of mathematical performance in childhood following very (IPD) meta-analysis. Developmental Medicine & Child preterm birth: An individual participant data Neurology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ full/10.1111/dmcn.15132
Pulcini J, Rambur B. (2022). Travel nursing and the demise of the virtue-script: Steps to a new beginning. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 23(4):211214. doi:10.1177/15271544221130623 Yakushev, O. & Rambur, B. 2023. How the hospital reimbursement model harms nurses—and what to do about it. Health Affairs Forefront. https://www. healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/hospital-reimbursement-model-harms-nursing-quality-and-do Chan, G. K., Cummins, M. R., Taylor, C. S., Rambur, B., Auerbach, D. I., Meadows-Oliver, M., Cooke, C., Turek, E. A., & Pittman, P. P. (2023). An overview and policy implications of national nurse identifier systems: A call for unity and integration. Nursing outlook, 71(2), 101892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. outlook.2022.10.005 Rambur, B., Liebermann, E. (2023). Fully support Nurses by Designing Better Payment Models. In: Hassmiller, S., Darcy Mahoney, A., Beard, K. (eds) The Future of Nursing 2020-2023: Global Applications to Advance Health Equity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29746-5_8
Saint-Eloi Cadely, H., Hutchinson, K., & Sutherland, M. (2022). The influence of pre-college behaviors and parenting practices on alcohol misuse, sexual risk-taking, and adverse outcomes among first-year college women. Journal of American College Health, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2056 416 DiTomasso, D. (2023). Chapter 14, Breastfeeding. In B. Baker & J. Janke (Eds.), Core Curriculum for Maternal-Newborn Nursing (pp. 200-212). Elsevier. Bordignon, M., Marziale, M. H., Sutherland, M., & Monteiro, I. (2023). Factors related to work ability among nursing professionals from urgent and Emergency Care Units: A cross-sectional study. Work, 74(2), 673–683. https://doi.org/10.3233/wor-211300
Chan, G. K., Cummins, M. R., Taylor, C. S., Rambur, B., Auerbach, D. I., Meadows-Oliver, M., Cooke, C., Turek, E. A., & Pittman, P. P. (2023). An overview and policy implications of national nurse identifier systems: A call for unity and integration. Nursing outlook, 71(2), 101892. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. outlook.2022.10.005 Oliveira, M. K., Kaizer, U. A., Jannuzzi, F. F., Gallani, M.-C., Alexandre, N. M., Cornélio, M. E., São-João, T., & Rodrigues, R. C. (2022). Content validity of a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior to assess the psychosocial determinants of insulin adherence. Value in Health Regional Issues, 29, 76–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vhri.2021.08.007 São-João, T., (2022) Nurses’ Knowledge about Cardiorespiratory Care. Recien Magazine - Scientific Nursing Journal. Co-Author, Accepted São-João, T. (2022) COVID-19 in workers monitored at a community health center of a public university. Health and Research Magazine. Co-Author, accepted
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RESEARCH New Discoveries Fuel Health-Care Innovation
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Nursing Study To Examine Commercial Fishers’ Health Professor Aims To Improve Cardiovascular Health, Quality of Life Commercial fishermen are the most at-risk blue economy workers, constantly exposed to hazardous working conditions, long hours in variable weather conditions, and poor sleep and nutritional patterns. Poor health has important implications for the social, economic, and environmental aspects of fisheries, where health is a pivotal asset underpinning productivity. URI College of Nursing Professor Thaís São-João hopes to improve health conditions, studying the cardiometabolic health and quality of life of Rhode Island fishers. Funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the NIH, the study aims to understand and improve fishers’ health, benefiting their quality of life and potentially impacting the blue economy by helping increase productivity.
outcomes. Questionnaires on diet, sleep, physical activity, and nicotine exposure will be used; and body measurements, such as blood pressure, weight, height, and waist, neck, and hip circumferences, will be evaluated. Dried blood spots will be used to collect lipids, glucose, and insulin. “Although there are exceptional federal regulations that provide information and policies focused on environment safety, occupational safety risk, and nature preservation, little is known about the health of and care provided to the commercial fishermen,” São-João said. “On top of that, no relation between their health and how it affects the blue economy has been investigated. Our results will inform the development of interventions to prevent fishermen from having poor health and quality of life, and also to improve their overall health and quality of life in the future.”
This study will begin this summer in three ports: Davisville, ProvPort, and Newport. São-João— along with faculty mentor Kim Arcoleo and research partners Azure Cygler and Jennifer McCann from the URI Graduate School of Oceanography—will examine cardiovascular health, lifestyle behaviors, cardiometabolic protective and risk factors, and fish landing
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Study Provides Road Map To Treat Childhood Obesity The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased more than eight times in the last 50 years, affecting about 10 percent of infants and toddlers and 17 percent of children and teens. Those facing obesity as children often do as adults, afflicting about 30 percent of the population, presenting hosts of health problems.
Carolina Herrera
Big Ideas. Bold Plans. Strategic Opportunities Large research grants are awarded when a hypothesis is well defined and supported by early success. Early success requires proof-of-concept funding, provided by alumni and friends who invest in strategic opportunities.
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Doctoral candidate Carolina Herrera has found that health-care providers early in a child’s life can play a critical role in reducing obesity and setting them on a health course. In 2021, she began following a cohort of young patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital who had been diagnosed as overweight or obese. She found that the young patients were largely not complying with traditional treatment options. Just half of the patients and their parents scheduled follow-up appointments at all, and just 26 percent actually attended. For a second follow-up appointment, that number dropped to just 8 percent. Herrera designed a new treatment plan and urged pediatricians to encourage young patients to follow the specific template. Her plan included labs and diagnostic imaging, along with a specific nutrition plan, weight and body mass index monitoring, regular telemedicine visits with providers, and a weight-loss app. After implementing the plan and convincing health-care providers to stress its use with patients, Herrera found an increase in compliance a year later. More patients were following up with appointments, and the results have followed. Most participants significantly reduced their weight and cholesterol levels, and those with fatty liver disease decreased their liver enzymes. Two young patients with childhood diabetes improved to prediabetic conditions; and four of six who had been prediabetic completely reversed their conditions. A lot of the success stems from a holistic approach to communicating with young patients and their families.
Study: College Students Binge More When Parents Provide Alcohol Studies suggest that parents continue to exert significant influence over their children’s behavior even into the college years, and that extends into the choices they make regarding substance use and other risky behaviors. Somatra Connolly
When parents encourage, or at least don’t discourage, underage drinking, their children tend to drink more, which can lead to further consequences, according to a student study. Ph.D. students Devon Carroll and Somatra Connolly—both Cynthia & Thomas Sculco Graduate Nursing Research scholars—examined the parental provision of alcohol to college students and the impact that has on student binge drinking and other risky behaviors, particularly among women, who are especially vulnerable to adverse experiences from risk-taking behaviors. They found that when parents give their college-age children alcohol, those students tend to engage in binge drinking more frequently, which can lead to other negative outcomes.
Devon Carroll
Analyzing data from a survey of nearly 500 college-age women in their first or second year at two universities— conducted by URI Professors Kathy Hutchinson and Melissa Sutherland in 2021 as part of their study, “College Living and Well-Being Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic”—Carroll and Connolly found that about 15 percent of students reported that their parents provided alcohol during the current year of college. Participants answered questions about demographics, parental provision of alcohol, alcohol use, binge drinking, stress, general health, sexual behaviors, and experiences with violence. Those students whose parents gave them alcohol tended to drink twice as often per month than those whose parents did not, and they tended to binge drink twice as often, as well.
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ACADEMICS Comprehensive Programs Earn National Recognition
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Students Experience Health Care a World Away Indonesia Trip Teaches Lessons in Social Determinants of Health URI recently expanded upon a 50-year relationship with the country of Indonesia, as four professors brought 26 students from the colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Health Sciences on a service-learning trip during Winter J-Term this year. Nursing Professor Kerri Ellis brought the students to Indonesia for two weeks, where they got a lesson in the social determinants of health. The students visited the capital, Jakarta, where they learned the challenges of urban public health in an impoverished, often flooded area with a lack of clean water, before traveling to a rural outpost to witness the similar health challenges there. They spent time volunteering in a maternal health clinic, which was among the trip’s highlights; learned traditional Indonesian medicine, even helping make a remedy for stomach illness in the form of a tea; and participated in an oral health outreach program,
providing toothbrushes and toothpaste, and teaching children proper oral hygiene.
Big Ideas. Bold Plans. URI Learning Experience Life-changing experiences can occur across the world, or next door. What’s needed is an imaginative program that exposes students to human need in a different setting. URI faculty members can create opportunities like a trip to Indonesia or a local mass casualty event that enhance the URI learning experience. This often comes from RhodyNow:Nursing, a source of immediate, unrestricted funding for when unique opportunities are presented.
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Disaster Simulation Depicts Mass Casualty Event URI nursing students got a feel for what it’s like to handle a mass casualty event during a simulated exercise at the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center. Live actors portrayed protesters who were run down by an SUV during a fictitious demonstration in Providence. Victims suddenly flooded the simulated emergency room, surprising students who jumped to action to treat injuries ranging from minor to critical. The college’s Nursing Simulation Program fosters the development of evidence-based knowledge, skills, and competencies required for high-quality, patient-centered care in complex environments. The labs at the NEC simulate health care in a variety of settings, including a hospital room, mass casualty location, and in-home care. Simulation prepares nursing students to develop competencies to manage real patient situations in
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a safe learning environment. It provides a safe environment for students to learn without risking patient safety. It enhances critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills. It also allows for repeated practice and skill refinement, which may not be possible in real clinical settings with actual patients.
Comprehensive Clinical Education URI nursing students get hands-on experience in all manner of patient care during clinical rotations, in the college’s advanced simulation labs, and in the classroom. Here, nursing undergraduate students practice wound care techniques during a class in White Hall. For a comprehensive look at all the URI College of Nursing’s educational offerings, visit uri.edu/ nursing/academics.
Fellowship Attracts $1.7M To Help Prepare Nurse Educators Donna Schwartz-Barcott, left, and Hesook Suzie Kim
A URI College of Nursing fellowship has topped more than $1.7 million, after $600,000 in recent contributions triggered a $500,000 match from an anonymous donor. The Dr. Donna Schwartz-Barcott and Dr. Hesook Suzie Kim Nursing Fellowship works to attract nursing faculty members to help address a nationwide shortage. The endowment aims to develop the next generation of nursing faculty, teachers and recruitment is underway for qualified students interested in a career as nurse educators. Nursing schools across the country turned away nearly 92,000 qualified applicants from baccalau-
reate and graduate nursing programs in 2021, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, with most schools pointing to faculty shortages as a top reason. The Barcott-Kim Fellowship will build the faculty pipeline by selecting and supporting registered nurses whose research interest stems from their area of practice. Candidates for the fellowship must demonstrate a commitment to research and teaching and maintain a 3.0 grade-point average. Students on the Ph.D. track are preferred, but Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates will also be considered.
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COMMUNITY IMPACT Making a Difference Beyond the Exam Room
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URI Day at Rhode Island Statehouse College of Nursing students and faculty members joined others from the University for URI Day at the Rhode Island Statehouse March 28, highlighting college programs, advocating for state support, and demonstrating the impact the college and University make on the state.
Federal Advocacy College of Nursing Interim Dean Betty Rambur joined students and alumni Mason Provoyeur, Justice Douglas, Lina Hall, Sarah Lehoux, and Somatra Connolly at the U.S. Capitol building for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Day. The URI contingent joined hundreds of nurses from across the country who gathered Washington, D.C., for Capitol Hill Day, as they sought to build support for key federal policy issues, including addressing the nurse staffing crisis, building and sustaining the nursing workforce, and understanding the value of nurses and health-care worker burnout.
Big Ideas. Bold Plans. Innovative and Distinct Programs Health policy at the state and national levels directs funding and health-care delivery strategies that impact millions of patients and drive our economy. Innovative programs like URI’s Day at the Statehouse provide real-world learning of government’s role in healthcare delivery. Such is the hallmark of URI’s Innovative and Distinct Programs, funded through philanthropy.
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Students Work with Disabled Children in Jamaica A group of URI nursing students spent part of their winter break in Jamaica, working with some of the most vulnerable populations in the island nation. Fourteen students joined College of Nursing Professor Chris McGrane in working with residents affiliated with Mustard Seed Organization, a nonprofit that serves children and adults with severe
disabilities who do not have family members to care for them. The students lived among the patients in the residential community, Sophie’s Place, feeding residents who are unable to feed themselves, providing comfort, and leading those with some ambulatory ability in light physical therapy. They provided health-care workshops for caregivers in the community and brought 30 suitcases of medical and personal supplies to donate. ANNUAL REPORT 2022−23 / 31
SPECIAL PROJECTS Fortifying the Educational Experience
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Geriatric Health Expert Delivers Spring Distinguished Lecture
Professors, Students Offer Health Information at Narragansett Pow Wow Representatives of the College of Nursing attended the Narragansett Tribe's annual Pow Wow this past summer, distributing information about the college, the Pathways to Nursing program, and an endowed scholarship for Native students. Students and professors met with members of the tribe and pow wow attendees, promoting the college and the opportunities it offers and promoting health initiatives, including a tick-detection seminar. URI President Marc Parlange, Provost Barbara Wolfe, former URI Professor Marcella Thompson and Narragansett Chief Sachem Anthony Dean Stanton dropped by the booth staffed by nursing faculty and staff. The college has increased its outreach to the Native American community, even creating the Thompson Endowed Scholarship for Native Students, which will award $1,000 a year to a Narragansett Tribe member who majors in nursing at URI. The University has also established the URI Narragansett Undergraduate Scholarship, which provides full, instate tuition and fees for up to four years to students of Narragansett ancestry who have been accepted to a URI undergraduate program.
Marie Boltz, nurse practitioner and professor at Pennsylvania State University, delivered the college’s annual Spring Distinguished Lecture March 29, focusing on “Advancing Person-Centered Dementia Care: Where Are We and Where Do We Need To Go?” Boltz is an expert in gerontological care who provides instruction to both undergraduate and graduate nursing students and serves as associate director of Translation of best practice for the Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence at Penn State. With extensive clinical, administrative, and research experience in primary and community-based care, acute care, and long-term care, she is a board-certified gerontological nurse practitioner and licensed as a nursing home administrator. Her areas of research focus on the geriatric care environment, including measures of quality, dementia-capable and family-centered interventions, and the prevention of functional decline in older adults. The URI College of Nursing hosts its Distinguished Lecture Series each semester. Past lectures have been delivered by Ernest Grant, president, American Nurses Association; Shannon Zenk, director of the National Institute of Nursing Research; Nancy Redeker, former director of the Yale University School of Nursing Center for Biobehavioral Health Research; and Dr. Paul Farmer, famed founder of the global health initiative, Partners in Health, among others.
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ALUMNI Continuing College’s Tradition of Excellence
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Alumni Profiles Janelle Amoako URI degrees: M.S., family nurse practitioner; B.S. in nursing Position: Nurse practitioner, Block Island Medical Center Past experience: Community health nurse, Community Health Institute, Providence; nurse consultant, Functional Mind, East Providence, Rhode Island.
Jamil Halaby III URI degree: M.S., adult gerontology nurse practitioner program Position: Nurse practitioner, Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute (beginning June 2023)
Past experience: RN, University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center ICU; RN, Rhode Island Hospital coronary care unit
In their words: “Coming to URI, I expected to gain foundational knowledge that would propel my nursing career. What I did not expect was the exposure to the multiple leadership opportunities that came my way and how they would enhance my nursing career. As a student, I was very involved in activities on campus, such as treasurer of the Student Nurse Association, College of Nursing ambassador, student member of the faculty diversity committee, student research assistant, Honors Program graduate, and more. The leadership skills I gained in these various roles prepared me to step out once I started practicing as a nurse. I wholly believe in being part of the change we want to see in health care! I would not have had the courage to be that change agent if I did not get that practice at URI.
In their words: “Enrolling in graduate school during a pandemic while working two jobs was difficult, to say the least; however, I completed the master’s program the better for it. The College of Nursing has prepared me for my future as a nurse practitioner in a multitude of ways. The faculty I learned from are thoroughly invested in your success, academically and professionally. My professors were educated on the most up-to-date clinical guidelines and health-care policy. The College of Nursing at URI has provided me with the skills and education needed to excel as a new health-care provider in an ever-changing health-care landscape. I graduated from this program with the enthusiasm to start my career to improve the health and well-being of every patient I serve.” ANNUAL REPORT 2022−23 / 35
Since its founding in 1945, the URI College of Nursing has educated generations of nurses who advanced human wellness and health in multiple ways. Some were executives in hospital systems; others founded community -based clinics; several engaged in research and nursing education; and most everyone provided bedside nursing care for patients at the most vulnerable times in their lives.
“As interim dean, I am struck by the generosity of alumni, faculty and friends who provide for the college through their estates. Their legacies will underwrite student scholarships, faculty development, and nursing research for generations to come. Thank you all for investing in our future!” —Betty Rambur, interim dean
Seven deans have guided the college through 77 years of unprecedented social, scientific, demographic, and political change. Each dean faced unique pressures that shaped the role of nursing and nursing education, but one precedent remained unchanged: The URI College of Nursing trains leaders who advance the quality of health care and strive to be a transformative force in their professional communities. As the college prepares for its next dean, philanthropic resources are essential to advance the college’s strategic vision of improving health and transforming health care through innovation and excellence in education, knowledge development, discovery, and professional practice to meet the needs of a global society. To meet this need, the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement is in its final year of the Big Ideas. Bold Plans. The Campaign for the University of Rhode Island. We need your support to advance the College of Nursing by investing in increased student access, an enlivened URI learning experience, the next generation of transformative faculty leadership, new innovative and distinctive programs, and emerging strategic opportunities. For more information about supporting the College of Nursing, contact: Eric Schonewald, assistant vice president for development, at eschonewald@uri.edu or 401.874.9017; or Jennifer Demeter, director of development, at jdemeter@uri.edu or 401.874.2296.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2022−23 / III
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PHOTOS: NORA LEWIS; PATRICK LUCE